324256 Fri Sep 08 11:17:36 -0700 2006 40 41 Cookware 0 1862221 Has anyone used any of Mario Batali's cookware line? http://www.italiankitchen.com/mariobatali/index.cfm I bought one of the stainless steel spoons and a the extra-wide silicone spatula and I love them. (Imagine loving a spoon, what a nut.) Just wondered if anyone had any experience with other stuff from the line. (And if you know of a place in Toronto that carries all of it.) Fri Sep 08 11:17:36 -0700 2006 38218 ognir 1 1862269 There seems to be a pandemic of celebrity chef gear, most of it mediocre quality and overpriced--just another form of celebrity worship, I guess. Try Bianco on Ave. Rd. This stuff should be in wide circulation soon if it isn't already(e.g., Home Outfitters, etc.). Fri Sep 08 12:17:40 -0700 2006 1862221 16382 Kagemusha 1 1862562 I have his panini press, and I wouldn't characterize it as mediocre quality. I'll grab it before my Le Creuset, because it distributes heat more evenly. It weighs about a metric ton. I even put the whole thing on the grill and got it about as hot as I could, to make bricked chicken. You think that would have left some marks, but it didn't. You want to season it really, really well before you try that maneuver, though. Shallow of me, but I love the persimmon color, too. Fri Sep 08 14:42:19 -0700 2006 1862221 10846 themis 1 1862756 I have been very impressed with the enameled cookware in Batali's line. The shapes and finishes are outstanding and the prices are considerably lower than Le Creuset's. Fri Sep 08 16:00:52 -0700 2006 1862221 23506 btnfood 1 1862897 I've been looking into Batali's line as well. I thought the prices were fine compared to Le Creuset's. But if the quality is poor, then you wouldn't be saving much. It's sounding like the line is better than mediocre. Oh, I love the colors...persimmon, espresso.. Fri Sep 08 16:48:13 -0700 2006 1862221 22596 rumgum 1 1863222 Yes, the colours are great, aren't they? Fri Sep 08 18:23:51 -0700 2006 1862221 38218 ognir 1 1863303 I believe Batali's kitchenware is designed and manufactured by Copco who have lots of experience in making enamelled cast iron. I have some of their pots which are around 25+ years old and still going strong. Fri Sep 08 18:45:49 -0700 2006 1862221 12335 cheryl_h 1 1863328 I bought the cast iron lasagna pan, just amazing! Made short ribs this past weekend and those turned out perfect as well. Very even heat distribution as well as aesthetically pleasing. Also purchased the wide wooden spoon, perfect for stir frying! Loved it so much bought another plus the measuring cups. The measuring cups aren't all they, very clumsy and crack very easily. Would avoid those even though the color is just great! Fri Sep 08 18:54:57 -0700 2006 1862221 32870 xanderbear 1 1864117 I just purchased the 6-Quart Italian Essentials Enamel-on-Cast-Iron Pot from Amazon few weeks ago for 59 dollars. Since I haven't been able to purchase the same size LC - I thought it was worth a shot (based on good reviews from the board). It's just been shipped and I can't wait! Fri Sep 08 23:18:11 -0700 2006 1862221 13834 oaklandfoodie 1 1864644 There was a review of lasagna pans including Mario's Extra Deep in a recent issue of Cooks Illustrated. They said the pan itself (without the lasagna) weighed 11 pounds! Sat Sep 09 05:11:53 -0700 2006 1862221 12341 vanillagrrl 2 1878579 Aside from the weight, did they like the pan? Fri Sep 15 13:14:36 -0700 2006 1864644 10666 Chocolatechipkt 1 1880679 I bought my g/f an enameledcast iron dutch oven and she loves it. It cooks great. Sat Sep 16 06:52:36 -0700 2006 1862221 15970 sushiman 1 1901730 I got my 6 quart dutch oven last week and it's just as heavy as they say (or more!) but for my money, very high quality. I've used it three times, and I'm extremely pleased with it. Mon Sep 25 23:02:45 -0700 2006 1862221 22392 bdumes 1 1903427 I bought a white 8 quart casserole at Winners Home Sense a few months ago for around $50 ( I have to look it up, it could be less) I have used it for bolognese sauce and osso buco and soup and it is great. Just as good as my large oval L.C., which is entering its 30th year, a little scratched but still working very well. Actually, the lid of Mario's pot has the little spikes like a straub, which have become really expensive. The spikes help rotating the moisture back into the braise. At the time I bought the M.B. they had more of the line, but I don't think they have any more. Some left overs may show up at a Winners store. I want a straub and am keeping my eyes