There are some brands that are so prestigious and steeped in tradition and savoir faire that they become icons in their own time.
La Cornue is just one such brand. Created just over 100 years ago, their cooking ranges are legendary for their size and their quality.
When we shot the photos for my book, a couple of my girlfriends had La Cornue ranges in their kitchen, and it certainly helped the aesthetics of our photo shoots!
One of my favourite aspects of cooking on a range like this is the hot plate, generally centre stage to the hob that allows you to play with the heat simply by moving pots closer or further from the centre.
Cooking ranges like this are not about fast food, or salads. They are about loving to cook, treating the range as the heart of the kitchen and taking time to learn how to make the most of its cooking capacity.
We are at last replacing our kitchen at the beginning of the new year, and although we don’t have the space for a big château-sized range, we’re looking forward to using one of their more compact models and to see how it changes the character of the kitchen.
25 comments
They are beautiful, no doubt about it. You need a big kitchen and a big budget, though. I have a Falcon, which is much more affordable, and it’s very nice, too.
I have/had a Falcon (its in my other house, which is rented), and was quite disappointed with it. I think its just a tarted up ordinary range, even though made by Aga. The oven thermostats were not accurate and the burners (hobs? in english english) wee difficult to adjust and did not go low enough. It is the 110cm model with 5 burners, a warming plate, two ovens and a broiler. The broiler is not great either, as you do not have enough adjustments in height. The food is either too far from the elecric elements, or so close it touches them. These complaints are why I left it with the house when I rented it out. I’m searching for a new stove now, would prefer to buy one second hand, and will look at La Cornue, Godin and La Canche. La Cornue makes an economy model (still not cheap) called Cornufe, but in on-line research indicates that it has the same problems I encountered with my Falcon. I think at this point I would go with a smaller high quality range. Or the one in the kitchen at the Musee Nissim Camondo ……
In Chicago I have a 4 burner dual fuel Wolf. Quite petite in comparison to the Le Corneu but while shopping I thought “In her humble beginning, Julia did not have a massive range and she cooked up wonder upon wonder!” It’s the love that counts in the end.
Hiya Sharon, am so excited and happy for you to be building a new kitchen, enjoy! xo
So true ! Many people have such a romantic notion concerning high end stoves . They can be so beautiful and set a cozy setting , but my Nina ( grandmother ) and my former husband could cook like no other . Both had the simplist , tiny stoves – Ted’s having only one electric burner working when we met years ago . If you can cook you can cook . I miss those meals !
No doubt much love will go into whatever is produced on that beauty, Sharon. Lucky you! French and Italian kitchens are just so inviting.
Liz, please comment further on the dual-fuel Wolf. I haven’t much room on my range wall, and am researching ranges, so I appreciate your noting Julia did not have a massive range!
Sharon, you must know all of us will be eager to see your kitchen re-do take shape!
When I redid my kitchen 2 years ago I went with the 48″ Wolf with 6 burners and a griddle. Love it! Both of my sisters have Blue Stars and they are very happy with them.
I am an Aga fan, and I have to admit if I was going to spend this sort of money I would definitely buy an Aga because I love having the centre of heat in the kitchen all the time. When we lived in more northern climes we always had one and we added an electric Aga companion too so that we had the best of both worlds. However, living in the Charente Maritime it would be far too hot to have it running year round. In fact we would most likely only ever want to use it for 6 months of the year, so sadly I had to forgo the Aga. We bought a Falcon Elise and have been really happy with it, neither my husband nor I can fault it in any way and we cook every single day from scratch for a family of seven with a fair amount of entertaining too.
Looking forward to seeing all the materials you have chosen! You must be so excited to get this project started (& finished). xo
A store near to us has an enormous navy blue La Cornue on sale – 11,000 euros – its been there the 2.5 years we’ve been in France and I eye it off every time I’m in that store.
I love La Cornue, but when they cost 1/2 the price of a car, the range better have a chef that comes with it or 4 tires so I can drive it home
I absolutely love these photos of this amazing kitchen. I would be in heaven if I had a kitchen like that!!! THANK YOU for entering my dreams.
