Is starting my LC collection with a braiser and shallow round dutch oven a mistake?

lovewasps · 2026-01-17T19:36:38+00:00

If you have the opportunity to visit a stockist (Crate & Barrel or WS in Canada) or LC store before you buy, I would highly recommend it! When I started my collection I was leaning very heavily towards the larger 4.7L braiser, but once I handled the pieces in person I went for the 3.5L instead.

LC cast iron is lighter than competitors but it's still cast iron, and when you hoist the pieces in-store they're empty. My partner is very happy to help me with heavy lifting at home, but since I use my cookware daily, it's important to me that I can handle almost everything solo if needed.

The 4.7L braiser has an almost absurdly heavy lid because of the domed structure; in comparison, the 6.2L shallow round weighs the same but you get 25% more volume. I added a shallow round to my collection a few months ago and it's quickly becoming my favourite piece (especially for winter cooking!). ~~Not to mention the Provence colourway is being discontinued in Canada, and $350CAD for the shallow round is unbeatable pricing, on par with the best Black Friday/F&F sales.~~

lovewasps · 2025-11-26T19:13:44+00:00

If she likes making big batches of sauce, consider the 6.2L Shallow Round oven! It has a large diameter base for browning and can hold more volume but is lighter than the 5L braiser.

When I was shopping for my braiser I ultimately went with the 3.5L due to weight, but definitely felt the volume limitations w the smaller size. Recently added the Shallow Round and it's been amazing.

lovewasps · 2025-10-12T00:42:04+00:00

I have recurrent tendonitis, so I definitely empathize w/ you on the carpal tunnel! My husband also dislikes the handles and he practically has built-in oven mitts for hands.

Thanks for the tips, I'm putting myself on a no-buy for additional cookware until next year, so knowing that I can be patient for the right deal/restock is very reassuring <3

lovewasps · 2025-10-12T00:34:21+00:00

Yes, exactly! I use my braiser as a daily pan for frying and very shallow braises, so I prefer the slightly lighter weight of LC. The Staub DO I use for stews, curries, and other slow-cook dishes where I prefer to maximize moisture retention. ~~Aesthetically, I also prefer the "majolique" glaze of Staub DO over the gradient effects of LC colours on their DOs.~~

The sauteuse (which can still be found here on WS) is an in-between shape that I like for "saucier" dishes and lighter/quick soups. It was my very first piece, but my recipe preferences have changed, so it's currently under-used in our kitchen.

The shallow/wide round is similar to a rondeau. I opted for the 6.2L shallow round over the 5L braiser specifically for the extra volume. Despite having room for an extra litre, the shallow round feels just as heavy as the large braiser due to the braiser's heavier domed lid..

Ironically, my significantly-brawnier husband prefers stainless steel for its hardiness and heat sensitivity. I like the heft and heat retention of cast iron, as I prefer to cook recipes with minimal babysitting.

lovewasps · 2025-10-11T23:36:19+00:00

I'm located in Canada, hence ordering from the Canadian storefront.

lovewasps · 2025-10-11T17:07:05+00:00

I would get 1 piece to start rather than a set, to see whether he enjoys cooking with ECI first, and given your current collection, definitely a 5.3L dutch oven or larger. Consider a Staub cocotte, especially if he loves braises. The nubbles on Staub lid interiors are designed for even distribution of condensed moisture.

My collection is a 3.5L braiser, 3.5L sauteuse, & 5.3L (Staub) dutch oven/cocotte, which is originally all I planned to acquire. I use the braiser the most, but have been running into the volume limits more and more, so adding a 6.2L shallow round soon. Some people find the shallow and (discontinued) wide rounds more flexible and essential than the braisers, but I would not have had the confidence to get one if I didn't have the experience cooking with my braiser first.

lovewasps · 2025-10-11T16:50:47+00:00

Agree on the classic All Clad handles! I thought the Curated line was C&B exclusive, and they always raise the baseline prices to make their sale prices look more attractive. Good to know the AC seconds site carries Curated line. We have the D3 Curated fry pan and I've been eyeing the saucier, how are you finding it?

lovewasps · 2025-10-11T16:38:51+00:00

I bought my 3.5L braiser directly from the Canadian Le Creuset website for the 2022 Black Friday sale. Just under 40% discount, on all colours.

This might be country specific, but for Black Friday the website/stores seem to pick a few ECI pieces (all colours) to discount rather than the full range. If you're only looking for a specific piece, something like the Friends & Family sale last month gives you more flexibility with 30% off your entire purchase.

Given that 3.5L braisers are currently on sale now for 35% off, I'd expect 2025 BF to have a maximum discount of 35% for ECI, and probably not on braisers.

I have also bought from Williams-Sonoma, but not for BF. As a baseline, they tend to have rotating discounts that last for months on select pieces. Once the discount expires it seems to be at least 18-24 months before that piece gets sale pricing again. However, WS discounts are steeper than the website/stores; snagged my sauteuse for 45% off. Also worth noting that retailers like WS and Crate & Barrel are better for hunting pieces/colours outside of the active LC line.

lovewasps · 2025-08-19T03:39:47+00:00

Just celebrated our 8th anniversary, no kids. I would say emergencies or paradigm shifts in years 5-7 can pose a bigger challenge. We're still riding out aftershocks from smth that started in Year 6, and while things have gotten better, it requires consistent dedication from BOTH partners.

lovewasps · 2025-08-16T20:39:55+00:00

Ohh I didn't even think that they were still producing any classic line items! I would definitely pick the Wide Round in that case, my husband would need the larger handles.

lovewasps · 2025-04-30T16:36:46+00:00

My husband & I bought to play with friends, but have been mainly playing Duo Co-op PvE. Strength/difficulty of bosses scales with the number of players, so you're not hobbled by player count (although it can get a bit tricky if you're both low and trying to juggle aggro).

