Not only does it cook beautifully, but it also cleans easily (this from the chief dishwasher). Crusts form evenly, not too thick or overdone at the edges, and centers stay creamy. Looking at my assortment of platters, dishes, and bakers, the Pillivuyt examples have cleaner design details, crisper edges, and in some cases, are much less clunky to hold or pull out of the oven than their competitors. They hold up better, I think, over a long period of use and time too.
Pillivuyt is one of the few porcelain manufacturers to develop its own porcelain compounds on site at the factory in Berry, France, and it has done so for almost 200 years. The founding Pillivuyt brothers were actually Swiss; Charles and Jean Louis bought a brick factory in 1818 in Foëcy but determined they wanted to produce culinary and table porcelain for households instead. This location was ideal for its neighboring forests and water, and the proximity to Limoges where kaolin deposits had been recently uncovered. When this natural resource was discovered, Europeans had found the secret ingredient required to create porcelain, after coveting a material that had been exclusive to China for over 300 years. The porcelain business remained in the Pillivuyt family for over 127 years. There were reversals of fortune and
Their production was and is 100% French – none of it is piecemeal and subcontracted to other countries.
You can find pieces of Pillivuyt history on many websites dealing with antiques. They made custom dinnerware and game terrines. I bought their classic soup tureen with an orange and black stripe along with soup spoons with matching handles. And even now, they come up with some astounding designs, as you can see in the photo on the right. One of their designs was conceived specifically for use in hospitals and assisted care facilities, with non-slip silicone bases, double handled cups, and high-lipped plates for ease of use by weak or unsteady hands.
Check out their newest collection – called Ulysses– if you want induction-ready cookware that you can use on top of the stove or on your grill
In honor of our post last week about how easy it is to make an outstanding soufflé, Pillivuyt is currently offering a 10% discount on your choice of two of their soufflé dishes for Kitchen Detail readers There is a $100 minimum purchase and is good from October 9 through October 23. Look through their catalogue at www.pillivuytshop.com and use the code SOUFFLE10 on your choice of two soufflé dishes from these two links:
https://pillivuytshop.com/collections/tarts-souffles-gratins/products/classic-pleated-souffles
https://pillivuytshop.com/collections/tarts-souffles-gratins/products/deep-pleated-souffles
After owning one of the best cooking stores in the US for 47 years, Nancy Pollard writes a blog about food in all its aspects – recipes, film, books, travel, superior sources and food related issues.
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