In a discussion about bad customer service in the Philippines over at Sassy Lawyer’s Journal, Paul the Unlawyer posted a totally off-topic comment asking if I had tried cooking with Le Creuset. I knew that Le Creuset cookware was made of cast iron but I wasn’t quite prepared for what it had done to cast iron.
This is enamelled cast iron cookware and tableware and stoneware for baking in the most amazing colors. For instance, there’s this Le Creuset Petite Blueberry Casserole (that’s an Amazon affiliate link). I started drooling. I was hoping, very fervently, that Paul asked because he was a local distributor and he wanted to get me interested in the product. Le Creuset isn’t exactly cheap and if I can get it from the distributor locally, well, that would be great, wouldn’t it? But Paul is not a distributor, as it turns out. And that started the long and painful process of finding out if Le Creuset is available locally at Rustan’s or some other retailer of high-end cookware.
After so many hours of searching and reading, well, I’m disappointed. Haven’t found any information about the local availability of Le Creuset. If you know of anyone selling them locally at reasonable prices, please let me know. I think I’ve found the perfect birthday and Christmas giftsssssss (yes, all those s’s) for myself. 
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Rey 10.21.07 at 10:21 pm
Good choice Connie it will last forever, multi purpose, barbell ang bigat at pamalo sa asawa o magnanakaw. I bought the Oval French Oven 5 qt. couple years back .
Connie Veneracion 10.22.07 at 8:04 am
You bought them here in the Philippines, Rey? Where?
chris 10.22.07 at 10:08 am
I think if you create enough of a demand I can get some sent …
thelma dumpit murillo 10.22.07 at 10:58 am
hi connie,
was it your birthday. my belated wishes. libra ka rin pala? just celebrated mine oct. 20. anyway, here’s more to life. keep in touch
Connie Veneracion 10.22.07 at 11:22 am
How much demand, Chris? hahaha
thelma, we have the same birthday! wow.
And congratulations on the Supreme Court ruling. You go! Great to see you’re blogging again.
ana5678 10.22.07 at 2:25 pm
I saw a pretty good collection of Le Creuset cookware at Gourdo’s in Trinoma but I’m guessing all their bigger stores have them. They are a really good investment and a joy to cook with.
Connie Veneracion 10.22.07 at 7:13 pm
ana5678, wow, thanks for the info!
Rey 10.22.07 at 10:16 pm
I bought it at Bed and Bath here in Palm Desert.
arny 10.22.07 at 10:26 pm
happy birthday belated…..i love all your blogs.
Connie Veneracion 10.22.07 at 11:19 pm
Ahhh okay, Rey.
Arny, thank you.
NYCMama 10.23.07 at 12:18 am
Love love love Le Creuset. If in the States, (or if you know someone here who loves you enough to buy and ship to you!), a really good place to buy Le Creuset is Marshall’s. It is at least half off the original price, just because the color is now “out of season”. I don’t care for “in season” colors, so any color in a good size and shape that I need makes me happy!
mia 10.23.07 at 3:20 am
I have both Le Creuset and Staub cast iron pots but I found Staub cooks my meats more flavorful because of the self-basting lid. However I think Le Creuset makes their newer pots with that feature too. I bought mine at Amazon when they had a huge sale back last year and I purchased the 8 quart oval pot for only $130 and a set with the 5 quart pot, a grill pan and a shallow roasting dish for only $99. I was shocked at the price and all of my coworkers bought a set too.
Josie 10.23.07 at 6:59 am
I was browsing inside a “Winners” store in Toronto at lunchtime today, and saw a few “Le Creuset” pots on display. This particular one I was looking at was a 5-quart (I think) dutch oven made in France. It was marked “seconds”, with a price tag of Cdn.$149.00 (baka cheaper in the States). It must be a good cookware but maybe quite heavy for oldies.
Connie Veneracion 10.23.07 at 8:38 am
Great, now I have reviews from Le Creuset users.
carmela 10.23.07 at 8:38 am
I was told there is a distributor there called Bacchus International and they have shops listed below. Goodluck!
