Ho Potatoes

Nina was the first person with the correct (and most specific) guess! It is a hammered copper Pommes (potatoes) Anna pan. Did I know that when I bought it at Goodeals for eight dollars? Ummm...that would be a Hell No.

I had never seen anything like it before. Before I even picked it up, I told myself that if it had a mark, then I would take a gamble and buy it. With some kind of mark, it would be much easier to research and might possibly be worth more than eight bucks. I picked it up and was sold when I saw that magical five-letter word: "Paris". 

As soon as I got home, I googled "E. Dehillerin".  I've never been to France, and I'm not a gourmet cook, so I didn't know that E. Dehillerin is a famous French cookware shop that's been around since 1820. I have a feeling that many of my highly intelligent readers have heard of it. The same readers who know how to pronounce fancy terms like "mise en place" and "ménage à trois".

The sole purpose of this pan is to make the French dish called Pommes Anna, which is layers of carefully arranged, thinly sliced potatoes with clarified butter. Using a pommes anna pan, you're able to easily brown the potatoes on both sides by simply flipping the pan over. The dish was created by a 19th century chef named Adolphe Duglere. And the best part? He dedicated the dish to a courtesan named Anna Deslions. Hey, any dish named after a whore must be delicious!

I couldn't find this pan on eBay. But I learned that Mauviel is the only company that makes them. This one must have been purchased directly from Dehillerin, since it doesn't have the Mauviel mark. There are a few other Mauviel/Dehillerin copper pots and pans on eBay that had a final price between $40 and $296! If you do a search for completed listings, you can see that every single one of the pans has sold. That is just crazy. 

Of course, you can also buy a brand new pommes anna pan. Dehillerin sells the same 6.3" pan for 74 Euros ($108). I found the same 6.3" pan under a different brand name on Amazon for $194. Williams-Sonoma sells the 8.5" pan for $275. The wonderful Sur La Table sells the 9.5" pan for $413.

So, we know that Nina won a prize. Who had the wackiest answer? There were so many! It was a tough decision, but I chose Amanda for her comment, "My Grandpa had one of those. You put toenail clippings in it." Yum.

Now, on to the prize. I'm going to polish up this baby and sell it on eBay....and our prizewinners are going to split the final amount! So, they could win $20 each...or maybe even $100 each! If the pan sells for more than $1000, I reserve the right to cancel the whole contest pretend that this never happened.

I kid, I kid.

Congratulations and good luck, Nina and Amanda! I'll post a link to the auction after I list the pan so we can all follow the progress.

PS. If you didn't win this game, I have another great giveaway coming up in a few weeks. And you won't need to be a gourmet or a comedian to win!

Comments

[sharron]

You made me laugh as usual!!! What a great story and an even better way to honor the winners!!!! Thos taters look pretty good too!!!

[Amanda]

Slutty potato pan is making this mama some cheddar!
Thanks Colleen, you know I'll be stalking that auction as soon as it goes live....

[laurie]

I knew Amanda would win! That comment was just perfect. Great idea for a prize ...keep us posted on the ebay sale.

[nina]

I am too excited! Thanks Colleen. That was such a great find. I have never heard of Goodeals so I googled it and found out that it is very close to the happiest place on earth for me....Delaware Park Race Track! Life is sweet.

[suzy]

Oh my gosh! What a cool story and what fun! I can't wait to watch the auction. xo, suzy

[Rosemary]

I am just excited to know that I knew it was french cookware.
Yay me!
Congrats to the winners!
Rosemary