Round French Oven

When we reviewed The Brisket Book by Stephanie Pierson, we discovered her love affair with both Brisket and Le Creuset. So, we decided to look into this nearly 90 year old company. And, yes, it was love at first use.

Occasionally we discover a kitchen tool, kitchen cookware, or a kitchen appliance which is pricey but worth the investment, even when substantial. That is the case with our Cuisinart Food processor and our Kitchenaid mixer. And, now, that is how we feel about our superb new kitchen assistant, our Le Creuset Round 7 1/4 quart French Oven.

In 1925 Armand Desaegher, a casting specialist, and Octave Aubecq, an enameling expert, recognized an opportunity to improve the versatility of cast iron cookware by coating it in a porcelain enamel glaze. Their foundry was opened in  Fresnoy-le-Grand, France, a location chosen due to the accessibility  of iron, coke, and sand needed for their process. That year their new company, Le Creuset, produced the first cocotte, or French oven, laying the foundation for what is now an extensive range of enameled cast iron cookware and kitchen utensils. That first piece was created in the signature Le Creuset color, Flame.

After an early expansion of their product range, the second world war brought troubled times. During the war years the company focused  on continually improving their product, and in the 1950