Le Creuset

For the longest time, I've wanted to own a Le Creuset dutch oven. Coveted by foodies and chefs around the world, Le Creuset makes some of the most durable enameled cast iron and ceramics available.

The Le Creuset factory is at Fresnoy-Le-Grand in Northern France. In 1925, the foundry began producing cast iron by hand-casting molten iron in sand molds. Even today, after casting, each mold is destroyed and the cookware is polished and sanded by hand then scrutinized for imperfections. Once declared good for enameling, the items are sprayed with two separate coats of enamel and fired after each process at a temperature of 800°C. The enamel then becomes extremely hard and durable, making it almost completely resistant to damage during normal use. Since much of the finishing is done by hand, each Le Creuset piece is completely unique. (Source)

A few weeks ago, I noticed that T.J. Maxx was carrying Le Creuset Seconds. After a thorough once over, I couldn't find a single flaw in any of the seconds, minus a few tiny bubbles in the enamel, and the price was almost half of what one would pay for a "perfect" specimen. Tonight, I bit the bullet and bought one. Lime green color and weighing in at almost 20 pounds, this dutch oven will most likely last me the rest of my years.