Joe Sandor's

Captain Crepe Pan

This is the pan Kathia & I have used at home since 2013 to make crepes when not at market making crepes.  

The night before I purchased, I came across a completed kickstarter project by artist Joe Sandor.  
I had always been curious what a real cast iron pan would b.  The next day Joe set up demo in the alley behind our first shared kitchen in Evanston, IL.  I was sold before the pan was hot.   

March 6 2026

We Hosted a senior center for a crepe lunch and had conversation with lady who asked me about Captain Crepe Pan & Joe.   No one had ever brought him up.  I was thrilled to hear this question.  Over the years I would share my crepe recipe and feel remiss not to have proper pan to recommend.  Nothing else before or since has come close.   Using this pan is the true traditional way to craft crepes. Now I was being asked for help to find the pan.

May 12th, 2026

We picked up first 102 pans at Washburn Iron Works….

However, this is more than a return of a commercial product.  The below is my best effort to allow Joe to share in his voice the pitch from his Kickstarter project and weave in the story of someone who was meant to have a legacy last as long as his cast iron pans continue to be.  

"When I first went to art school, the counselors told me to take a life drawing class or a pottery class because they're so calming. But I'm pretty sadistic, and I like to smash things and set things on fire, so by the end of my first year I found myself down in the dark dungeon known as the foundry, pulverizing iron so that we could melt it down and make some sculpture."
— Joe Sandor, Social Slag, Make Magazine, July 27, 2010

"In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the character can inspire."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fittingly from France

"I was living in France and I had seen an antique cast iron crepe pan for sale. It was basically a large flat cast iron disk — it came with a wooden spreader and a long flat spatula — but it was expensive and heavy. I've always wanted one and I've never been able to find this design anywhere else. I wanted to make crêpes the Paris street vendor way but could never find the right pan.Most crepe pans on the market are basically a small cast iron skillet or thin aluminum with non-stick coating that eventually gets scratched off. They have an edge and a handle. The problem with this design is that the edge and handle become an obstruction — crêpes are smaller, and the edges tend to crisp and burn. Plus synthetic non-stick coatings are far inferior to well-seasoned cast iron.There are commercially produced crepe pans similar in size to the antique French design, yet they are expensive electric machines, usually only available to restaurants or food professionals. Unlike electric crepe makers, my pan can conveniently be used over any open flame."
— Joe Sandor, Kickstarter, 2012

Forging Ahead

"I entered Chicago as an Abstract Painter and now I've become an Industrialist. It seems like this is the town for that to happen in. My University education began with an emphasis in Journalism/Mass Communication but changed into Politics. By the end, I had spent a third of my time in France and realized I needed to make art for the rest of my life. After that I spent some time working in the shipping industry, getting a feel for small business and networking. Then I decided I needed to go to Art School to learn how to cast metal, which led me to iron and making my own cookware."
— Joe Sandor, Kickstarter, 2012

Joe made his first cast iron crêpe pan while studying sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In the foundry, he learned how to cast iron — and decided to recreate the pan he had seen in Paris.

The first one was big and heavy. People loved it and asked him to make them one.

As part of the Chicago Crucible collective of fellow makers, he led them on tour to Detroit's Maker Faire to demonstrate fiery public pours. "Melting iron is great fun, and pouring it into a pumpkin is even more fun." Joe was always finding ways to include others in the community, the same way he hoped to do for crêpe makers with the pan. His friend and fellow metal caster Alisa Toninato helped him pour his crêpe pan prototype. He helped her pour her iron hearts. That's the world Joe lived in.

Over time, he sold a few pans, refined the design, and developed the brand and logo of Captain Crepe Pan. As he put it: "I can't tell you why or how this came to be — but I knew that the world needed a French superhero to introduce the world's greatest crepe pan."

The Drawings

Joe enlisted his friend and artist Yong Choi to bring Captain Crepe Pan to life as a character. These are the original drawings.

The Design

Over time, Joe went through three design changes. The first was made from a simple wooden disk, about ¾ inch thick, with drafted edges. For the second, he wanted a larger surface area — but at ¾ inch thickness, the pan was large and really heavy, not reasonable to produce commercially.

After those experiences, Joe changed his pattern-making process. He wanted a thinner, lighter design while maintaining a large surface area. His solution: a raised pattern on the underside — like a grill — that would allow the pan to be thinner while maintaining even heat distribution.

He had access to a laser cutter and used it to make unique decorative patterns for the bottom of the pan. Suns, swirls, a fleur de lis, a skull. "They're quite beautiful," he said. As for the iron itself: "It has been determined by the Gods of Iron that the crepe pan will be made of a special alloy of iron — Captain's secret recipe. It is a stronger, more durable alloy that will allow for thin castings."

