I’ve loved my old cast iron skillets but they are a little clumsy to use. They’re heavy and they take a good long time to heat up. I’m not throwing them away, but I have been straying. A few years ago I started buying pieces from Blu Skillet Ironware and I’ve loved the pans. The problem is the company has become too successful and good for them, but to get a pan, you have to enter a lottery. I’m too old.
A friend told me about Santa Barbara Forge and as a fan of Spanish Revival architecture and style, I want them to make everything go for me. The things they produce are just amazing. I have a wish-list ready for them. Now they’re taking their ironwork skills and making hand-forged skillets and their sense of design is replicated in each pan.
I love all my pans but I dare say this is now my favorite. I love that you can see the hammer marks and the pan is substantial but not as cumbersome as cast iron. Someone made this. Not a machine in China but someone who loves what they do. And being as superficial as I am, they just look great and that’s important, too.
At home, we’ve been searing a lot lately. Take a chop or chicken breast, sear it on all sides and then let it finish in the oven. As the meat rests, deglaze the pan, make a quick sauce and warm up your beans. Add a salad and there’s dinner. You wouldn’t want to do this in a toxic non-stick and the clean up with a traditional metal pan would be a mess. The carbon steel from Santa Barbara Forge is perfect. The pan goes right into the oven after browning the meat on your stovetop. And the deglazing does most of the cleanup. Check out the book Searing Inspiration for more on this technique.
You can get the pans online and if you’re lucky enough to be in Santa Barbara, there’s an open house on 4/13/19 from 12n to 4pm.
For what it’s worth, I’m not really into influencer marketing. I like to support fellow entrepreneurs when they do excellent work. I purchased this pan myself and have loved telling everyone about the company.
Love this. Couldn’t agree more. I fell in love with Kramer knives, but the same thing happened with them. You enter a lottery fir the chance to buy a $5000 knife. Ouch!
I’ll check out those pans. They look killer.
Gracias, Esteban!
Dag Nabbit. Now I have to have these.
Avoid Blu Skillet!!! I waited 3+ years to finally order from Blu! After finally sucessfully ordering last spring, the pan arrived last month! It was defective, warped and wobbly! The pan didn’t heat evenly due to the shape and poor contact with burner!! After calling them, arrangmetns were made to send the skillet! They claimed that I since I used the pan, I couldn’t get it fixed nor is there any type of a warranty!!! Avoid! Very disappointing after 4 years and $400+ to have a product that you can’t use and no warranty!!! I’m giving Santa Barbara Forge a try!!!
Wow, now that’s a testimony, Dayne. I’m looking to buy my first hand forged carbon steel pan and Blu Skillet was at the top of my list but there are many artisans making hand forged pans these days. It’s very difficult to know which company is best for me. I like the utterly simple handles on Santa Barbora Forge pans. If Blu Skillet and Blanc Creative are no longer making quality pans that leaves Santa Barbora Forge, Company, 3 Nail Ironwork, Athena Skillets, and Smythie Ironworks Carbon. These are the companies I know of but I’m sure there are others I’m leaving out. What other hand forged carbon steel pans are out there that people are talking about?
These pans look and sound amazing!! I’ve tried to find info on the thickness of the land but I’m unfortunately not having any luck. Can you please tell me the thickness in millimeters of the pans?
I don’t know how to measure that. I’d send a message directly to Santa Barbara Forge.
Did you ever determine the thickness steve?
I have a large Blu Skillet pan and I don’t care for the ergonomics of it. The handle is too short and it’s clumsy and awkward to use. I have a small Blanc Creatives that I love, but they changed their manufacturing to mass production and they lost their luster. So I am not buying any more Blanc pans. I am looking forward to trying out these SB forge pans. They look great.
Just ordered a SBforged large pan with helper handle. I was set to pull the trigger on a Blanc until I saw they went modern.
I will give a report as soon as it arrives. Just have to figure out what to christen the pan with.
This is my first steel pan.