KitchenAid Gourmet Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set

A beautiful set which will get a lot of use.
This Kitchen Aid cookware set (manufactured by Meyer) comes with the "gourmet" tag because of the windsor style shaping of the two saucepans and the stockpot. Windsor indicates that the sides are very tall and straight until they reach the top when there is a slight flare. This configuration facilitates faster evaporation of liquids and shortens the time for reduction of sauces. In the case of the stockpot, by placing the lid on the pot you will capture all the liquids and have them return to the broth you are making. The hard-anodized outer layer over aluminum is a very easy surface to work with. I have other pieces with this finish and find it holds up wonderfully. I do not, however, put any of my cookware in the dishwasher regardless of what a manufacturer may say.

I always like to make sure of what is meant by measurements given by a manufacturer. In this case an 8 quart stockpot held eight measured quarts of water, but there was only about 3/4 inch of room left...

Everything you need, nothing you don't -- 2 YEAR UPDATE 2013
I am so pleased with this cookware set! My old non-stick cookware by Mirro was looking pretty haggard after 10 years of dutiful service, and with our baby daughter starting to eat real solid foods, I knew we needed to replace the whole lot so bits of the flaking Teflon wouldn't find its way into the food.

DESIGN AND EASE OF USE:
The design of the cookware is a "windsor" style with the sides being at a slight angle going up and out, instead of the usual 90 degree vertical. They are also narrower at the base and taller than most regular shaped cookware. I didn't think much the design benefits until I used the pans, I LOVE WINDSOR STYLE! It lets me have a pan on each burner with lots of room around each pan since they are not low and wide like my old set of nonstick cookware. If you only have 4 burners on your stovetop like I do, this is a huge boon in maneuverability while you cook. Last night I had pasta going in the large stockpot, sausages sizzling in the saute...

Good but missing features
This cook set has the look of professional cookware, but it is clearly made for the home market and somewhat casual use at that.

Pros:
1. Looks nice. Has that classic dark anodized coating and heavy duty feel.
2. Cooks evenly due to sufficiently heavy bottoms.
3. Comfortable handles.
4. Stock pot has good capacity.
5. Frying pan non-stick coating is really non-stick. I cooked various cheese and other dishes without issue.

Cons:
1. No volume markers on the inside of any of the set. My Pyrex brand non-coated set has both cup and metric markers on the inside. These lack any markers at all.
2. The frying pan is not wide enough for me, and the sides are steep enough that you can't "cheat" on the width by using the sides a bit.
3. The teflon coating on the inside is only rated for "medium" heat. Other teflon pans I've had would allow medium high. I think this is a disadvantage.

Summary:

This is not a bad...

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