The beauty of the design is that it holds a very even heat and requires little fuel. Cast iron is loved by chefs for its evenly heated cooking surface and natural non-stick seasoning. Joe had his pans tested by professional chefs in Chicago. Erica Fischer, Executive Chef of Julius Meinl Coffeehouse, noted the even golden brown color — "what every French chef is looking for" — and said the crêpes were made the way she was taught in school: "smooth as a baby's bottom."

Washburn Iron Works

From Joe's Kickstarter,

'While I was going through this process, I realized the enormous difficulty and expense of trying to cast these on my own to meet the demand.

'It still amazes me that such a simple metal disk can be so difficult to cast perfectly. (Sandor, KS, update #16)'

Realizing these constraints, I sought help and took my successful prototype to Washburn Iron Works.  It's an efficient family operation and I'm happy to support a local Wisconsin business.   

For the last year, I have been in discussion with them about how to get a good casting of my crepe pans.  They even have specific alloys of iron intended for cast iron cookware.'

'So now that I have a successful prototype, a CNC machine to make good patterns and a place where I know I can get good castings, I am taking this project to Kickstarter.'

Kickstarter 2012

 The goal of this project is to help pay for my first production run of crepe pans and pay for my machine to make foundry patterns.'

Launched August 28, 2012 Joe sought $6,000 towards funding the initial investment for first production run and fabrication shop. 229 backers pledged $30,052 to help bring his project to life.

Joe said, "The estimated price per set once this goes to market is currently at $200 plus S&H.  A final price will be determined based off of this project." 

"I went into this seeing myself as a one man factory using the alliance of a professional foundry to cast my work and tried to provide an appropriate factory produced item. Ultimately, this was more of an artisan limited edition casting and it wasn't until I realized that when I had a return to my artisan practices with more of a focus on quality rather than quantity. Good or bad, my human hand is on every one of these." (Sandor, Kickstarter 2012)

Feedback is in:

"Received my pan this afternoon, seasoned it in the oven this evening, just finished my first two crêpes. The pan was a delight to use once I got my heat balanced and it will be even better once I get the crêpe thinner so it cooks more quickly and evenly. Tomorrow I plan to test its quality as a pizza stone."
— Eric C., Verified Backer

"That the crepe pans are a work of art is beyond doubt - I think I should build a frame to hang mine in the kitchen - it is a beautiful object. Most projects run months late; that Joe delivered so close to his timeline is a minor miracle, and a testament to how much he cares."
— Greg M., Verified Backer

"I think the pan is a beauty, and I plan on setting it on a display stand when not in use. Hearing about your process and experience is an integral part of this project!"
— Aaron P., Verified Backer

Demo Day: 3/12/2013

The night before Gotta B Crepes & Captain Crepe Pan met, Joe sent his final Kickstarter update #16 — March 11, 2013.

We started our crepe business from our front porch summer solstice 2010. Using a pancake griddle at first, and then a Krampouz, we always wished for a real cast iron surface.  I brought home both and they were bulky and out of place, luckily the crepes made the effort worth it.  Three years later, a midnight Google search revealed a match. I sent Joe an email, and by early afternoon March 12, 2013, he was standing in the alley behind our first shared kitchen in Evanston, IL — Captain Crepe Pan set up on the tailgate of his pickup truck.

The pan wasn't even fully hot yet, and I was sold.

Joe shared an idea with me that day in the alley — a guild, an association of crêpe makers. I loved it immediately and the community spirit he connected together.  

That evening, I wrote back to Joe: "Everything has its time apparently."

Death & Living Legacy

I tried reaching out to Joe for sometime before found out he passed away.  Was shocked and saddened.  Although we had just met still felt a big void.  His presence and pursuit of something peaceful was refreshing and purposeful.  

Captain Crepe Pan was set as casted.  I had mine and 272 others around the world had theirs.  I would search Ebay occasionally and never once saw.  Although I cooked with his pan weekly and at times daily, I never thought to pursue the pan further.  

I would often share my recipe and feel remiss not to have proper pan to share like I had at home.  I was resigned to continue looking and found a company Crepe Pro in 2019 or so.  I bought at least a dozen and recommended to hundreds over the years.  At one point I asked when placing an order if they knew anyone else who made similar design.  They said, 'Captain Crepe Pan used to.'  

2020 Kathia found a thin crepe circle at a metal shop and I was able to season and use just fine.  It still was not the same for service.  The heat distribution was off at volume.  

I sent Lodge an email once asking if they made.  

I reached out to Washburn in 2024 and again in 2025.  They never confirmed a mold at that time and my follow up fizzled out.  

Luckily Joe was gifted at building community and connecting with people thru life & art.  

