The natural carbon steel surface duplicates a more authentic wok cooking surface - seasoning is required. These sturdy carbon steel pans will deliver excellent cooking performance and feature a long Birch wood handle and side helper handle for easy lifting. The handles are designed to stay cool on the stovetop, so you can easily remove the pan from the burner without using potholders. Its curved sides diffuse heat and extend the cooking surface, which helps with tossing and stirring. The great depth allows ample room to cook a whole fish, if so desired. Simmering, deep frying, or steaming, are just a few of its multiple uses. Joyce Chen's slogan "Eastern Cookware for the Western Kitchen," reflects her focus on providing high-quality, versatile tools and products that have Asian flair, but can be used in a western kitchen. Today, Joyce Chen Products come from all over the Pacific Rim to bring the best of Asia to you. Joyce Chen opened her first restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1958. The restaurant flourished, and in 1973 a larger Cambridge restaurant was opened. Chen also began writing Chinese cookbooks and in the 1970s began hosting a cooking show on public television. She found that the selection and quality of Chinese cookware in America didn't live up to her high standards so she developed her own.