Celebrate a century of culinary innovation with Le Cresuet's Flamme Dorée Collection. Honoring Le Creuset's centennial celebration, Flamme Dorée favors the very first Le Creuset glaze, Flame, created by Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq - two Belgian industrialists in 1920s France who were inspired to bring personality into every kitchen. Breaking away from the utilitarian cookware trend of the time, Le Creuset's founders created the standard for cast iron enamelware in 1925 and have continued inspiring chefs and home cooks alike since its inception. Flamme Dorée features a rich, magmatic orange enameled glaze with gold flakes, breathing a new life into their classic Flame glaze inspired by the fiery molten ore used to create the cookware. Using a crucible and their casting experience, they created the basic production process still used by Le Creuset today. Flamme Dorée - or Golden Flame in French - is an homage to Le Creuset's time-honored, lasting legacy. Keep reading to learn more about Le Creuset's journey to becoming the first, the finest, and the favorite in cast iron cookware.
The First
In the 1920s, cookware tended to be simple, uniform, and lacking in personality. Brands like Griswold, Wagner, and Erie were well known for their high-performing, durable cast-iron cookware pieces; however, partners Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq knew that with their expertise and a little bit of imaginative thinking, they could reimagine the cookware industry and bring brightness to every kitchen. Meeting at an international fair in 1924 Brussels, the two industrialists quickly discovered their complementary skill sets were the perfect combination to achieve this goal. Traveling to France, the pair set up shop in the small village of Fresnoy-le-Grand due to the abundance of raw materials needed to produce cast iron cookware. By 1925 Desaegher and Aubecq created the prototype for the very first enameled cocotte, and Le Creuset was born. Their first glaze, Flame, is a fiery orange hue reflectant of the molten iron used to create cast iron cookware. Flame instantly became a classic, and since then, Le Creuset has developed a wide range of hues that are perfectly suited to any personality and kitchen.
The Finest
High-quality craftsmanship has remained Le Creuset's ethos since their humble beginnings. Optimizing the process for manufacturing enameled cast iron in the early years, Le Creuset's process has remained virtually unchanged. Every piece of enameled cast iron from Le Creuset's foundry is still individually cast in sand molds with molten cast iron. Beginning at the concept stage, skilled designers draft technical drawings that are brought to life in the form of sand molds. Precision-crafted tools are then used to press the sand molds into shape under high pressure, preparing them for liquid iron. In just six seconds, the craftsmen at Le Creuset heat molten cast iron in a crucible and pour it directly into the molds. After the pieces are removed, a meticulous quality control is performed to ensure each piece meets the Le Creuset standard. Afterward, these pieces are prepared for the enameling process. At the heart of Le Creuset's creative process, those at the color laboratory develop complex formulations to develop their world-renowned gradient hues. Each piece of Le Creuset cookware is coated with a minimum of two layers of enamel, ensuring they remain a part of your kitchen for a lifetime.
The Favorite
The combination of Le Creuset's innovative beginnings and commitment to quality has undoubtedly made them a favorite in the culinary world. From television sets and professional kitchens to your home kitchen, Le Creuset sets the table for people from all walks of life. Due to their quality craftsmanship, Le Creuset creates an instant heirloom piece to pass down from generation to generation. While always honoring their rich tradition and legacy, Le Creuset continues to innovate and create exciting new pieces that manifest confidence in the kitchen. Winning awards for Best Dutch Oven and Best Cast Iron Skillet from America's Test Kitchen, Le Creuset has proven their design has stood the test of time and will remain a favorite. Flamme Dorée represents 100 years of Le Creuset honoring their three essential truths, Les Trois Vérités: The first, the finest, and the favorite of enameled cast iron cookware.