One of those people eventually found her way to Gotta B Crepes in Highland Park, IL on an ordinary winter afternoon 3/6/2026. We were hosting local senior center for lunch and I checked on her meal at the table, she brought up Joe Sandor and Captain Crepe Pan by name. The next day, she returned for more crêpes and left an envelope full of information she had collected and even had corresponded with Joy by letter. Years of quiet devotion to Joe's vision — and one simple request: she wanted to buy a pan. 

I reached out to Joe's widow, Joy, and back to Washburn Iron Works. The answer no one expected: Joe's original production mold was still sitting on the shelf. Untouched since 2013 — though the foundry typically tosses molds after 10 years of inactivity — it was ready. With Joy's blessing, Washburn cast the first 102 pan since 2013.  

We decided to drive the 7 hours or so to pick up so we could thank the foundry with fresh made crepes.  They had preserved Joe's original mold ensuring his legacy would continue on for more people to make the biggest and best traditional French crepes.  

5/12/2026 we arrived 1am in Washburn Inn right on Lake Superior.  Daylight came fast and I took early morning dip in the cool calm water.  Taking in for the first time a new huge  horizon.  Found couple seashells too including one with a spiral.  

McKenzie at Washburn was very welcoming and said my hot pink shirt reminded her of her days in Chicago studying design at Roosevelt University and wearing bright colors on those walks to class down city blocks in what she saw a sea of dull colors for such a vibrant city.  McKenzie is who we corresponded with to complete the purchase order and review process of renewing production.  Her name was part of the notes in that envelope.

Today we are in talks with a post production place full of the best people and equipment to have each pan processed to fulfill Joes vision of artisan quality and accessibility.  

We are also weighing his thoughts expressed in his update of 3/11/2013.  The same text seems to read differently as we go here.  

"I've also thought a lot about moving forward and one thing I can tell you is that the pattern that I used to cast these, will be very limited.  Right now there are 273 of these casts scattered on the globe.  I'm working on a redesign should I feel the need to bring this to a bigger market and really mass produce them.  I'll probably do one or two more production runs over the next year but when I'm done with it (the pattern), I'll let you know what the edition is and that'll be final.

Ultimately, I've gathered quite a bit of insight into what this is as a product and how it can exist through a micro manufacturing process.  It's like micro brewing beer but for manufacturing.  Small batch manufacturing." 

We had to at first Google what a micro foundry is.  Turns out would have been ahead of its time, although that is what Alisa Toninato built her FeLion Studios as.  

We can see a dream of a micro foundry where on one side resident foundry fellows pour the pans being used on other side of glass in crepe cafe.

Crepe artists that learned using Captain Crepe Pan, making crepes the way its Gotta B.  

Guests will have opportunity to be welcomed into each community and learn at various levels thru hands on workshops and events.  

The community will have a place where anyone can experience first hand the cycle of dream, design, do.  From beginner to expert all working alongside helping delight in the details of a successful casting or service. 

From here the community of makers on both sides of the glass can reach realities they may not have otherwise.  Once you learn either art there are always opportunities for inspired artisans.  

Joe had wonderful view of how to share the load and this place would be fun because he already outlined what it takes. 

From Make Interview  "Talking Trash with Joe Sandor, Goli Mohammadi, 4/19/11

"What makes for a successful pour?
'Like any good event, it’s all about being prepared and good people making decisions. You need enough people to do all of the hard physical labor so that it not too much for one or two people. You need people who know how to run a furnace, and one person will tell the furnace crew what to do. Access to trucks, forklifts, and any sort of heavy machinery is a plus. Up in Wisconsin, we have front loaders, excavators, and some other Caterpillar-type machines that make life easier, and we can cast really big pieces. The less you have to use your limited human abilities and the more you can give to a machine, the happier you will be pouring metal. Metal is heavy, and machines are our friends. When people are organized and no one person has to break all of the iron, and no one person has to charge the furnace alone, and no one person has to fill all of the molds, then no one is overworked, and we all have a good time.'"

May the best thing happen.

The Highest Form of Art

Joe Sandor didn't make art to be quietly observed on a gallery wall. He forged art to be used. Brought back to life a design of the past that seemed lost and personified it as a super hero.

It is fitting that every crepe is spun in a spiral, as this artistic action is the capstone of Joe's creation. With thoughtful practice anyone can master this art form.

"Art should exhilarate, and throw down the walls of circumstance on every side, awakening in the beholder the same sense of universal relation and power which the work evinced in the artist, and its highest effect is to make new artists."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"It pleases me to know that I made a functional piece of art that encourages social gatherings around food."
— Joe Sandor

Make a crêpe. B an artist.

Joe, may peace be with you.

Ryan & Kathia Jones, Gotta B Crepes

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