Guest spot: Sauce Maker by Rodney Tibbs
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Kitchen equipment | 95 comments
I recently met Rodney at a dinner party. Like us he is a foodie. He has been a journalist for over 50 years and is still a motoring correspondent. We have just discovered that we live in the same village.
Sauce Maker
There are some things in the kitchen that are so useful you worry that they might break and leave you floundering. In my case that thing is so rare that I wonder how other people manage without it.
I am talking about the Tefal sauce maker or “Le Saucier”. I was reminded of this when I read of your efforts with Bechamel sauce, something Le Saucier takes in its stride.
Briefly it is a gadget which has its own specialised saucepan and its own heat source. You programme time and temperatures from a little window on the front, chuck in the ingredients and let it get on with it. It stirs and heats and generally produces a no fuss sauce or gravy. Now you can concentrate on that tricky recipe or culinary masterpiece without having to spend time stirring away on the top of the hob.
Mine came from Lakeland many years ago so I rang them to ask how much a replacement would cost when mine goes to the great kitchen in the sky. They just didn’t do it any more, they said. So I rang Tefal in the UK who were most helpful but said they did not import it any more.
So I pinned my faith in French cooks and went to the Internet where I found it, but apparently now being made by a different firm. There is no doubt it is the same item although now finished in white instead of a dark gravy brown but getting at it is not going to be quite so easy.
I can negotiate the French websites OK but most of their firms want you to register with a whole host of details before they will consider posting the item to you. I have decided that when I am on holiday in the French Alps this summer I will make a point of visiting the local electrical stores to see if I can track down Le Saucier.
Which leaves us with the mystery of why such an incredibly useful device which frees up so much kitchen time, should be so little known and so little used? To me it is a bit like discovering that when my potato peeler dies there will never be another one.
If any of your readers can shed any light on this I would be very grateful. And should I find the Holy Grail, and if anyone cares, I will bring you up to date with the details.
Update October 2009: Amazon now stocks Le Saucier
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230 volts
I am in the UK and there are a number of these on Ebay here. If they are under the name of SEB they will have a French plug and French recipe book. France and England also operate at volts.
Le Saucier is not produced any more. It was sold in France under the name of SEB le saucier. The company is Groupe SEB. They have many brands including Rowenta, Moulinex and others as well as Tefal
Hello,
I am in the U.S. and want a Tefal Le Saucier. My parents had one of these when I was growing up, in the middle of the midwest. They learned how to make Madeira wine sauce, the best hollandaise sauce EVER, béarnaise sauce, etc…This was a long time ago. I must acquire a Tefal Le Saucier.
I have not been able to find a website in France using Google here in the U.S. Does anyone have a link or website address I may access so I can renew a past decades long family treat in honor of my father?
Thank you kindly and wishing you a good day 🙂
We have put the word out amongst our N. American friends, Heather.
Let’s see if they come up with anything.
Wishing you a good day also! 🙂
Its a long time since your post about the sauce maker but I am so seeing if you have found anything new that makes sauces? I have recently been to some thermomix parties and the price is ridiculous, when really all I want it for is the custard (and other time consuming sauces) making function. Are you familiar with the thermomix?
Many thanks for recipes. I found the link, just trying to print! Printer and my brain are not communicating. I am sure we will manage.
I contacted Tefal but they were adamant that the Le saucier is obsolete so will not be available.
Just hope my secondhand one lasts. The porridge was superb especially as I have an induction hob and it is difficult to cook some thick items without it catching, one dare not blink as it needs constant attention. The induction is good for most cooking. Warm regards
Your welcome.
Thanks so much – been looking around for this manual for ages
Hi Jo,
The download can be found on my skydrive here.
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=950831DD56DCEB87!613&authkey=!AN83pYKjaJ4Cx4s
CAN YOU SEND ME THE LE SAUCIER RECIPES AS
AS A PDF FILE IN ENGLISH PLEASE AS I HAVE
LOST MINE
THANK YOU