Momofuku Restaurant Group founder, Ugly Delicious creator, Mind of a Chef host and microwave evangelist is also a fan of Smithey Ironware, a young cast-iron cookware maker out of Charleston, South Carolina.

Chang used Smithey’s 5.5-quart Dutch oven ($295) in a three-part series of posts on turning a so-so piece of beef into “something way better than a prime cut” (AKA braising).

Thanks to a luxe, smooth cooking surface and just the right amount of weight, Smithey’s cast-iron skillets are among the best we’ve tested. Its Dutch oven is more of the same — the cooking area is practically non-stick, it’s heavy enough to hold temperature but not overly cumbersome and, like its skillets, it’s gorgeous. Also like its skillets, it’s not cheap. At $295, it’s in the company of the Le Creusets and Staubs of the world more than the more budget-minded Lodge.

Other than indie cast-iron skillets, Chang’s Instagram feed is flooded with how-tos, reviews of the Instant Pot (he gave it a C+) and undying love for the Magic Bullet Blender, and is well worth a follow.

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