Cordon Bleu Cookware

Q: Last night I experienced (there is no other word for it) a sales pitch from a door-to-door salesman selling Cordon Bleu cookware. He said the company was originally from America and had been in business for 57 years and had a good reputation. Has anyone heard of them? The cookware he was selling was their TempTone Nutri-system. It consisted of 19 pieces of heavy surgical steel pots and pans, with copper clad bottoms. The big feature of the stuff was that when the food had heated up to a certain temperture a whistle set into the lid would blow (like the whistle on a kettle). When this happened you were supposed to close the valve in the lid and turn the heat down. The cookware was constructed so that when the valve was closed a vacuum would form inside the pan and turn it into a pressure cooker. His big selling points were that you'd save on cooking time, on your energy bills and the food you cooked would be more nutritious since you didn't need to use oil or butter to cook in and you didn't lose any nutrients because food was steamed rather than boiled or fried. Has anyone seen or used cookware like this? Was it any good? We didn't buy the set because of the price - $3100!!, but are wondering if we should look out for similar stuff in the shops. They also had an electric frying pan which didn't have an element but had a layer of oil, as in a oil filled heater, around the sides and bottom to give an even distribution of heat. A very clever idea I thought. This cost $800 so we didn't buy it either.

A: but I'm going to make some assumptions. This was an in-home demonstration, right? One summer while I was in school, I wound up with a job peddling Carrico waterless cookware, china, crystal, etc. through in-home demonstrations. Itr was a great learning experience. When I first pulled into the parking lot for the "interview", I saw quite a few late-model expensive cars: RX7, a couple of Corvettes, a Porsche, etc. The license plates on them were POTS, PANS, DISHES, CHINA, and the like. This is a clue. Ten years ago, an 11-(?) piece set of this cookware sold for $800. The salesperson got 10-20% of this. His manager got about 10-20%, as did his manager. So, up front, nearly 50% of the price was financing sports cars for the sales force. We encouraged people to buy right now by offering incentives that weren't good after the demonstration (like four free place settings of china.) It was never stated outright, but this was to pressure folks to buy, and also to keep them from going out and comparison shopping. I suppose that this was reasonably good cookware, although nothing outstanding. It certainly wasn't worth $800 for the set, although for $100 I might consider it. Probably not. The company had been in business for quite a while, and supposedly had an excellent reputation. If the stuff was that great, they'd market it through stores and let it compete on its own merits, right?

Discuss It!

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Allen said:

I bought a set of the Cordon Bleu Temp Tone waterless cookware over 20 years ago and still have it. It was the best purchase we ever made. I am looking for a Cordon Bleu sales rep to add more pieces to our set but have not been able to find one. Would like to find someone here in the Seattle area that sells it.

sandy said:

Still have it (after 30 years) and still love it

John said:

We've had our set for over 15 years and really like it. You are right in that the price is really high, but in reality we haven't needed to buy much else cookware-wise.

Toni said:

I've had a set for nearly 20 years and need the "free" replacement handles that were part of the original sales pitch. All I've found online so far have not been free at all. I love my pans but they're not very useful without good, safe handles.

Carol said:

I too have had my set for over 25 years and do in fact like it. Also need a replacement knob and am having difficulty.

Carole said:

I bought my Cordon Bleu pan set in 1964 from a door-to-door salesman. I paid them off monthly. Today it is April 27, 2011 and I'm still using them and they look just as they did 47 years ago. It's the best purchase I've ever made. Wonderful cookware.

Caroline said:

i need handles as well i love my saucepans have had them for over 20 yrs still look like new and i cook everyday.

John said:

Regal ware make this cookware they have replacement parts https://www.regalware.com/customer-service/order-parts-online/

John said:

I was asked where to buy this cookware by a family member since ours has been so good. It appears Regal Classica gold is the same as cordon bleu. regalware.com

Stacee said:

I have to say that I bought my cookware 16 years ago and wondered if the price was worth it but I am still using them today. Only problem is the handles are finally starting to need replacing. It was so worth the cost.

LISA said:

regalware will replace handles free of charge (when you return your broken piece)but there is a shipping fee... or to buy handles i think they are $8.00.. still a great bargain for an outstanding set of pots their # 262-626-2121

Julie said:

I bought Cordon bleu saucepans over 20 years ago ...selling from door to door and have seen them in the shopping centres as a "special "store once since. THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT. I got the electric frypan with no element too...the best food is cooked in these pots and pans. IF YOU WANT THE BEST THEN THESES ARE IT. I am actually on the web today looking for where I can get some for my daughter.She keeps talking about taking mine when she leaves home....not happening I will and she will be quite happy to pay $3000 for her very own set. She has no idea how to cook with a set of saucepans that don't whistle

Nicole said:

I bought a set 22 years ago from a door to door salesperson. I was only 20, really couldn't afford it and had to pay it off in installments. No idea what made me buy it, but it is the best cookware I have ever bought. Still using is 22 years on, they are fantastic. Found this blog while I was looking to see if the company still existed to buy more pieces.

Laura said:

When I was 16 yrs old a salesman came knocking at our door and wound up selling me a $1000 set of cookware...TempTone WonderWare...I think it's from the same company as Cordon...Well, my mother had a fit that I agreed to buy this expensive set of "Pots and Pans"...but ya know what...I'm 50 now and this set is the best purchase I ever made in my life. Still in awesome shape, look great, cook great and clean so easily. I too was looking for more pieces since over the years I've lost a few and broke a handle. I recommend this line. Total quality...totally worth it. I'm sure when I'd gone I could leave these to my kids and they'll use them forever as well.

Peggy said:

I have had my set for over 20 years and I love it. I am also looking for a rep to replace some handles. I would also like to add more pieces to my set you can't buy anything like it in the stores.

Lesa said:

I also bought the Cordon Bleu Temp-Tone waterless cookware about 25 years ago and love it. I still use it every day. I just spoke to a sales rep about a replacement part. His name is Mike Firkus in MN. Very nice gentleman. Phone 218-233-8888. He will be glad to help you out with replacement parts. They are extremely expensive now though. They actually discontinued the Cordon Bleu line. A new set now runs around $3000. Wow. I am looking for the 1 qt pot if anyone happends to know of one floating around out there.

Constance said:

My parents bought theirs in 1993 and my mom still has it to this day! She loves it, they aren't scratched, the company replaced the handle a few years back. I'm actually tryying to get some myself, but it's really expensive up front.

Leatha said:

We purchased our Cordon Bleu 30 years ago. Still use it today.We love it, never have regretted the purchase for a moment!

Rand said:

Cordon Bleu has been out of business since 2008. Regal and West Bend companies merged with Regal being the new owners decided to ditch their Cordon Bleu set for a set that West Bend already had. Cordon Bleu was never up to par with several other brands yet was sold for same price as Salad Master, Townecraft, and Royal Prestige. Good luck on that handle replacement...

Carolyn said:

Bought my set from a door-to-door salesman while still in college--40 years ago! (Didn't have valves back then.) Like others have said, my set still looks like new, and cooks beautifully. I've broken two or three handles over the years, replaced them and keep cookin'. Have never had to buy another pot.

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