Le Creuset: 100 Years of Culinary Heritage

World-renowned brand, Le Creuset, commemorates a century of design innovation and culinary expertise with its signature, colorful cast-iron cookware, widely regarded as a kitchen essential by both professional and amateur chefs across the globe.

STORY BY MEGAN DEMAREST 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG LIGHT 

If you cook at all, even just on occasion, you know the name Le Creuset. It’s become synonymous with quality, luxury cookware, and their sought-after pieces are staples in many chefs’ culinary collections. If you are lucky enough to be bestowed a Le Creuset piece for any reason, you know that you have been given a gift that literally keeps on giving and will last a lifetime. Just like the family recipes that are crafted within its cookware, Le Creuset is handed down from generation to generation because of its durability, its beauty, and the way the food tastes when created in its enamel-coated, cast-iron goodness. 

Our region is lucky enough to have a Le Creuset store as part of the Manchester Designer Outlets (MDO) in the heart of Manchester. I recently visited the store to chat with the manager, Denise Zdobnikow, and learn more about the centennial and this season’s new pieces and colors. I also took some time to admire the beautiful array of seasonal and year-round cookware on display while I was there. It’s easy to get lost amongst the rows of gorgeous color and quality. I was eager to hear from Denise about Le Creuset’s 100th anniversary and the unveiling of the holiday collection. 

The Crucible 

For generations, kitchens around the world have been graced by the beautiful hues and durable presence of Le Creuset cast-iron cookware. Founded in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France by two Belgian industrialists, the brand has been celebrating its centennial in 2025, honoring 100 years of craftsmanship, design innovation, and its unique ability to transform everyday cooking into a legacy of shared meals and lasting memories. 

The Belgian innovators—an enameling specialist and an expert in casting— were the first to put colored enamel on a cast iron cocotte, which is a very small Dutch Oven designed for individual servings (it’s also as cute as it sounds). The fiery orange hue, inspired by the color of molten ore in a crucible, or “creuset,” became the signature color. Together, they created the basic production process still used by Le Creuset today at the original foundry in Northern France. 

Hewn from cast iron and meticulously finished by skilled artisans, each piece of Le Creuset represents more than utility—it embodies tradition, artistry, and connection. The brand has become the backbone of countless kitchens. Ask any home cook or seasoned chef, and they’ll tell you: a Le Creuset Dutch Oven is more than cookware—it’s an heirloom, a vessel of family recipes and gatherings that span generations.

From France to Your Table

For collectors, the surprises keep coming. Limited-edition re-issues of classics like the terrine, the tarte tatin dish, and the doufeu pot are appearing in stores alongside exclusive centennial designs, such as the Flamme Dorée (“golden flame”) Dutch Oven—an elegant take on the brand’s signature orange; an ombré-style color, flecked with gold, and crowned with a commemorative knob. True devotees know to act fast as these pieces tend to sell out as quickly as they arrive.

The year ‘round, centennial, and Holiday collections at Le Creuset in Manchester, VT.

For die-hard fans, the Le Creuset experience doesn’t end in the kitchen. The brand’s “factory-to-table” events, held several times a year across the U.S., have developed a near-cult following. Imagine an arena filled with rows of colorful cast iron, stoneware, and bakeware—direct from the warehouse to the hands of eager customers.

Some enthusiasts travel across the country for the chance to score a treasure or simply to be part of the excitement. Entire families make it an event, sporting t-shirts in Le Creuset’s iconic hues and swapping stories of their favorite finds. It’s proof that passion for good cookware runs deep.

Heart Behind the Counter

At Le Creuset’s Manchester, VT store, longtime associate Denise brings the brand’s century of craftsmanship to life every day. She’s part culinary educator, part product matchmaker, and part investigator. “When someone comes in asking for a Dutch Oven,” she says with a smile, “I don’t just hand them one. I ask what they like to cook, how many people they’re feeding, whether they entertain often. Sometimes they really need a braiser instead. It’s about finding the perfect fit because these pieces are an investment—and I want them to love what they take home.” For the curious, a braiser, or “brazier” in French, is a pan ideal for slow-cooking techniques like braising and is shallower than a Dutch Oven. In addition to the signature enameled cast-iron cookware, Le Creuset offers stainless steel, enamel on steel, ceramic, and nonstick cookware.

