Favorite stores I frequent include the Williams-Sonoma located in San Diego’s beautiful outdoor Fashion Valley Mall. Since last fall, I’ve been enjoying their complimentary technique classes conducted by both Heidi and Deborah (see earlier posts Complimentary Technique Classes and Attempted Steaks au Poivre ) which has introduced and inspired some culinary adventures for me. Earlier this spring, I was happy to learn that my local store was planning a remodel, which included a larger store and an updated more audience friendly kitchen for their technique/cooking classes and product demonstrations . The only downside to this rebirth news was that the store was closing for four long months. The nearest Williams-Sonoma meant traveling another 20 minutes north to the nearest store.
The beautifully remodeled and larger store was worth the wait, as the wait is over! Williams-Sonoma allowed the Teenie Cakes.com Web site to photograph and share images of the new store and an early sneak-peek at the Fall schedule of complimentary technique classes – behind the scenes…
The first Williams-Sonoma store opened in 1956 and offered hard to find and select cookware imported from France. Today, there are over 250 stores nationwide and since 1991, they have published over 250 books/cookbooks.
What I find most mesmerizing when strolling through their stores are the myriad of tools, resources and products for cooks and bakers alike that lend a hand in turning out fantastic results for everyday meals, desserts and entertaining. Besides carrying their own line of unique and inspiring food products, they also carry a line of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon and Ad Hoc mixes and kits.
I have tried and thoroughly enjoyed the beef Demi-Glace (saved dozens of hours of prep time), which assisted me in creating the most impressive Steaks au Poivre!
Have not had the pleasure of trying the spices quite yet.
I think these peppercorns are next on my wish list…both the 5 Pepper blend and Pink ones (already enjoying the Tellicherries)!
This is one of my favorite layouts of the stores. It’s like being in a candy shop without the calories and carbs.
Williams-Sonoma Complimentary Technique Classes
Technique and cooking classes are taught by culinary professionals. The technique classes are compliments of Williams-Sonoma while cooking classes may have a fee. Reservations are recommended, especially as the holiday seasons approach because classes fill up quickly. The technique classes include a tasting of what your instructor is demonstrating (that’s part of the fun!). Fashion Valley’s remodel boasts a more audience friendly kitchen with an overhead mirror to more easily watch techniques and what deliciousness is being created before your eyes. Remember to bring a pen/pencil to take notes. You can jot tips and side notes on the hand-outs they provide you or bring your own notebook to scribble on.
Here’s an early peek at the August and September Fall schedule of technique classes (not posted on their Web site yet). I am likely to attend all the technique classes, but I’m especially looking forward to the Cooking Sous Vide, Lessons in Dairy (making homemade ricotta!), and Risotto classes:
Williams-Sonoma Fall Technique Class Schedule 2010
Cooking Sous Vide / Week of August 8
Discover the secrets to sous vide, one of the hottest culinary trends today. With this classic technique, foods are cooked in a protected vacuum with precise temperature controls, producing tender, succulent foods without overheating or overcooking them. This preserves the ingredients’ nutritional value and true flavor. Popular with chefs around the world, sous vide is easy to do at home. This class will introduce you to the basics, including the essential equipment you’ll need.
The Art of Seasoning / Week of August 15
Enhance your favorite dishes with spices, which add distinctive flavor and enticing fragrance. We’ll teach you the fundamentals of spices, including the best way to maintain their freshness and how to combine them to create new and exciting blends. Take your cooking to a whole new level by learning how to correctly season foods with aromatic spices.
Lessons in Dairy / Week of August 22
This class will cover the basics of dairy—from assembling a cheese plate to preparing homemade butter and transforming it into savory and sweet spreads. You’ll learn how to make fresh ricotta, which is delicious slathered on bruschetta and topped with vine-ripened tomatoes. We’ll also show you how a few simple additions can turn whipped cream into a decadent topping.
Knife Skills & Knife Sharpening / Week of August 29
A sharp edge, the correct grip and proper placement of the food are all essential components of good knife skills, as we’ll demonstrate in this class. You’ll learn how to slice, dice and chop and to make advanced cuts, including chiffonade and juilienne. We’ll also offer complimentary knife sharpening; limit one knife per customer, please.
