cool tool

wouldn't it be fun to have one of these to cook in? tagines were the originally used as portable ovens and braziers in north africa, specifically morocco, by nomadic tribes. lightweight and moveable, these conical "ovens" produce some of the most delicious dishes.

this sexy one is manufactured by all-clad metalcrafters, an american company which puts out some of the best pots & pans around.

this most moroccan implement — the tagine —can be used for cooking or serving and even for storing such things as spices. they range in size from huge to little, teeny tiny ones.

the particular stainless steel one pictured below can be bought through a number of second party companies, such as sur la table which has many interesting kitchen tools & objects. worth a visit.

check out fantes.com for a selection of traditional tagines they carry. many are made from clay.

if you are interested in this cooking vessel, there is more here or here about it.

both le creuset and joanne weir of california show how to cook with a tagine.

some may contain lead [pottery], so be careful. read this canadian article about safety concerns before purchasing a tagine, usually ones made in countries which do not have specific regulations concerning lead content.