The Surprising $68 Le Creuset Find That I Use Every Single Day (It’s Gorgeous!)

I’m an absolute sucker for gorgeous kitchenware, and it doesn’t get much more stunning than Le Creuset, with its iconic cookware’s three-ring design and vibrant hues. Until now, I’ve been admiring the brand from afar, reading all about how much my Kitchn coworkers love it. (They’ve written rave reviews of the classic Dutch oven, French oven, fish baker, skillet, and more.) After experiencing the high level of quality for themselves, they all say that they don’t regret splurging on it, but I have to admit that the steeper price tag is what’s held me back so far.

However, after a year at this gig, it seemed like the right time to buy my first Le Creuset item. I figured I’d start smaller. When browsing the brand’s under-$100 options, I came across the San Francisco Pasta Bowl set, and I instantly fell in love with them. They’re so much better than my old (and boring) white bowls, and after they arrived, I discovered that they could also double as plates. Read on to find out why this set has replaced all of my other dishware — and why it’s one my favorite kitchen purchases ever.

The San Francisco bowls are designed to work in casual and formal settings alike, with their wide surface area, shallow walls, and ombré coloring that’ll stand out on your tabletop. The brand says that it’s the “thinnest and lightest dinnerware” out of all of their offerings. Of course, Le Creuset’s stoneware doesn’t just look good — it’s also impressively durable. It’s coated with several layers of glaze so that it resists metal markings, so your regular forks and knives are safe to use. You can also toss them into the dishwasher for a painless cleanup, but the virtually nonstick surface washes off easily in the sink, too.

These bowls came into my life at the perfect time. My tiny kitchen is lacking in storage and a dishwasher, and this set helps with both of those problems. For one, I ditched all of my old plates for this set. The bowls are the perfect shape — not too flat or too deep — so I’ve been using them for almost every meal. On the cleaning front, they only need a quick scrub in the sink before they’re sparkling again. Even when I’ve left pasta sauce on it for too long (I’ll admit it) and it hardens up, it doesn’t take much longer to wipe the remnants off.

Another huge bonus is that I feel a little fancier every time I pull out one of these bowls, even when it’s just a regular weeknight dinner. I wanted to go with a timeless Le Creuset color, and the Cerise shade I selected, I’m sure, will never go out of style. I’m obsessed with the gradient on the surface — the inside and top portion of the bowl is lighter, and it gradually gets darker toward the base. I have a feeling I’ll be using these bowls for years, if not a lifetime!

Buy: Le Creuset San Francisco Coupe Pasta Bowls, $68