Hi Sharon,
Great to read about the La Cornue ranges and see the beautiful kitchens! I hope you share your reno with us. It would be exciting to see your new kitchen with your La Cornue!We are currently building a French country home in Canada and have purchased the La Cornue 110 in Provence Blue for our new kitchen! Hopefully moving in December or January! I might need some cooking lessons to cook like you and your French girlfriends I will be displaying my beautiful linen dish cloths and items from your brocante shop!
All the best!
They are beautiful Lucky you!
If I won the lottery, I would buy a La Cornue. Sharon, you are fortunate. I just have to add that once I lived on the island of Jamaica and had a very strange stove. However, I made the most delicious meals. Could be because everything was so fresh. The fish man came every day to my door and all the veggies were picked daily. I just can’t get that quality in the U.S. so I don’t know if even a La Cornue would make my meals better.
While they are beautiful, you need to know that the six burner size costs about 26,000.00, maybe more as it has been a couple of years since I priced one. I have a six burner Epicure Deor that is about 9-10,000 and I am happy with it. I love the brass La Cornue hardware but don’t know if that is worth the 10,000.00 difference.
Love the post!
They are indeed beautiful….and I understand a bit of a learning curve if you are used to “American” models….though it wasn’t truly explained to me at the store where they sell them….
I can’t wait to hear about yours!
Nancy
We redid our kitchen a few years ago, a lot of fun…I love to cook but for us in rural VA, a more regular range is fine…it is the ambience – created by the colors, textures and designs you select – that make for happy cooking…would be nice to have the $$ and space for this bit mama but in the end, enjoyment of food and its preparation is not about the cooker :-)…
I bought a LaCanche for my house in France in 2012 and I just adore it. Just looking at it makes me happy. There were so many fabulous colors and would have loved, but just chose a light camel color because I was trying to do a neutral colors house. Every time I look at it it makes me happy! Using it took a bit of learning, but have pretty much got it down now.
No doubt that these uber-high end ranges are gorgeous and would certainly add panache to any kitchen. However, a good cook who knows a thing or two can create great dishes without such an expensive item.
My personal requirements for a range are:
1. Flat burner grills so that pots and pans can be moved from burner to burner easily.
2. Gas – burners. It is nice to have one that is for simmer and one that is very high heat but then you must know what kind of oil to use so not to set your house on fire!
3. Easy to clean up spills – either a good quality pull out tray that has stops so children cannot pull it out all the way or self sealed .
4, Built in Griddle is VERY optional – they get dirty and just look messy. Better to buy a removable griddle that sits on top of a burner or two.
For a long time I had my heart set on a Fratelli Onofrio Magestic model. They were made in Italy and reportedly painted with the same paint as Ferraris! Cannot seem to find them in the U.S. anymore. Anyone know where to buy one? https://www.facebook.com/121799077882266/photos/a.126131990782308.22153.121799077882266/245577888837717/?type=3&theater
In looking at various stoves/ranges, I’ve compared La Cornue and La Canche. I like the styling of La Canche better, but that’s just visuals.
Is there a significant difference in how each of those cooks, and in how it is to cook on one of them? I’m guessing you might have test-driven, so to speak, both kinds.
[…] ~Sharon Santoni continues to share posts of my dreams involving France – French Cooking with La Cornue […]
Dear Dottie,
We recently purchased a six burner, duel fuel wolf range and so far, so good. It was for our cottage so our use has been limited but I did cook the biggest turkey I’ve ever done (24 lbs.) and it was perfection! It comes with a ‘simmer’ burner which has proven to be very useful as well. I agree with Liz though, cooking is all about the love and keeping things simple. My Grandmother made the most amazing meals using an old fashioned, wood burning cook stove!
Can’t wait to see your kitchen redo Sharon, the vibe of your home + a beautiful La Cornue range will be perfection! Good luck with the renos!
I have my second LaCanche here in Italy. The first was a Cormatin. I loved it, it had 3 burners, and a gas oven, 70 cm. I now have a Cluny- 4 burners plus simmer plate, an electric forced air oven and a gas oven, 100 cm. I would definitely go LaCanche, over the price point, and it is also beautiful. Brooke Gianetti went with LaCanche, I love her kitchen. I do have a few suggestions. Please contact me, if you wish. I am sure the LaCanche would be less expensive than here in Italy. Have a grand day, Sharon