After 10 years of wanting my dream collection, I finally decided to plunk down for the Le Creuset portion of it. (If you can buy at an outlet store, all the better. I paid $125 for this 7.25 qt. in French Blue).

So as I approach the register to pay for my purchase, I tell the ladies at the Le Creuset store about my dream collection ... and they just looked at me like I was a moron.

Them: "Why would you need All-Clad?"
Me: "Because everyone needs a stainless steel frypan, right?"
Them: "I only cook in LeCreuset! I even bake my cakes in it!"
Me: "What? Bake a cake in a roasting pan?"
Them: "Why not? They cook beautifully!"

So began my adventure. In a crazy, impusive moment, I got a small roasting pan ($90), a enamal coated stainless steel stock pot ($50), 2 small sauce pans (1 qt, 2 qt), and a grill ($50).

Let me tell you: This is the dream set I never knew I wanted. Not only do I have a set of BEAUTIFUL pans, but I think I won't need to buy as many fancy serving dishes now that I can cook and serve in the same Le Creuset pot!

It's true: the full cast iron allows for food to cook beautifully. Your pot roast, rice pilaf, casseroles, risottos never tasted more rich, flavorful and tender.

Imagine how you'd make a roast: First, in a fry pan, you'd brown it. Then you'd transfer to a Pyrex dish and bake. And if you have company over, you'd transfer to a third serving dish. All those dishes! What a mess!! With Le Creuset -- you cook & serve all in one pan. And it cleans up super easy, and even in the dishwasher for those who are lazy. Instead of 3 dishes, you use one -- gotta love the efficiency!

Plus -- with this cast iron, you cook on low heat, instead of high heat like you have to with stainless steel & aluminum. I never knew so much heat was lost into the atmosphere from my old stainless steel pans. The cast iron core of Le Creuset gets hot and stays hot -- Anyone can cook French cuisine like Julia Child, even on a hot plate!

Le Creuset is going to save me from buying a ton of serving dishes. I think I will cut my "dream kitchen" dish needs down by 2/3 with these Le Creuset investments.

I was really nervous the first week to make such a big commitment to a cookware set I didn't know much about. But as I try all my favorite recipes, and as I clean up the most stuck on mess at the bottom of the pans in seconds, I wonder now how I could have wanted anything else.

Le Creuset was the best gamble I've ever made. Now, I tell all my friends to forget all the other cookware -- Le Creuset all the way!!

This pot will be an heirloom. (Rating: 5.00)
Review : Even at the great price Amazon is selling this pot for, it's still very expensive, but these pots are virtually indestructable, last a lifetime, and you'll be able to hand it down to your grandchildren. And this is a great price.. I've been keeping track for awhile now, and this price rivals used models sold on eBay.

Le Creuset pots offer all of the great qualities of cast iron (even heating, heat retention, heavy) without the downsides (no seasoning required, tolerant of acidic foods, no metallic aftertastes).

I'd be buying this one myself today if it weren't for the fact that someone would kill me if I spent this kind of money on something with my birthday coming up so soon!

This pot is my pride and joy (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I had been "lusting" after a Le Creuset Dutch Oven for a couple of years, but couldn't justify the cost to myself. I love to cook, and my specialties are soups and stews. I finally decided I was worth it, and asked for it for Christmas last year. I love it! It gets lots of use, and was well worth the price. I sear meat in it, add my other soup/stew ingredients, and once brought to temperature, I turn the burner (gas) as low as it will go and just let it simmer happily for hours, with never a scorch or hot spot. It does not allow your soups/stews to cook away through steam, as the heavy tight-fitting lid retains the moisture and redeposits it back to the food. And it's so darn pretty! As Emeril would say, it makes me "happy, happy, happy".

Cook like a pro all day! (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I had seen these pots in action on all of the cooking shows, so I figured they were serious cookware. After careful consideration I finally purchased the seven quart dutch oven, in the cherry red color. This size is perfect to make enough stew for my whole family, and the cooking qualities of this pot are just as they are billed. It browned the stew meat, deglazed beautifully, heated evenly, and went right in the oven for the final cooking phase. After dinner I was thrilled to see that Le Creuset's cast-iron cookware cleans just as easily as their stoneware line. Although this pot is VERY heavy, the benefits of cast iron far outweigh this "downside". I should have bought one of these pots years ago and I recommend one to anyone who loves to cook as I do.