1) Unit 132 makati Shangri-la Hotel Shopping Arcade
Ayala Ave cor makati Ave
Makati City 1200 Philippines
2) Lobby level Shangri-la mactan Island Resort
Punta Engano road,
Lapu-Lapu City 6015 Cebu, Philippines
Le Creuset Contact:
Joanne Ko
Le Creuset Hong Kong Ltd
Tel : +852 2790 1806 / +852 9871 7785
Paul 10.23.07 at 8:55 am
Belated Happy Birthday Connie!
I’ll be going either to the Glorietta or the TriNoma mall before the week is out, gather prices, and see if its worth lugging one of the 5 quart French ovens home from HK instead of buying it here.
Thanks ana5678 for the info too!
Fe 10.24.07 at 5:50 am
Hi,
I enjoy reading your blog. I’m a Le Creuset fanatic and I’ve been fortunate to build a collection mostly from sales at Elizabeth Cookshop here in England. I love cooking with them although they’re a bit heavy for me. How I wish I could get one for you. Try Amazon UK. The almond Le Creuset is now on sale.
Connie Veneracion 10.24.07 at 10:12 am
carmela, thanks!
Thank you, Paul. LOL You started this whole Le Creuset thing. hahaha
Fe, no worries, I’ll find Le Creuset somewhere. Or get them one way or another hehehehe
Mila 10.24.07 at 1:57 pm
I love using my sister’s le crueset sets when I’m at her house in the states. They are solid, cook evenly, bake evenly, and they come in cool colors. Definitely buy them if you can, but if possible go to the outlets since you can find great deals on them (70 to 80% off at some places). Absolute deals and worth every penny.
auee 10.25.07 at 5:46 am
OMG… those heavy things
I only touch them on displays. Sobrang kuripot ko ayaw ko pang mag-invest sa matitinong cookware hanggang di maayos ang kusina namin.
My officemate actually had these on their wedding list. Ang mahal! I told hubby I couldn’t even afford the lid. And if I try to take one home, yan na lang ang magiging laman nang bagahe ko.
Goodluck… I’m sure hong kong will have them.
Connie Veneracion 10.25.07 at 10:34 am
Mila, wow, at 70% to 80% off, the prices would be more than reasonable. Mura na yun.
Auee, “I’m sure hong kong will have them.”
what an excuse to go to HK Disneyland hehehehe
auee 10.25.07 at 10:26 pm
ka-ching!
Paul 12.07.07 at 8:22 pm
Mahal din sa Hong Kong ang Le Creuset.
Connie Veneracion 12.10.07 at 7:22 am
Ay, asar.
Steph 12.26.07 at 5:15 pm
hi connie,
have you heard of saladmaster? it’s waterless cookware, just wondering if you have experience with it, kasi i’m planning to get waterless cookware for myself.
steph
Connie Veneracion 12.27.07 at 11:11 am
Steph, yes, my mother-in-law has a complete set and she’s been using it for at least two decades. Thick stainless steel cookware. Don’t know about being “waterless” though because she uses it just like any stainless cookware.
Paul 12.31.07 at 4:32 pm
I saw how a salesman demonstrate a Saladmaster frying pan to my mom once - he used it to fry a chicken without oil. Needless to say she was hooked.
Next time I’m in Hong Kong I want to buy a Kitchenaid mixer.
Happy New Year Connie!
Connie Veneracion 01.01.08 at 2:12 am
Happy New Year din, Paul! Hope you got the card?
Paul 01.01.08 at 11:30 am
Yes I did - I just opened my mailbox last night.
Thanks!
Re Saladmaster: I also saw that same salesman cook tinola without water as well.
Connie Veneracion 01.02.08 at 12:44 am
Kaka-intrigue yang waterless and oil free cooking na yan ah. But I just bought so many Pyrex non-stick cookware and Corningware casseroles.
Paul 01.02.08 at 1:08 pm
I don’t know how much these Saladmasters cost today but I remember my mother had to pay for them in installments; they were expensive even back then.
hapimamas 04.01.08 at 7:28 am
Hi, I was checking on Le Creuset and I came across your site. I am actually selling Le Creuset here in Manila through my blog, http://hapimamas.multiply.com. My prices are more or less 50% less than local retail prices (I try to benchmark US prices whenever possible) but my stocks are a bit limited. I do hope you will check it out. Thanks!
Connie Veneracion 04.01.08 at 12:39 pm
Hapimamas, thanks! I’ll get in touch!