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. 
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 .
You bought them here in the Philippines, Rey? Where?
I think if you create enough of a demand I can get some sent …
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
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.
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.
ana5678, wow, thanks for the info!
I bought it at Bed and Bath here in Palm Desert.
happy birthday belated…..i love all your blogs.
Ahhh okay, Rey.
Arny, thank you.
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!
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.
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.
Great, now I have reviews from Le Creuset users.
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
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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
ka-ching!
Mahal din sa Hong Kong ang Le Creuset.
Ay, asar.
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
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.
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!
Happy New Year din, Paul! Hope you got the card?
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.
Kaka-intrigue yang waterless and oil free cooking na yan ah. But I just bought so many Pyrex non-stick cookware and Corningware casseroles.
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.
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!
Hapimamas, thanks! I’ll get in touch!
LE CREUSET IN THE PHILIPPINES? CHECK OUT “BACCHUS EPICERIE” AT THE ROCKWELL POWERPLANT MALL IN MAKATI …
Bacchus Wines at 6750 Ayala carries them. Or you may try their branch in Edsa Shangrila Hotel…But I dnt remember seeing them there but you may ask the staff if they could reserve the model that you want
The last time I checked the Ayala branch, they do carry the blue and orange..not sure if they have the lemon and lime color now..:)
hello fellows.
well i d like ask some help to find out the e mail adress of store that they can supply/sale the le cresout fry pan .. someone know how to get it ?
inned of ; hong kong store and philipines please thanks
my email: neyous@live.jp or andrea3pt@yahoo.it ll be so grateful for some e mails help direct on my e mail box.. once again thanks