peeled at yard sales etc. Tue Sep 26 18:11:44 -0700 2006 1862221 13982 faijay 2 1916163 I don't mean to ask a dumb question, but what's a "straub"? I even looked it up in the dictionary and couldn't find it. Mon Oct 02 15:34:03 -0700 2006 1903427 42601 chilehound 3 1917008 Staub... Fancy french cast iron, costs even more than Le Creuset, they use it as 'decor' at one of Joel Roubuchon's place in Vegas... it's pretty funny... Anyway, and you can get it at Sur La Table. http://www.staubusa.com/ --Dommy! Mon Oct 02 20:05:45 -0700 2006 1916163 10659 Dommy 4 1940781 Thanks. I might have to add one of these to my "must have" list. Thu Oct 12 15:07:50 -0700 2006 1917008 42601 chilehound 3 1918167 Staubs have a very special cover. There are numerous nipples spaced evenly across the inside surface. Condensation drips from them evenly across the entire inside, making them self basting. The Batatli dutch ovens copy this feature. Tue Oct 03 03:10:02 -0700 2006 1916163 15970 sushiman 4 1945751 I don't think this cover design originated with Staub, though Staub promotes it heavily. (Staub also makes lines of enameled cast iron that don't have the nipples.) Other cast-iron cookware manufacturers, including Lodge, have been making covers of this type for many years. I even used to have a heavy glass one (American-made) in the same style, but I could never determine whether it actually did what it claimed to do! Seems to me that msot of the condensed vapor just ran down the underside of the lid between the nipples. Sat Oct 14 14:33:49 -0700 2006 1918167 20001 Miss Priss 1 1904575 I just purchased Mario's panini pan and used it for the first time tonight. Not only is it beautiful (I have a gorgeous persimmon color) I was very impressed with the quality - good weight. It did not need any seasoning, heated up evenly, and the panini came out beautifully. I was torn between ordering this piece and a Le Creuset grill pan. I ordered this because they were running a special on Amazon (Le Creuset is often excluded from the Amazon special offers) and it came in a larger size than Le Creuset.. I am really happy I did. I have quite a few Le Creuset pieces and I actualy like the quality of this better. Wed Sep 27 00:59:28 -0700 2006 1862221 14329 AmblerGirl 1 1915579 I just purchased the Mario Batali ‘6 Quart Italian Essentials Pot’ which is a cast iron, enamel glazed dutch oven. I’m participating in October's ‘Cookbook of the Month’ and this month its All About Braising and I needed a good braising pan. For any hounds in Canada – I got it at Zellers for 50% off on sale. The quality is very good and it’s a beautiful green. It weighs a ton but – that’s what you want. Can’t wait to break it in. Mon Oct 02 03:53:36 -0700 2006 1862221 34770 kitchensalli 1 1920689 So should I get a Batali pannini maker and amake wonderful sandwiches and also use it to make Tuscan brick chicken? What's the consensus here? Wed Oct 04 01:38:44 -0700 2006 1862221 23583 EclecticEater 1 1942417 I have the large and deep lasgana pan. I've been very pleased with. It was excellent value for what so far appears to be a well made pan. (But of course, I bought it for the cool color) Thu Oct 12 23:46:35 -0700 2006 1862221 10099 JudiAU 2 2037447 Agreed. I got the lasagna pan from my girlfriend for my birthday. It's wonderful! Tue Nov 21 00:27:56 -0800 2006 1942417 42270 HaagenDazs 1 2027469 Has anyone experienced issues with the Batali panini press/grill where food sticks ie. chicken or fish? If so, any tips on how to prevent this from occurring? Thu Nov 16 19:11:56 -0800 2006 1862221 53640 kammanns 2 4028707 I have experienced the same thing. My fiance and I love LC but got this as a wedding present and decided to give it a try. I found out however that even tho the instructions say it doesn't need to be cured before using that you should. Apparently food will stop sticking over time, it just needs some oil to soak into it. I went home and cured it so we'll see. Golda's kitchen (where it was purchased) said that food will stop sticking in time. Fri Sep 12 04:44:24 -0700 2008 2027469 225488 cutecook 1 2031909 I have the 6 qt pot that I got as a gift. I love it. It have excellent heat distribution and cleans up like magic! Sat Nov 18 05:54:26 -0800 2006 1862221 41493 laonion 1 2037406 I just got the microplane on clearance for $10 at Homesense! Haven't tried it though... I like the fact that it has a silicone protective cover. And I love the colors of his entire line. Tue Nov 21 00:08:03 -0800 2006 1862221 46140 ctl98 1 2048998 I bought one of Mario Batali's 8" skillets, the stainless steel type. I was very disappointed in it. I tried to do some egg beaters with butter and first I sprayed it with Pam. It stuck so bad. I sent it back, it took a very long time to get a refund on my credit card and not one word of an apology. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong? I paid $55.00, not a good deal. Mon Nov 27 08:05:07 -0800 2006 1862221 55891 Richard Somers 1 2049492 I got the 6-quart pot off Amazon for $70 shipped. It turns out some great braised beef in barolo. It's my new all around favorite soup/stew/braising pot. Highly recommended, even at full price. Ikea sells a comparable enameled iron pot, but I've had BAD luck with their utensils and pans so I took a pass. Glad I did. Mon Nov 27 16:46:44 -0800 2006 1862221 12359 monkeyrotica 1 2075539 I'm considering getting the 6 quart enameled dutch oven...is there a deal going around right now? It's $80 for the persimmon color, $100 for the others. Wed Dec 06 18:23:54 -0800 2006 1862221 38500 caphill2320 1 2305357 I got the 6 QT Mario Batali Dutch Oven for xmas and was really surprized at the quality. It compares easily to a Le Creuset at less than half the price. I next purchased the risotto maker with similar outstanding results. Next purchase is the panini grill pan. Can't say enough about this line...a great value and it's attractive, too. Sun Feb 18 16:56:32 -0800 2007 1862221 75457 rubygirrl 2 2310835 The February issue of Cook's Illustrated has a review of Dutch ovens, including the LC and Batali ones. Tue Feb 20 11:43:42 -0800 2007 2305357 10666 Chocolatechipkt 1 3150685 Does anyone know where this line is made? Sat Nov 24 06:30:47 -0800 2007 1862221 145196 yugetodd 2 3150754 Made in China by Copco Sat Nov 24 07:16:20 -0800 2007 3150685 16406 ziggylu 1 3159789 I don't know if you've purchased or not but I have the 6 qt oven and I don't like it nearly as much as my LC. I may have gotten an off product but the lid doesn't seal as well as I would like so my stovetop braises go dry ridiculously quickly....so for all it's "nipples" on the underside I have a steam bath going in the kitchen as soon as I add the liquid to the pot. I do have the risotto pan and it's servicable. But I greatly prefer my LC and at the point only use my Batali oven to do oven roasts, with the lid off ;) Tue Nov 27 16:20:41 -0800 2007 1862221 85794 redgypsy 2 3159853 Okay, not a Batali, but a friend of mine has a large Emeril skillet that he just loves. It's very heavy, cooks evenly and can be used in the oven. I've made a made a tomato-cream sauce recipe in it that didn't stick at all. I'm no expert but I was impressed. Tue Nov 27 16:43:52 -0800 2007 3159789 119816 MysticYoYo 2 4987086 Hmmm...I don't have that problem with mine, but the reasons I like my LC better is: 1. LC's rounded bottom makes it easier to stir up stuff from the bottom of the pot. 2. After 35 years, none of my LC's has ever chipped, but there's already a chip in my Batali after only 4 uses. Both seem to cook and clean equally well, but maybe time will tell how they hold up to each other. Fri Aug 28 16:04:44 -0700 2009 3159789 17220 Claudette 1 4985761 I bought the 6 qt. Batali dutch oven when it was being closed out at Costco (brown only) for $40. The lid seals well, and the design is classic Italian, no ribs or ridges like some LC's. I like it as much as my Staubs, and better than Le Creuset. And much better than the usual Chinese knock offs. This one seems to have good design and quality control. Even the blurb on the box says it is a product to be handed down. We'll see! Fri Aug 28 09:28:46 -0700 2009 1862221 56131 jayt90 2 5387260 I just had a crazy thing happen to a Batali 6 qt. dutch oven I was using: I was heating it up on a stove (electric). I had the heat on high, and I heard a huge pop. It was the pot: shards of the enamel had exploded from the side and a crack appeared, which went from the coating through the iron core. It's unusable now (and thank goodness I wasn't standing near the stove when it happened). Do you think it heated up too fast? But shouldn't it be able to handle that? Mon Feb 08 16:10:53 -0800 2010 4985761 15952 javelina 3 5387296 Yes. Q1 No Q2 If you read the instructions for Le Creuset, they recommend low heat for everything. Put it on low and wait. These ceramics can't handle extremmes of heat, but they are very good if heat is applied slowly. Check with the seller. If it was Costco they'll take it back no q's asked. Mon Feb 08 16:23:39 -0800 2010 5387260 56131 jayt90