Sweet (chocolate) and savory (cheese) soufflés, made popular by James Beard and Julia Child in the 1960’s, became “company” dishes used to wow other Americans who’d never seen them unless they went to fancy French restaurants.
Inspired by customer demands to have cookware just like Julia’s, the white porcelain soufflé dish from the French company Pillivuyt was one of the first items Charles E. (Chuck) Williams brought to his customers through his stores in Sonoma, San Francisco, then his catalogues and ever expanding store empire, Williams-Sonoma. This particular soufflé dish is one of Julia’s many soufflé dishes, acquired in France but made by Pillyvuyt, just like all the others in America acquired through Williams-Sonoma and other upscale kitchenware stores.
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