From the desk of Mark Warren, Creative Director
I have had a longterm infatuation with cast iron. As an annoying (ahem, precocious?) little guy, I demanded my mom get one so we could cook like they do on the Food Network. I fell in love (and still have!) with my official Emeril Legassi (TM) 10" skillet from a big box store.
I'm guessing the first thing I made was probably shrimp. I was used to non-stick, thin pans, and I was delighted by the sheer weight and presence. It felt like a tool. It felt serious. And as a serious gourmand 12 year old, it certainly did not tip the balance towards relatability with my middle school classmates.
Since my first pan, I have had many cast iron pans. Some were great. Some became bowed in the middle, and got consigned to an iron foundry pour where they became something else (the circle of life!). All this to say, I have little patience for a bad cast iron pan.
Our new pans from Field Company are really good. So good that I gave one as gift to my father-in-law Jim. He is a maker and furniture designer, and has even less patience than I do for sub par cast iron. The greatest compliment he could give: "I use it every day for eggs." And he mentioned at least twice he really liked it. From him that's basically ecstatic praise. I gave it to him two years ago, and when I checked recently, it was still at the top of their pile of cast iron, and used daily.
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So why is cast iron so great? Firstly, it's serious. They are heavy, hold heat, and are basically unbreakable. They are made out of a material that is not deadly (caveat: to cook in, getting hit in the head would be harrowing). You can include it in a will. It works on a campfire, gas, electric, induction, or on a grill.
If you don't already own a cast iron pan, and like to cook, you owe it to yourself to try one. If you have an annoying one (maybe it spins on your cooktop??) get rid of that and get one of these from Field Company. They do what they do really well. The price is 100% justified for a tool like this, and honestly, it's a great deal.
The weight is so minimal compared to other pans like this, and the smoothness of the casting makes seasoning and cleaning a breeze. So, get one for yourself. Get one for a friend. Get one for a weird kid who is really into cooking.
