The gently sloped sides of All Clad's 2-Quart Saucier exactly match the curve of All Clad's stainless balloon whisk (and many other balloon whisks for that matter). This gentle curve, combined with the very smooth tough stainless steel interior make this a great surface for frequent stirring. All Clad's incredible heat transmissive properties allow you to deftly adjust temperature - a must for delicate sauces, roux, and risotto. Of course this pan can be used as a general purpose sauce pan as well. The 2 quart size is just the right size too.

As for the MC2 finish - it's fine. It gets stained - but the soft matte surface is easily cleaned with a paste of cleanser (like Ajax or Comet) on a scrubby. Just rub the paste in a circular motion and power away the stains. You can use BarKeeper's Friend too - but plain cleanser works fine. I do this one every couple of months. All in all it's about the same to care for as anodized aluminum (and about as good as any other cookware except nonstick - but this is vastly more durable). Highly recommended.

having an assortment of All-Clad pieces, I couldn't pass up the rare All-Clad MC2 sale.

Like the rest of the line, the MC2 has a stainless steel interior. The difference is in the brushed aluminum exterior. That's where the problem lies. Apparently this finish is a tad more porous than the LTD line. I keep getting 'stains' that require the Barkeeper's Friend. No big deal-but for a pan of this price, easy maintenence should be mandatory.

Wait for the LTD sale instead.

This little pan heats uniformly. I use it for making oatmeal, reheating meals since I don't have a microwave, toasting seeds, and making sauces. It cleans up beautifully just with soap and water. I did accidentally put it through the microwave once, however (not recommended by the manufacturer), and the pretty finish is now somewhat dulled.

On the negative side, for reheating I find a lid helpful, but since this pan didn't come with a lid I use one from a different pan. This pan also has a few design flaws:

1) There is no lip, so pouring is quite messy.
2) The handle is heavy, and when the pan is not full it tips easily.
3) The sides are somewhat low, as another reviewer mentioned. I think this pan would work better as a 1.5 quart pan.

We've been very happy with this pan except for one problem:
I don't know if the handle is too long and heavy or the base is too small, but this pan has trouble balancing and tips over fairly easily.

For some reason, AllClad set the angle of the handle much shallower than on their other pots and pans--the angle is similar to a fry pan. When you lift the pan off the stove, the rim of the pan does not remain level. This is especially annoying if you are working with this pan alongside several pots. A minor detail perhaps. Otherwise, an excellent pan, great for cooking rice and reducing sauces.