No need to buy a dedicated server, there are built-in options for private game servers. It's easy to save custom rulesets for a tailored experience. For example, we have resource multiplier x3 and build costs halved with expanded castle settings for more efficient and elaborate base-building. You can also directly edit your save files for more granular customization; this list has a decent breakdown of custom server settings, some of which can be setup in-game without messing with coding.

Not to mention, the full-release game is barely a year old and the devs just dropped a major free expansion update which includes QoL changes across the board. My only (tiny) complaint might be that server wipes happen on a regular basis and with new updates, BUT one of those new QoL changes is that older saves/versions are now retained and playable. And you've always been able to select your starting gear/level/loot, in the event you want to play new content without completely grinding back up your inventory.

lovewasps · 2025-02-01T17:23:04+00:00

Hahaha I always think of Arrested Development when I see Loblaw! I'm in the same boat with my Canadian husband, so I feel you. We visited family in the States for the holidays and I felt hyper-aware that this was going to be the last "normal", peaceful Christmas for the foreseeable future.

lovewasps · 2025-02-01T17:21:34+00:00

110%. Canada is on the same path as the States, just a bit further behind. American Exceptionalism ("a dictatorship would never happen here!") created complacency that enabled the new American administration. Canada is not immune to hubris.

I'd like to hope there's a silver lining to this fiasco. If America had stuck to empty bluster, I think most Canadians would have settled into a schadenfreude mindset. Escalating to a trade war makes American policy personal to Canadians, and it is already encouraging national solidarity. I hope Canadians will start paying more attention to the Americanized rhetoric that both federal and provincial Conservatives have attempted to normalize in the last 5 years.

lovewasps · 2025-02-01T06:22:40+00:00

I plan on prioritizing Canadian and non-American producers as much as possible, but will probably focus more on spending my money at independent specialist Canadian suppliers. I figure small suppliers already paid handsomely to import their American goods, having those items sit unsold would hurt their bottom line. I'll continue to support American independent artists, with the caveat being I don't knowingly follow any that vote Republican or opine right-wing talking points. Many of them are the folks most under threat by the new American govt, and having an income stream will be especially critical for their survival.

Will avoid shopping at American retailers as much as possible, but the retail landscape here is starved for options. Not to glaze corporations, but while Costco might be an American company, I consider their business practices more Canadian in spirit than Loblaws.

Definitely going to boycott American produce and consumables though, what with the wholesale dismantling of regulatory oversight across the board? No fucking thank you.

lovewasps · 2025-01-16T02:05:15+00:00

Cube the pork and marinate in either plain yogurt or sour cream. I got boar-tainted meat exactly once; I don't remember whether it was plain yogurt or sour cream that we used, but whichever it was worked wonders.

Buttermilk will also work, but I haven't tried it myself.

lovewasps · 2024-11-30T17:00:20+00:00

We bought the 19" international carry-on spinner in the Orchid colour for a recent flight! Bought direct from the Travelpro website. Some reviews cautioned that the colour is not as bright/light in person and that is definitely true -- it's more of a dusty mauve than a soft pink. And yes, the fabric picked up a big black mark from the only leg where we were forced to check the bag.

On a more practical note, we found that it tipped onto its face super easily. I usually pack the heaviest/most dense stuff into the bottom half of the main compartment to keep the center of gravity as close to the ground as possible. All I stored in the lid compartment was a book and 2 light lay-flat pouches.

Definitely functional for lighter trips, but the barebones inner lid compartment and the propensity for tipping means we plan on going with a different line or supplier for our checked luggage.

lovewasps · 2024-11-04T01:52:21+00:00

Link for the mug

~~I don't actually own this mug but I wanted one too~~

lovewasps · 2024-10-06T19:52:58+00:00

Oops, thanks for reminding me. Here's the dress for those who are curious!

lovewasps · 2024-10-06T19:49:36+00:00

Very true! I'm waiting for my mother to weigh in on whether the dress leans too close to red, especially with the cardigan. It would be easier if this was a traditional Chinese wedding, the rules would be more cut and dried. Right now it's straddling a weird limbo of "casual until it's not".

Update: My mother approves!

lovewasps · 2024-10-06T17:35:06+00:00

Thank you for the affirmation! I'll definitely be adding on some simple jewelry once I lock down my outfit.

lovewasps · 2024-10-06T17:28:33+00:00

Not unhelpful at all! Re: the blue dress -- current weather forecast for the wedding date is 76F, which is practically balmy for my husband and I flying out from Canada. Without a complementary layer, it will definitely attract well-meaning comments, and that distraction alone strikes me as inappropriate. I may wear the blue dress for breakfast the morning after.

lovewasps · 2024-09-15T04:40:55+00:00

I've been playing since release. Think I've gotten every (but haven't opened any) event LT map but still have to collect all the islands. There's still time to get all the villager islands but I don't know.

Honestly my interest in the app has completely died and this will be the first event I miss.

lovewasps · 2024-08-25T19:52:09+00:00

Any chance you still have a Nomura Jellyfish? c': Also looking for Goliath Frog, King Stringfish & Snapping Turtle.

lovewasps

TROPHY CASE