Majjie's Blog

You may have noticed, in the glossy magazines, that Rangemaster have just launched a pair of French style cookers, the Rangemaster Elise SE and the Rangemaster Elise 110. I'm usually a fan of Rangemaster cookers - but I have mixed feelings about these.

Here's the Rangemaster Elise 110 in a beautiful China Blue:

and the Rangemaster SE in Chocolate Brown: 

Both are 1100mm wide, dual fuel models, with six gas burners (2 x 3.5kW; 1 x 3kW; 2 x 1.7kW and 1 x 1kW) but they have a different arrangement of ovens. The SE has two ovens with a full width storage drawer beneath, whereas the 110 has a separate grill compartment and a single width storage drawer. They'll set you back around £2,110 or £2,220, respectively. 

Why - you may ask - is Rangemaster going for a French look to it's new cookers? Is it because Aga Rangemaster took over the very upmarket La Cornue brand of cookers and want to copy the style into their more affordable ranges? Well, no I don't think that's the entire story. A new more affordable La Cornue cooker has already been launched - although these things are relative - the cheaper 1100mm CornuFe cooker will cost you around £3,995. It comes with two ovens, a storage drawer and 5 gas rings (the centre one a 4kW wok burner) ... whereas the more expensive La Cornue models are customisable; you can choose what oven and hob arrangement to have.  Here's the CornuFe 110 in "Paris Blue":

Is it, perhaps, the main French competition that Rangemaster are targetting; Forneaux de France's Lacanche Cluny and Lacanche Macon cookers? See any resemblance?

Here's a "Delft Blue" Cluny - which used to come at 860mm high (so needed a plinth for UK kitchens); but I think is now available at 900mm:

... and here's the Macon which was designed for the UK market and always came at 900mm high. They're both 1000mm wide. There are a lot of other Lacanche models available ... but these two are the most popular in the UK:

The Cluny comes with a choice of electric and gas ovens (the electric ovens can also have grills within) and two hob configurations; a five burner - or 4 burners with a simmer plate over the central 5kW burner. It also has two storage drawers. The Macon comes with a small 25 litre oven and grill - and one storage drawer ... with the same choices for the other two ovens and hob, as the Cluny. Both will set you back around £4,200 - £4,400 ... depending on what choices you make.

The CornuFe and Lacanche cookers have, of course, a far superior build quality to the Rangemaster Elise ... as you'd expect from the prices ... and if you can afford one of these, then I'm all in favour of French styling.

So would I recommend an Elise? No - I don't think I would - unless you really, really want that French look - and can't afford the real thing. The Elise models don't come with timers or programmers (which I'd expect from a cheaper, convenient cooker) ... and the accessories are not yet decided.

For that price I'd go for a dual fuel Rangemaster Excel:

It has five gas burners plus 2 ceramic rings over which can be fitted a griddle; two large ovens; a small slow cook oven; and a separate, glide-out grill ... plus a programmable clock and minute minder. Much more versatile for a busy cook. The only disadvantage (apart from the lack of French looks, that is!) is that you can't have a lovely pale blue one. It only comes in black (above), stainless steel, silver or ivory.