European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Copper town is a Mother lode for shopping Cooks Story find photos by Beverly bund Magazine editor they re hanging around in just about every photo taken of Julia child Pierre Franey or Craig Claiborne. They require hours of Loving polishing. And they arc the greatest help any Cook can have in making a sauce that would make beef Jerky taste Good. The object of All this adulation is Copper cookware. It s All Over the Home decorating books and in Bon App Clil and gourmet. Swanky stores like Neiman Marcus and Williams Sonoma charge outrageous prices for it. But tucked away in Normandy about an hour from Mont , is the town where the Best Copper cookware in the world is made and sold at bargain prices. Villedieu los poles loosely translated it Means cod s town of the frying pans has been manufacturing Copper ornaments since the 12th Century. The Village of 5,000 grew around a Church run Hospital and therefore received privileges such As tax exemptions. Town fathers used these exemptions to entice a group of Coppersmith to move to Villedieu and set up a Colony. In the beginning these craftsmen made Bells Candle holders and other decorations for churches. Over the years they turned their skills to More practical objects such As cd warmers pots and pans kettles and milk cans. Despite its main source of income the Little town resembles a farm Community s county scat. No Copper is mined in the area All the Ore used by the artisans is imported from Chile and Togo. Villedieu is surrounded by the rolling Fields and farms that produce Normandy s acclaimed cheeses and other Dairy products. Without slighting the glories of cows and cheese people go to Villedieu to shop. The main Square of the town the place de a Republic be is lined with stores Selling the Copper Ware that is Villedieu s Raison d etre. Copper pots and pans have been the Choice of Cooks for years because of the excellent heat conducting properties of the Metal. The pans heat and Coo quickly and this responsiveness is a Boon when making any Tricky sauce. Because the entire pot is Copper the heat is transmitted evenly throughout the cooking contents. Copper interacts with foods so almost All cookware is thinly lined with another Metal. One exception to this is unlined Copper bowls which Are Ideal for beating egg Whites the albumin in the eggs reacts Well with the Copper to produce exceptionally High peaks the Copper produced in Villedieu is lined with either tin or Nickel. Tin is the most popular lining in America. Nickel is the top seller in France. Tin is responsive to heat so responsive in fact that overheating can melt the lining. The tin lining docs Wear out and after years of use will have to be Reli cd. Nickel lined pieces end to stain but never need to be refined. Nickel is initially the More expensive Purchase but considering the Cost of eventual relining for the tin the prices end up about the same. Both linings scratch so it is important to use Wood or plastic utensils when cooking. Also abrasive pads and cleansers should be avoided when cleaning the Copper. The thickness of the cookware varies and while some Cooks say the heavier the better others say the medium Range of 2 Millimetres is perfect. Unless Arnold Schwarzenegger is helping out in the Kitchen the 3 millimetre about a Inch thickness is unwieldy. The pans come with two kinds of riveted handles. The French prefer the cast Iron grips the american Market prefers the brass. The cast Iron handles do stay cooler and Mother Benefit they Don t have to be polished. The Copper Ware is so Beautiful that it can be brought directly from the stove to the table and used As serving dishes. There s nothing More comforting on a cold Winter Day than seeing an All american beef Stew nestled in the Rosy warmth of a glowing casserole. A set of five saucepans ranging from 20 centimetres 7 % inches in diameter to 12 centimetres 4 / inches in diameter with lids costs about $500 in the states. In Villedieu Les Pelcs the same pans Cost about $130 without the value added tax. Most of the shopkeepers speak some English and Are More than willing to fill out the paperwork for the lax rebate. If charging the Purchase on a credit card shopkeepers fill out two credit card forms one for the Purchase the other for the 16 percent tax. The customer must have the vat paperwork stamped by French customs at the Border and mail the form to the shop. When the shop receives the vat form the credit card receipt for the lax is returned by mail to the customer. If the customer prefers to pay in Cash the shop will return the lax payment via a French franc Check. Shop hours in vill Dicu Les Pelcs Are consistent with the rest of France. Shops close for a Long lunch hour at noon and reopen at 2 30 or 3 . Stores Are closed on monday morning. A Bain Marie a variation of a Dou we boiler is half fitted with hot Iwler to Jept de Kate dishes hoi until needed. November 28,1985 stripes Magazine