Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud has been involved in so many food-related endeavors: Boulud is the owner of four highly renowned East Coast restaurants, most notably the four-star Daniel located in Manhattan; a Chef of the Year as bestowed by Bon Appetit; the author of several cookbooks; a guest chef on many TV and radio programs; a guest lecturer at many culinary institutes; plus he offers his own line of Caspian caviar and smoked Scottish salmon via mail order. It should be no surprise that Boulud is venturing into the cookware sector to endorse a line that meets his standards of quality and performance for his signature style of French bistro cooking. Attractive enough to cook and then serve from, this 3-quart round roasting pan is the ideal size to oven-bake a fish and vegetable stew, boil a hearty stovetop soup, or cook a spicy lentil casserole to serve two to three. Made by prestigious French cookware manufacturer Sabatier under the Daniel Boulud Kitchen label, this roaster is constructed of heavy cast iron, which absorbs and transfers heat evenly for slow uniform cooking of meats and vegetables. The pot is coated with durable enamel in vivid color for a lifetime of protection and for easier cleaning. The original cast iron surface peeks through along the rims of the pot and the lid to more closely resemble rustic French countryside pottery from generations past. The cast-iron lid also has an exposed unenameled handle and has "flavor beads", or tiny raised balls, on its underside to help steam condense and retain moisture and flavor when using the roaster to braise meats or vegetables. Sturdy ridged handles on either side of the roaster prevent slipping but do require potholders as the cast iron retains the oven’s heat. All Daniel Boulud Kitchen cookware is dishwasher-safe. --Cristina Vaamonde
