What timeless heirloom piece do Julia Child, Patricia Wells, Alice Waters, Laurent Tourondel and countless other chefs have that pay tribute to the very heart and soul of the home? What beautiful art piece transports us to Provence? Beckons us to gather around? Makes us appreciate a moment in time? Indisputably, the La Cornue range.
Homage to true gastronomy starts with La Cornue stove, a hand-crafted masterpiece designed to celebrate life’s milestones and connect us with the true meaning of what is important in life: time with our family and friends gathering, eating, and celebrating.
La Cornue embodies French romanticism in colorful enameled form yet offers a combination of elements that make it a customized, one of a kind heirloom that faithfully serve many generations.
Although we can continue to wax poetic about the La Cornue range, in this article we’ll cover the vast amount of options you have to truly customize this very special piece to make it all your own. From the popular French Top burner, a multi-purpose teppanyaki surface, a rotisserie, electric ovens for baking, gas stoves for braising meat and roasting vegetables, you’ll design your own unique masterpiece that will not only stand the test of time but deeply resonate with your connection to the heart of your home.
A little bit of history
La Cornue is a French appliance brand founded by Albert Dupuy in 1908. That year, he built the world’s very first convection oven with the goal of producing better cooking results with precise heat distribution while being compatible with natural gas lines of the time.
Now, La Cornue is owned by Middleby Corporation, the same parent company of Viking Ranges. Still handcrafted in France, La Cornue hasn’t lost its dedication to quality and its distinctly French stylings.
La Cornue offers some 8,000 different configurations, sizes, and unique color schemes.
Overview of La Cornue Ranges
There are two series to consider; the CornuFé and the Château. The CornuFe is produced to appeal to a more modest budget, is in stock and ready for delivery. The Chateau is made exclusively to order in the Saint-Ouen l’Aumône workshop outside of Paris.
Series
Main Configurations
The Château
Handmade in France. Custom-made per your specifications
- Le Château 75: 30-inch (75cm) Single Oven (gas or electric), 5 stovetop options including all gas or electric/induction configurations, from $27,000
- Le Château 90: 36-inch (90cm) Single Grand Oven (gas or electric), 5 stovetop options including all gas or electric/induction configurations, from $34,100
- Le Château 120: 48-inch (120cm) Two Ovens (gas, electric or one gas and one electric), 7 stovetop options, from $44,500
- Le Château 150: Most Popular 60-inch (150cm) Two Ovens (gas, electric or one gas and one electric), 8 stovetop options, from $51,300
- Le Château 165: 65-inch (165cm) Two Ovens (one grand gas, one electric), 5 stovetop options, from $55,400
- Grand Palais 180: 71-inch (180cm) Two Ovens (one grand gas, one grand electric), 7 stovetop options, from $59,100
CornuFé
Handmade in France. Ready to ship. Just select from 8 standard colors, and 4 Suzanne Kasler Colors, all available with 3 trim accent options – Polished Brass, Satin Chrome and Polished Chrome.
- CornuFé 90 Albertine: 36-inch (90cm) Single Electric Oven, 5 brass burners, Storage Drawer, from $8,475
- CornuFé 110: 43-inch (110cm) Double Electric Oven, 5 brass burners, Storage Drawer, from $10,450
Château Series
The Château line is La Cornue’s premium range line, with six different size options starting from 30” and reaching nearly six feet in length. Widths include 30”, 36”, 48”, 60”, 65”, and 70”. With all of these size options, it’s important to measure your space before buying a La Cornue range.
Meanwhile, each range in the Château line features customizable cooktops, and customers can select from the following elements for their cooktop:
● For the 30” LE CHÂTEAU 75, there are five different Rangetop Configurations featuring two elements
● For the 36” LE CHÂTEAU 90, there are five different Rangetop Configurations featuring three elements
● For the 48” LE CHÂTEAU 120, there are seven different Rangetop Configurations featuring three or four elements. The four-element configurations are more expensive.
● For the 60” LE CHÂTEAU 150, there are eight different Rangetop Configurations featuring four elements
● For the 65” LE CHÂTEAU 165, there are five different Rangetop Configurations featuring four elements
● For 70” GRAND PALAIS 180, there are seven different Rangetop Configurations featuring four or five elements.
Available cooktop element options are as follows:
You can opt for two gas burners, one with 17,500 BTU and the other with 7,500 BTU. Each burner is made of brass with an enamel-coated cast iron grate. (Note: Propane options feature 12,500 and 6,000 BTU burners.)
The lava-rock grill features 14,500 BTU using natural gas or propane, and is made from real natural lava rocks topped with an enamel-coated open-style grill.
Want some extra power? The power burner options features 22,000 BTU of power for oversized pans and cooking with high heat.
The unique teppanyaki cooktop element features a smooth, griddle-like cooking surface that uses electricity as power and generates heat between 140F and 482F. It’s perfect for steak, seafood, eggs, rice, and more.
The French Top element features a special design that uses gas power for heating, with the center of the surface being hottest and the outer zones featuring distinct temperature levels. This feature offers 7,500 BTU of power. Multiple pans can be placed on a French Top—if you want to simmer, you can place a pan on the second or third circle. For faster cooking, place it near the center.
The ceramic glass induction element features two identical induction elements of 3,700 watts of power. The induction cooktop is a magnetic cooktop heater that only heats the pan’s surface where it touches the heater. It’s an effective solution that doesn’t waste energy thanks to electromagnetic power design, and it also responds quickly to temperature changes.
