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BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
DUTCH OVENS GET STEWS AND KITCHEN DECOR COOKING
BY CAROLYN ALI
As we hunker down for months of drizzle, it’s time
to turn on the oven—and keep it on. On a cold,
damp day, a bubbling stew simmering slowly
in the oven defines the hearth of the house.
And there’s something especially primal about preparing
and serving food in a timeless, earthy vessel.
For centuries, people worldwide have cooked food
slowly in heavy pots with tight-fitting lids. In local stores,
such pots are often labelled Dutch or French ovens.
They’re usually made of cast iron or ceramic.
Restaurateur Laurent Devin of Kitsilano’s Bistrot Bistro
explains that enamelled cast-iron cookware is perfect for
braising. “It’s a staple in every French family—you have
COLOURFUL POTS LIKE
LE CREUSET’S ARE STAPLES
IN FRENCH HOUSEHOLDS.
one piece minimum,” he says. “My grandmother used
to use it, my parents got rid of it, and my generation is
going back to it.”
That’s because the cast iron retains heat, allowing
slow, moist, even cooking. “It’s very durable,” he says,
adding that although good-quality pieces are expensive,
they last a lifetime. He has experimented with
cheaper varieties but says the enamel gets chipped
and the cast iron isn’t as thick, concluding that “the
price you pay is what you get”.
Whichever cooking vessel you choose, bring it to the
table with pride. Part of the pleasure is enjoying the burst
of colour these pieces inject into a dreary day. -
WHAT’S HOT IN POTS
Le Creuset 6.4-litre oval
$349 at Cookworks
(1548 West Broadway;
377 Howe Street)
Le Creuset remains the
classic—and most expensive—of
the enamelled
cast-iron genre. Made in France, the company’s
pieces come in a rainbow of colours, from flame to
kiwi to cobalt blue. They’re stovetop-safe, so you
can brown and braise in the same pot.
IKEA Senior 3.0-litre casserole
$39.99 at IKEA (3200
Sweden Way, Richmond;
1000 Lougheed Highway,
Coquitlam) You can’t beat
the price of IKEA’s Senior
line of enamelled cast-iron
cookware. This brilliant-blue casserole is oven-safe
and good for all cooktops, including induction.
Emile Henry 3.2-litre braiser
$149.98 at Ming Wo
(various locations)
Emile Henry’s ceramic
FLAME line is designed
for slow cooking in the
oven or on most stovetops. Pieces, in black or red,
range from mini stewpots to Asian-style clay pots.
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| FALL 2008 | | GEORGIA STRAIGHT LIVING |
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Prices subject to change without notice
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