Doesn't that sound aggressive? What it actually refers to is this: no kitchen should be without a piece of Le Chasseur Enamelled Cast Iron, and I will not hear of any remark to the contrary. On this subject, I stand firm.For the stats fans, Le Chasseur is made of enamelled cast iron, and has been manufactured in France for over 70 years. The pieces feature two layers of enamel: the black base coat, followed by the coloured enamel which gives it the recognisable appearance. The base coat is like a primer, protecting and strengthening the iron, and preparing the surface for the colour. The pretty coloured enamels not only provide the attractive look; they also make the piece easier to clean, and more durable.
For the fashionistas, Le Chasseur comes in a splendid and complementary range of colours, from traditional to the more seasonal. Purple was huge in the fashion world this winter, and the new aubergine colour featured in the Le Chasseur range reflects the contemporary evolution of these pieces. From the new range, I actually think the ivory is outstanding: something about this most pure of colours works perfectly with the sturdy forms.
We have a wide range of styles to choose from: the casseroles come in an assortment of sizes, from teeny individual sized ones, to the 28cm (6.8L) round casserole. The sizes in between are available in round or oval (I confess to one of each: round in blue and oval in red). We also have large rectangular roasters, and grill pans, which have the added feature of a practical pouring lip. You will find some variation in prices between the colours: just as metallic paint costs more on your automobile, so some glazes are more expensive (usually the red!).
The beauty of Le Chassuer is two-fold: they are investment pieces and, properly looked after, can be used for a lifetime of just about any sort of cooking you undertake. The casseroles will do for anything you want to cook on stovetop or in oven: soups, stews, pasta sauces (and pasta), curries, frying, etc. I haul mine out of the cupboard three or four times a week (which is testament to their usefulness: it's no small effort to get one of these up onto the bench!). There are very popular recipes going around at the moment for baking bread in cast iron pans. Having never done it myself, I cannot comment on the success, or otherwise, of this undertaking, but I know a number of people who use theirs for this as well. Obviously, the grill pan can be used for all your grilling opportunities, plus as an alternative in barbeque recipes in the winter months. And the roaster is fairly self-explanatory!
One word of warning: while your pan will handle just about anything you throw at it (just don't throw it at anyone or anything: you will undoubtedly do the intended victim a mischief), the knob won't. This applies to high heat. Do not expose the knob to heats higher than about 200C: this is not from the instruction book, but from the idiot who thought the oven had exploded, and had to pick out pieces of knob from the oven interior. Fortunately for me, the knobs are replaceable. Just another way Le Chasseur ensure the longevity of their products, and years of happy cooking for you.
