Anyone familiar with le Gourmet Chef tri ply?

[kidziti]

I am looking at a very nice looking set of tri-ply cookware from le Gourmet Chef that resembles All Clad in nearly every aspect. I have some AC pieces and have compared a similar item from LGC; the differences are almost negligible (AC has a very slight increase in thickness - about that of an index card). Can anyone comment on LGC? From the bits and pices I pick up in other forums, they compare quite favorably, but I'd like to hear from this forum.

Lee

[kidziti]

Hope you don't mind if I bump this one up - I'm still waiting to hear from anyone who has tried the Le Gourmet Chef line of tri-ply....

[Jock]

I don't know anything about Le Gourmet Chef cookware but I will tell you that I am suspicious of a product with a name like Le Gourmet Chef. Like I'm supposed to be impressed by the French terminology.

I would want to know who makes it and how it is made and and the quality of the materials and get some testimonials from users of the product - just like you are doing here and where I can't help because I haven't used it. What's the cost comparison?

Jock

[ham_611]

Hi, I read your question about LGC try ply cookware. I work at a LGC store. I can tell you that you will love this cookware. I'm sure the person at the store has told you about the cookware but just in case they didn't I can give you some info on it. It is stainless steal cookware. It has an aluminum core which helps with even heating through out the pan. It has stay cool handles and can go straight from the stovetop to the oven up to I believe 600 degrees. (of course the handles will be hot when coming out of the oven). It has a lifetime warrenty on it and it is made for LGC by al clad.
I had a lady come into the store where I work. She said she was a personal chef (she goes into peoples homes and cooks and freezes up to a months worth of meals for them). She bought a 12 piece set of the tri ply plus a stock pot with a pasta insert. She told me that she had been shopping for a new set of cookware and she liked the tri ply best out of all she had looked at.
We sell a lot of tri ply in our store and rarely have it returned. I will tell you this LGC has a wonderful return policy. You can return any item you buy at the store at any time for any reason. You should try it I'm sure you will be very pleased with your purchase.

[Culprit]

A factor to keep in mind when you're buying cookware is that Wolfgang Puck, Emeril, etc. are not in the manufacturing business. Therefore, someone makes their products for marketing under their name. LGC would, in my opinion, fall within the same category. When I buy quality cookware (or any cookware for that matter) I look first at the way it's put together. Do the lids/covers have a good seal; do they just sit on top of the pan or do they rest in a recess in the top of the piece. Are the handles held on with screws, rivets, welded, etc. Is the composition polished steel, copper, aluminum, solid stailness; stainless over copper, aluminum, etc. Is the finish smooth or pitted. Is the piece well balanced and does it rest flat on the cooking surface. Can the piece be taken from the stovetop to the oven and will it be easy to clean. Will the handles remain cool on the stovetop or will I need a potholder. I use cast iron quite a lot so I am no stranger to using a potholder (or that towel I tuck into my waistband) to pick up a pan. It goes without saying that anything removed from an oven is going to require a potholder.
If you know what you want in a piece of cookware the selection process will be short and sweet. It either meets your criteria, including what you're willing to pay for it, or it doesn't.

[lordofthefish]

Actually, Consumer Reports has rated them in the December 2005 issue.

1. KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials was first
2. Calphalon Contemporary
3. Emerilware Stainless (but melt and fall apart if left on a burner)
4. Magnalite Classic
5. Member's Mark Tri-ply clad
6. J.A. Hennckels Classic Clad
7. T-Fal Jamie Oliver
8. All Clad Master Chef 2
9. Cuisinart Chef's Classic
10. All Clad Copper Core 6000