Two of my friends (including the aforementioned foodie) got me the Calphalon One 7-qt (14 1/2") Sauteuse (the one to which mercedes_stewart provided the link) for my birthday last month. Wasn't that incredibly nice of them? I know they used their coupon at what we like to call Bloodbath & Beyond, but that still had to cost them $80, unless it was on a special sale. They knew I wanted a huge pan, but I had told them the same thing I posted above -- I DIDN'T want a very expensive one. I never even mentioned Calphalon, let alone that this exact one was my DREAM pan -- I had been lurking on eBay for months waiting for a good price. Thanks for all your advice. I can't wait to cook for a crowd!

this thread started because mccall asked about pans for her high BTU stove. I'm wondering just how hot does a 22K burner get? In farenheits? Also, in a previous posting I confused All Clad's MC-2 line with the CIA Masters Collection... there are significant differences in both price and construction. What I can't find out is who makes the CIA Masters... Robinson identifies themself as "developers and marketers" ... not as manufacturers and does not list the CIA line on their web site. MetroKitchen identifies itself as the exclusive internet retailer of CIA Masters. CIA doesn't even mention the line in their on-line store. I have noticed that many lines are made in China and Thailand... All-Clad says its liine are made in PA. Sometimes my curiousity gets the better of me...

I posted this on another thread and thought that it might be relevant here. The Costco Kirkland stainless steel cookware is very good! Better than good because of the price and great quality (not made in China) it is excellent. I like what Costco represents and their business practices are very good, I don't however like what Walmart and Sam's club stand for. They have horrible treatment of employees and their overall work ethic is a scandal. When will Americans realize this and turn away from it or do they not care as long as they are saving a few dollars? You don't see this in other countries by the way. Here is my posting from another thread: I would like to give a different review of this cookware. I love them! I don't see what is wrong with buying the set. I use them all. Maybe I don't use each piece every time I cook but I have used them many times since I purchased them in December 2005. Not all the pieces are heavy. Only two of the pots really are (the sauté pan with lid, and the large sauce pot but both of them have a second handle on the opposite side of the regular handle) the rest of them are not so heavy considering the material and quality. These are very solid pieces. I don't know what is sold in the Costco stores anymore since the ones shown on their website didn't appear to have any Copper in them but the ones that I bought have Copper in them as well as Stainless steel. The Copper is a small (1 cm thick) band at the bottom of each pan/pot. I am very pleased with this set. They are very functional, easy to clean, affordable, and they do a great job. I've put them in the dishwasher a few times and although the Copper band at the bottom looks a bit spotted and discolored (can be easily polished with mild metal polish if you want that) the pieces are dishwasher safe. I have two All Clad pots and I have to say that although the weight and handle sizing of these two brands are different I think that the Costco version is quite good. It lived up to my expectations and then some. In fact I liked it so much I bought and brought it back with me to Sweden which is where I live. For the price that I paid and the same quality you cannot find that here! I should add in case anyone wants to know the pieces are made in Thailand. It is imprinted on the bottom of each piece. Thailand is not China. There is still quality in Thailand. I doubt that Costco would be selling these pieces if the quality was lacking.

Prior to my November purchases, I'd never owned or even handled (no pun intended!) A-C pots and pans. I only started checking them out shortly before then, while trying to decide which new pans to get to use on my Wolf range (my Farberware/Reverware stuff scorched too much on the higher output burners). I only noticed the handle angle on the Fr skillets, after I'd purchased and started using them. I wasn't even aware that there was a difference in the handles (bet them and the frying pans). I'll have to check out the handle angles on my saucepans and saute pans, and see if they have varying or the same handle angle(s).