Celebrity chefs don’t need anymore of our money, especially if it means coughing up hard-earned cash for mediocre cookware that many slap their names on.

But I don’t regret the dough I may have contributed toward Food Network star Mario Batali’s next vacation home in Italy.

Actually, I’m not sure how Batali is spending the $99 I spent to buy his 6-quart “Italian Essentials” pot. I’m just glad I have this Dutch oven, my new favorite kitchen essential.

If you always coveted French-made enameled cast-iron cookware, but have been scared off because the high price tags - a 5 1/2 quart Le Creuset pot will set you back at least $200 - consider Batali’s cheaper, but not cheaply-made, line of cookware.

Batali’s 6-quart pot is manufactured by Copco, a respected, 47-year-old porcelain-enameled, cast iron cookware company. Much thought has gone into this sturdy, evenly heating Dutch oven.

While it requires some heavy lifting - it weighs about 16 pounds - it has fast become my go-to pot for hearty stews, soups, spaghetti sauces and braised meats. It also was perfect for making a long cooking Mexican red mole. The inside lid is lined with spikes so that condensation drips back into the pot for continuous self basting. (It’s a feature that can be found on a French made Staub cast-iron 6-quart coq au vin cocotte, which at $200, is double the cost of Batali’s pot.)

Batali’s Dutch oven comes in four colors. I got the pretty Persimmon Orange - Batali’s signature color - and bought my sister the green one, known as pesto, for her birthday. The other two hues are espresso (brown) and crema (white).

The pot’s only drawback is the stainless steel knob on the lid. Make sure you use a potholder when lifting it or you’re in for hand-scorching surprise. Look for Batali’s cookware in better kitchenware stores or such Internet culinary sites as cooking.com or amazon.com.