I adore the color blue. All shades of it. When I moved out on my own and started purchasing things for my apartment, they were mostly blue: towels, bedsheets, plates, etc. It was all very apparent when my mom came to visit me for the first time exclaiming “I didn’t know you liked the color blue because you wear so much black!” Uh, yeah that’s true. I was about to quote her a song by The Smiths but she wouldn’t get it.
Fast forward to the present. Joint household where The Mr. likes black/grey. If you take a look around our place, there is almost no stitch of my favorite color. It’s not that my love of the color has deterred, but I made a compromise.
One thing I could not make a comprise on was on this dutch oven by Lodge. I’ve been coveting a dutch oven for three years. But something spurred me this year to do research and buy one as a gift for myself. I work hard, I should reward myself, right?
Le Creuset sells several models in many lovely shades including blue. But I can’t part with the $200+ for a 6 quart dutch oven.
Lucky for me, Lodge, the maker of fine cast iron offers up their own cast dutch oven for $70. At Walmart.
Long story short, I hauled my butt up to the dreaded Walmart, picked up one of those suckers and now in possession of a beautiful blue dutch oven.
I christened the newest cookware by cooking Julia Child’s version Beef Bourguignon and the results were amazing. The meat was fork tender due to all the wine and juices it simmered in creating a rich sauce. It almost made me forget about the several hours of cooking time required and several pans used. All through it, the dutch oven kept a constant temperature and despite the weight, will be an invaluable tool in my kitchen.
My Burning Kitchen 
I have to warn you… these things can be addictive. I bought my first one (also blue) a few years ago and thought I would never need a second one (why would you need TWO big and heavy dutch ovens?) And then I saw a larger one at Costco and had to have it. To make larger batches of braised beef and such. I'm hoping I can go a few more years before giving in to the temptation to buy a small one for little casseroles.
How beautiful! I often buy things in red for the kitchen, but that is a beautiful color, I particularly like it matched with orange, mediterranean style.I may just have to sneak into walmart sometime! It sucks the life out of me so much though….
Gorgeous!
One of the requirements when went to the Sur La Table opening at South Coast Plaza was to use my 20% coupon to get a Le Creuset we got a 5qt "French" oven in Caribbean. The color wasn't really important to me so I like my wife choose it. We also go the matching teapot.
Running over to (dreaded) Walmart!
I've got two Creuset pans (both baby blue) one shallow one that we use as a frying pan also, and a deep one that is our casserole, our pasta pan and soup pot too. They are worth every penny! It's only in the last couple of years here we've been able to get cheaper versions, so I don't know how long they last for, but I know of many 30 yr old Creusets still in daily use.
Leenne–Thanks for the warning. I'm actually considering getting a second one. And the whole selection of smaller ones for garlic and individual servings. Jennywenny–The other colors available are green and red. You can also order it online so you don't have to step foot inside Walmart. Here's the link just in case: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5716697JustJenn–It is!DanGarion–Ah yes, a french oven. Maybe some day, I'll treat myself to Le Creuset.Geefunk–I dread Walmart too. My husband likes to call it "Darwin's waiting room."Sarah–My first inclination was to look search for unwanted Le Creuset pans on eBay. Even then, they were out of my price range. I'm pretty happy with Lodge but covet Le Creusets' mini pans. Maybe some day!
I'm with you on the Le Creuset dutch. Every time I go into high end housewares stores, I complete drool over them. But even the mini's are way out of my price range. Thank you for letting me in on the Lodge offering. I'll be searching for one for myself now… in red hopefully.And I received Julia's cookbook for Christmas. Am dying to try something out. I might have to complete my copycat and do the same once I get my new dutch oven.
If you have a TJ Maxx (or Homegoods or Marshall's – all the same company), check them out for these pots. They often have Le Creuset and Lodge at cheaper prices than anybody else.The red is available at Target, if that color suits you.And Cook's Illustrated rated the Mario Batali and Tramontina dutch ovens very highly. In fact, somebody over at thekitchn.com had their Tramontina chip, and the company replaced it. I saw a post on chowhound by someone with the same issue with a Le Creuset and all they were offered was a 40% off coupon to purchase a replacement. 😛
afotogirl–You're in luck! Lodge makes a red dutch oven.Cara mia–I would never have thought about TJ Maxx which we do have here in San Diego. That's good to know about Le Creuset and their warranty. I would rather have a full replacement rather than 40% off a replacement.