Copper pots and pans

There are plenty of must-have French kitchen utensils and gadgets to call upon. Justin Postlethwaite rounds up the classics, from Madeleine moulds to Laguiole knives

So you’ve bagged that long-coveted Dordogne maison de maître and want to get started on some authentic French gastronomy. But how to equip your cuisine à la française?

  • Let’s start with the basics. You’d be hard-pushed to find a French home without a humble économe hiding in a kitchen drawer. This old-school vegetable peeler (also called an épluche-légumes) dates back to 1929 when Victor Pouzet invented it in the Puy-de-Dôme. These days, you can take your pick of razor-sharp, vertical or horizontal éplucheurs suitable for all budgets.
Vegetable peeler
  • Next is the classic moulin à légumes (food mill), used to make perfectly smooth purées up and down the land – especially by those with young children to feed. We have Monsieur Jean Mantelet to thank for creating the first (in France) in 1932. He went on to form the company Moulinex, and a range of time-saving, hi-tech gadgets followed.
Food mill
  • Among the more modern time- and effort-saving gadgets are the guillotine à saucisson – ideal for ‘live execution’ of dried meats – and a very cute Kipik hedgehog toothpick holder to place by the olive bowl. Both make excellent apéro ice-breakers before the champagne kicks in.
Sausage cutter
  • Once upon a time, only fancy châteaux would hang, with self-regarding largesse, a long line of copper pans in the below-stairs kitchen. Today, many pan manufacturers have a copper range – at a hefty price, admittedly – but none are more authentic than those made in ‘capitale du cuivre’ Villedieu-les-Poêles. This Normandy village is named after the copper pan industry that still thrives there. Head to Mauviel to snap up bargains.
Copper pan
  • For stovetop or in-oven slow-cooking, nothing comes close to enamelled, cast-iron Staub or Le Creuset cocottes. For heat transference and flavour-preservation, these heavyweight casserole dishes are an eternal favourite of professional chefs and domestic gods and goddesses alike. Best of all? These days, they come in a trendy palette of bold colours.
Yellow Creuset Cocotte
  • There is a real cutting-edge history to exquisite knife-making in France, with the stylish blades produced by Opinel (since 1890) and Laguiole (since 1829) enjoying almost mythical status. In fact, such is their significance, that the French often give engraved Laguiole couteaux (perhaps a foldable steak or picnic knife) as gifts to mark their offspring’s coming-of-age or at Christmas.
Languiole knife
  • Love your salads? There is nothing like that Provençal touch when it comes to drizzling olive oil à table. Scour the markets in the south to find an oil and vinegar set, usually adorned with olivier leaf designs. While you’re there, pick up a bright roll of laminated table cloth.
Vinegar and oil set
  • In the mid-19th century, long before the firm branched out into cars, Peugeot made pepper mills and coffee grinders at its factory in Montbéliard, Franche-Comté. And the company’s modern offerings, crafted in wood and with lifetime guarantee, still remain truly haut de gamme (top of the line).
Peugeot pepper mill
  • Nearby Lorraine, meanwhile, is the home of dainty Madeleine sponge cakes – and any pâtissier worth his or her salt should own a mould for these shell-shaped fancies.
Madeline moulds from Le Creuset
  • No self-respecting cuisinier should go without a wide crêpe pan, a raclette set or a fine-mesh, cone-shaped Chinois strainer – perfect for removing lumps from all those delicious sauces you will whip up in your French kitchen!
Wide crepe pan

This comes courtesy of Taste of France Issue Two. For more great recipes, food news and interviews with top chefs, buy your copy here!

5 COMMENTS

    • That is amazing!! The guillotin à saucisson is a French cooking essential! Why not treat yourself plus it would be very helpful if you wanted to try your hand at our saucisson brioche recipe! 😉

  1. Love, Love, Love my emails from you. I already have the two issues of Taste of France and love those as well. I can’t wait for the next issue (when can we expect that?). I also can’t wait to travel back to France as I love the country, the people, food and wine! Take care everyone and be safe.

    • Thank you so much Brian! It’s lovely to hear that you enjoyed our Taste of France magazines. France is beautiful and fingers crossed it won’t be long till you can travel back and enjoy the people food and most importantly the wine!

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