Mike Showalter - Latest Comments

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Mark — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:58:35 -0000

Bought the Tramontina off Walmart's site with site-to-store free shipping. Have used it only for the no-knead Cook's Illustrated recipe, made about 8 loaves so far, it was worked flawlessly The inside has discolored maybe a touch, but part of that is because the parchment paper I was putting in there had a bit of flour and dough on it, which, when cranked to 500 degrees for an hour gets mighty hot and burns, but I just wipe out the charcoal and it's fine. A buddy of mine has a Le Cruset, it's all chipped up, was like that when they got it, got it as damaged for $40, however, despite all the chipping it works flawlessly. So, I'm not very worried about how it will perform once it's chipped some, since I'm sure it'll happen, and if it gets horrible, just buy another, at $45 (current Walmart price) it's cheaper than almost any one of our pans.

cheers...

Re: How Hilton Hotels destroyed my customer loyalty with one email

sales incentives — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:35:36 -0000

customer loyalty programs

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Long term reccuring customers are where the money is at.
If you treat and market your loyal customers
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Re: Everyone’s a scalper: secondary ticket market as strong as ever

Booter — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:04:39 -0000

Mike, I would like to enlist you and your son's services to sell the rest of my Mariner tickets. In return, I'll cut you guys in on a Yankee or RedSox game of your choice (yes, i wish it were Yanks v. RedSox, but we live in Seattle afterall).

Give me a shout.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Vicki Riley — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:03:59 -0000

Just read all of the comments on the Tramontina dutch oven and not one of the comments mentions how the product is "holding up". Bought my in Nov. from Sam's Club and it discolors each time I use it...have to use Clorox Clean Up on it to bring it back to the cream color inside. Also I have 2 chips in the handle area and I have been very careful when using it and wonder why this has happened. I absolutely love cooking with it but wonder what it is going to look like in a years time if the product seems to be this perishable already. Sam's Club is offering to exchange it for me but I wonder if I will have the same problems. Are all dutch ovens this hard to take care? Would appreciate hearing from others regarding the care and upkeep of their dutch ovens.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Geri — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:19:28 -0000

I live in Washington DC area and too found nothing w/in 100mi radius in-store. So I put in my Dad's address in rural Wisconsin...in stock...they wouldn't ship, so I had my Dad send it to me. After seeing the ship price, I understand why Walmart is always out of stock online....the weight makes it ridiculously expensive to send. Wish I had thought of having them send to a store that is local to me.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Don — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:42:01 -0000

Always call the store before you go. There are three WalMarts in my area, (Eugene/Springfield,OR) and none of them even sell Dutch Ovens, even though their website says two of them have it in stock. Saved myself a lot of time and frustration by calling first. And the website is, of course, out of stock.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Christine — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:24:08 -0000

Just got back from my local (Brick, NJ) Walmart and they had four Tramontina Dutch Ovens in stock, two red and two green. The price was not $39.95, it was $49.97. Looks like the price has gone up but I still bought the red one.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Phil — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:15:00 -0000

Sam's Club is selling same dutch oven under Member's Mark brand for $38.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Gloria — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:30:09 -0000

I purchased this 6.5 qt Tramonina Casserole (Dutch Oven) from Walmart in RED last night. I was shocked to find it there is green and red as well. From everything I've read it only comes in green at Walmart. Both colors were sitting side by side on the shelf, exact cardboard labeling, exact size, etc. Only difference - comes in 2 colors now. Anyone else find this in red at their Walmart? I'm in California (Central Coast). Is this something new their offering at Walmart?

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Margaret — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:03:17 -0000

I just bought the 6.5 qt. Dutch Oven at Target and it was branded Tramontina. I wonder if Target has decided to stop rebranding the product as Chefmate. I was so excited to find they had 3 in stock. Used it last night to make the Cooks Illustrated chicken cacciatore and it was delicious! Be sure to allow that hour to season the new pot before you use it. (follow the instructions). Thanks for all the tips in this forum.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Carolyn — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:45:09 -0000

I live in a big metro area where lots of people are avid Cooks Illustrated readers. So, I've been unable to find the Tramontina Dutch Oven. We were driving the kids to camp out in the country, and I found both sizes of the Tramontina Dutch Ovens at 29 and 39 at a rural Wal-Mart. They had loads of them.

I guess you could save the gas and pay extra for the beautiful red at Target (sold as Chefware). They're identical.

Happy cooking!

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

tj — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:45:40 -0000

So does this mean there is no difference between a cast iron casserole and dutch oven. I'm confused. some of you are talking about dutch ovens and others are talking about cast iron casseroles? what is the differenc?
thanks

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Stan McCadam — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:58:49 -0000

Regarding the measurements of the Tramontina casseroles - - the Walmart version is $20 less for more capacity and the casseroles are almost identical otherwise.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Stan McCadam — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:56:58 -0000

Just bought a 6.5 quart Tramontina casserole(green)for Walmart locally. The casserole was also labelled as 6.5 quart / 1.1 L.
Also, bought a 6.5 quart Tramontina casserole (red) from Target labelled as a 6.5 quart / 1.2 L.
The Walmart version looked bigger and measured bigger so I filled the Target version with water to the very top and transferred it to the Walmart version. It took just less than a pint to fill the Walmart version to the very top. Conclusion - The Target and Walmart casseroles are mislabelled as far as liters go. The Walmart version is difinitely larger.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Alma — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:47:48 -0000

The Tramontina 6.5 qt dutch oven at Wal-Mart was out of stock the first time I looked online, but I kept checking until finally, last month, it was available. I quickly ordered two @$39.95 and, because there is no Wal-Mart nearby, paid $7.50 (each) to have them shipped to my house. Good thing I acted quickly; the next week it was out of stock again. Now it seems to be available, but Wal-Mart apparently realized what a good deal it was for buyers; the price is now $51.47.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

Joe — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:21:09 -0000

I was having the same difficulty until I stumbled onto Wal-Mart's site to store option.
You can purchase the product on their web-site and then rather than pay the shipping charge, they will deliver it directly to your closest store. You will be emailed once it arrives.I may end up using this option more in the future. It appears you may have a greater choice of products than what you have at your local store and save on shipping if you are not in a hurry.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

sara — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:25:11 -0000

Target is currently (as of 2/13/08)carrying the 6.5 Qt Tarmontina under their house name Chefmate.
I believe it is the exact same as the Wal-Mart version except it is red and the price is $59.95.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

GH — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:55:10 -0000

Interesting story. I am also an avid Cooks Illustrated junky, and I am looking for the Tramontina. Wal-mart's website says that it is in stock at a few stores within 20 miles, but I am always suspicious of brick-and-mortar stores' websites' declarations about what is in stock. I might chance the drive, or maybe I'll just get the Lodge. By the way, all of this would be solved Tramontina's website weren't so terrible.

Re: The Tramontina Dutch Oven Story

heather — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:42:24 -0000

Hey Mike,

I finally did find my pot at Walmart and returned the Lodge. This quest has ended for me but I wonder what item will be next.

Take care,
Heather