Denise doesn’t just sell all these varieties of cookware; she also cooks with it. After getting her first Dutch Oven ten years ago, she was hooked. “The first time I cooked a chicken in it, my family said, ‘Mom, this is so moist and so good—keep doing it this way!’ You can brown the skin at the end, take the lid off for the last twenty minutes, and it comes out beautifully.”

Her other favorite? Pot roast. “I sear it on the stovetop first to get all that goodness, then add broth and vegetables and put it in the oven. Once it’s in the Dutch Oven, it’s like an oven within an oven—everything comes out tender and rich.” Denise’s personal experience with the cookware helps customers navigate the differences between Le Creuset’s product lines—cast iron, stainless steel, and nonstick—based on their cooking style. 

Celebration and Community

As a manager who’s both passionate and deeply connected to her customers, Denise sees Le Creuset’s centennial as a chance to celebrate the community she loves. “We’re always looking for ways to tie in cooking or entertaining,” she says. “One of my favorite events was when we turned the store into an art gallery. A local photographer exhibited her work, and people came from Saratoga, NY just to see her. It was a win-win—we had great turnout, great energy, and it brought people together.” Denise would love to engage with more community partners and hold events at the store, whether they’re cooking demos or more unique collaborations like the photography exhibit.

She’s equally proud of the store’s offerings, from free year-round gift wrapping to wedding gifts, housewarming gifts, and more. 

“We see a lot of couples, especially in the fall when there are weddings every weekend,” she says. “Sometimes guests even wait to buy their gifts here in Vermont so they can wrap them beautifully before the celebration.”

Her enthusiasm is contagious. “If you love to cook or entertain, you need to come see what we have. Whether you’re setting a beautiful table or giving a meaningful gift, this is the place to find something special—and we’ll take care of you every step of the way.”

As Le Creuset steps into its second century, it’s celebrating globally by bringing back heritage pieces, reviving beloved colors, and spotlighting the enduring quality that has made the brand a household name. Earlier this year, the company even appeared on The Today Show, where viewers were treated to a rare look inside the historic French foundry that still crafts each cast-iron piece. 

As for the celebration of this holiday season? I was delighted by the rich hues and festive designs I saw on the showroom floor. Cerise, artichaut, matte white, and coastal blue are some of the colors that popped for me, along with their Holly collection that boasts a lovely, embossed holly design on each lid. But what wowed me the most was the unveiling of their new Wicked collection, inspired by Gregory Maguire’s book that was turned into a hit Broadway musical and Hollywood blockbuster film. With part-two of the Wicked film coming out in November, this limited-edition collection is timely and enticing, especially for someone like me: a theatre nerd and amateur chef who has been in love with all things Wizard of Oz since childhood. The Elphaba collection is in artichaut (a gorgeous jewel-tone green), and the Glinda collection is in shell pink (a delicate, sparkly soft pink). Swoon…

A Legacy of Joy and Inspiration

While Denise has been with Le Creuset for ten years, Charlene Scangas, Northeast District Manager, has spent eighteen years with the company and feels the centennial milestone on a deeply personal level. “It’s a true honor to be part of Le Creuset’s 100-year celebration,” she shares. “This brand has had a profound impact on my life—both in my own kitchen and in how I connect with every customer I meet. It’s more than just cookware; it’s about creating moments, memories, and meals that bring people together.”

She recalls one particularly moving encounter: “During an event a few years ago, a mother and daughter approached me, beaming. The mother told me her grandmother had cooked with Le Creuset for years, and she was thrilled to buy a Dutch Oven just like hers. As she spoke, she was moved to tears—overwhelmed by the memories and the chance to continue that tradition with her own family.”

Her message to the next generation of Le Creuset employees is simple but profound: “Let your passion shine. Share your stories, listen to your customers, and help them create their own lasting memories. This is more than a job—it’s a legacy of joy, family, and inspiration.”

From its original foundry in France to outlets across the world and right here in Manchester, Le Creuset continues to unite generations of cooks through its enduring craftsmanship and timeless design. Whether it’s a Dutch Oven in the signature flame hue or a gleaming stainless-steel skillet, each piece carries forward a story of innovation, artistry, and connection.

One hundred years on, Le Creuset remains what it has always been: a symbol of quality, beauty, and joy - bringing people together around the table. Whether you’re a local doing some special occasion shopping or a visitor browsing for good deals, don’t hesitate to stop into the Manchester Le Creuset location to find whatever your chef heart desires. 

Ask for Denise and tell her I sent you. Happy holiday shopping, friends! Chef’s Kiss

All the details: 

lecreuset.com