Having proper oven-proof porcelain bowls is crucial when making French Onion Soup. The bowl should be deep enough so that you can float your slice of sourdough bread topped with gruyere cheese on the surface. And, more importantly, they have to be able to take the heat of a 400 F oven.

I am always asked where to get such bowls in my cooking classes. Of course, you can purchase the French-made Apilco Lion's Head porcelain bowls at $80 each. However, we have found some bowls that work well and can also be used as casserole-baking dishes for one or two people.