You’ll also enjoy a wide range of color options, with over 45 distinct color schemes available as well as unique knob and lining color options.
When it comes to oven specs, 30” and 36” models offer gas or electric oven options and double oven models (available in sizes 48” or larger) offer one electric and one gas oven.
The 48” Le Château 120 offers a companion model, the Chatelet 120, which doesn’t offer a double oven configuration. Instead, it features one electric or gas oven and one warming cupboard. It still brings all of the same cooktop options, and is available at a slightly, more economical price point.
You can also consider the Châtalet 135 model, a 54” compact version of the Le Château 150 line. The 135 features seven different cooktop configurations, one gas oven, one electric oven, and one electric warming drawer. It starts at $47,900.
Gas ovens offer natural convection thanks to specially designed oven geometry, and offer better roasting for meat and fish. Electric ovens, on the other hand, feature an additional fan for convection and boast a special design that’s perfect for baking. Both gas and electric ovens feature electric broilers.
Le Cornue ovens feature a cast aluminum seal on the door that locks in heat and humidity to bring the perfect, juicy cooking results. Château ranges are handmade and custom produced according to each customer’s specifications. Produced entirely in France, they also feature a three-year warranty period.
CornuFé Series
CornuFé ranges, unlike the Château series models, are not built on custom requests. They are considered more standard ranges, and have been on the market for nearly 15 years. The CornueFé line comes in 43” and 36” options, with 43” not a standard oven size and something to keep in mind when shopping.
The CornuFé 110 boasts two electric convection ovens and five gas burners, including a 17,500 BTU burner, as well as one large storage drawer. This model is available in eight classic colors and four Suzanne Kasler custom designs. (Suzanne Kasler is an American designer inspired by visits to Paris. Her special colors are also available in the Château line.) All colors are available in three trim package options.
The Cornufé 90 Albertine line offers an electric convection oven and five gas burners plus a storage drawer. It also has the same color options available as the 110 line, and is available at a much lower price tag. You’ll even love the dual fuel range options, which provide an electric powered oven and gas cooktop. Check out our dedicated article on gas vs dual fuel ranges for more details.
How to clean the La Cornue Range?
It should be noted that La Cornue Château ranges don’t offer self-clean functionality for their ovens. La Cornue explains on their website, “Château ovens do not have a self-clean mode by design; these ovens are built to last forever, and the intense concentrated heat used in a self-clean mode will break down the oven seal over time and compromise the efficiency of the oven.”
La Cornue has published cleaning guides for their ranges, and it is recommended that owners adhere to these standards when cleaning their range to help ensure a longer life.
Quick Tip – Put some pot of water with vinegar in the oven and heat it up for an hour. This will help you clean your oven effectively.
The Flamberge Rotisserie and Range Hoods
Where does La Cornue stack up when it comes to the accessories included with their ranges? Let’s have a look.
The Flamberge Rotisserie is a gas-powered feature specifically designed for home usage and mounted to the wall. The motorized system rotates the food slowly while cooking for a perfectly cooked dish. It features two metal spits, one fish basket, and one porcelain enamel drip tray. If boasts 27,000 BTU of power with natural gas fuel, 25,000 with propane.
Another feature, the Hotte Château Hood, is a stylish hood system that comes without a blower standard—though it can be upgraded to feature a motorized blower. Like ranges, custom hoods are also available upon request.
Finally, the Cornufé 90 and Cornufé 110 feature hood systems that boast built-in blower systems, work with 120V power, and offer various color options to match the ranges.
Conclusion
In a vast sea of stainless steel, La Cornue ranges are a distinguished, one of a kind, special piece. The designer colors and sophisticated trim options are second to none, and their cooking results are indeed extraordinary. The natural convection system brings perfect results, and La Cornue keeps things simple without electronics, fancy terminology or esoteric names for their features.
La Cornue ovens are an ode to traditional oven design and house a special airflow structure to protect your food when opening and closing the enameled doors. LaCornue boasts you won’t miss the viewing window and we agree. With the customization options available, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a family heirloom built specifically for you according to your own needs and personal style.
To see one of these beautiful ranges in person, stop by our New Jersey store. A member of our staff is also available to design with you over Facetime or WhatsApp. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this elegant and extraordinary range.
FAQs
Is it worth it?
La Cornue has a loyal following. This is a personal purchase, but try as we might, we’ve not heard of anyone telling us they regret purchasing their La Cornue.
Where do I start? With 8000 options, I’m overwhelmed!
Size, series, color, trim. Then comes the fun part of architecting your cooktop by thinking about the types of meals you and your family like to create.
The ovens don’t have a viewing window. How do you see what’s going on in there?
When we asked a few of our clients how they felt about not having a viewing window while their food baked or braised, surprisingly, the response was that they preferred the enamel doors. The smaller ovens are quick to heat (some compared preheat times to a speed oven), the temperature was consistent and reliable and there was no glass to clean.
What is the most common accessory?
Clients who have intentionally opted for the French Top find extra versatility in being able to simmer pans simultaneous to using the burners to cook on and the ovens to bake and braise in.
Why are there no electronics?
La Cornue keeps it simple and subscribes to the "less is more" for longevity ethos.
What are the timeframes I need to consider for the Chateau and the Cornufe?
In the US, the Cornufe is ready to ship so please allow 3-7 days when setting up a delivery appointment with us.
The Chateau is all hand-made in France and can take up to 10 weeks from the time the order is placed. August is a month of holiday in France and this monthly closure may impact your delivery date.