Risotto / Week of September 12
A specialty of northern Italy, risotto has earned a place as a legendary Italian dish and is now a favorite outside its homeland as well. Risotto can be embellished with savory ingredients, including cheeses, vegetables, meats and seafood, as well with as sweet additions like dried fruit and chocolate. As you’ll discover in this class, risotto will quickly become one of the most versatile and well-loved dishes in your repertoire.
Indoor Grilling / Week of September 19
Even with the arrival of fall, you can still enjoy the succulent flavors of grilled meats and vegetables. This class will focus on the technique of indoor grilling–how to capture those summer favorites in your own kitchen. We’ll show you how to make classic pollo alla mattone (chicken under a brick) and share tips and other recipes that will inspire you throughout the fall season.
Fall Baking / Week of September 26
As the chill of autumn sets in, it’s time to fill your house with the enticing aroma of home-baked goods. In this class you’ll learn to bake tempting cool-weather treats that showcase the best of the autumn harvest, including apples, pears and other seasonal ingredients.
LINKS
- For the latest technique and cooking classes, product demonstrations and book signing events at your local Williams-Sonoma, visit their Store Events section.
- I have also posted the class schedules on the TeenieCakes.com Facebook Page under the “Events” tab.
A special heartfelt thank you and acknowledgment to S.M. of Williams-Sonoma Corporate offices and the lovely personnel at the Fashion Valley location for allowing me to photograph San Diego’s beautiful new store so that I could share it with my friends on Teenie Cakes and for the advance preview schedule of classes running through this August and September 2010!
Photos from this Williams-Sonoma store and the class schedules are also on the Teenie Cakes Facebook Page.
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
Do you think the folks at Williams-Sonoma would particularly mind if I just moved there? That place looks heavenly!
LOL! Hi Kocinera – It’s a dangerous place, to be sure… I have to plan my visits and refrain because the temptations are just too great! ;)
Hi Alli and welcome to Teenie Cakes! You gotta go check out WS! If you’re standing at the lower-level outdoor escalator, the one next to Godiva Chocolates (outside Macy’s), walk towards Nordstroms – it will be on your right (across from Pottery Barn). Not to be missed :o)
From Hawaii too!? That must be so fun to have a bakery in the family {sigh}…that’s a dream for sure.
Oh my goodness, I must have been to Fashion Valley a zillion times, and I had no idea that there was a Williams Sonoma there! In which part of the mall is it?
I just found your blog and I love it. My grandparents also owned a bakery in Hawaii! My parents are running it now. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes!
I adore Williams Sonoma as well, and I am so proud that it was started in my hometown of San Francisco! Their classes are helpful, and I always find something great and new to buy from WS. Lucky you to have gotten this sneak peak!
Hi Christine – It must be fantastic to live in San Francisco where there are great Foodie places and a much more food & wine-centric community. I wonder what the original WS is like…have you been there? You’re right about those classes…they’re great! =)
I’m a fan too.
Great photos.
LL
Thank you Lori Lynn – It’s a Foodie theme park!
how excitng to get a sneak peek, i adore WS the closest store here for us is in San antonio so when we swing ver there, I do some serious damage (smile) the funny part is hubby is super cool and knows any investment into kitchen gifts for me is well worth his future dinners…cool pics
sweetlife
Hi Sweetlife – that is a bonus in itself that your hubby is supportive and finds your visits worth the investment! =o)
You are a woman after my own heart! The clerks at my local W-S store and I are on a first-name basis. Once a week. At least!
Beautiful blog – will definitely come back!
Thanks Donna and welcome! Isn’t that a great feeling when you have a rapport with personnel – it makes visiting that much more enjoyable. :)
Hey Cristina: Just for the record, being a guy, I really love browsing Williams Sonoma just as much as my local hardware store! So much to learn and discover…and now that they have free classes….
Hi Steve – {LOL!} – You’re so right…so much to learn and discover. I enjoy Home Depot and Lowe’s too, however it could be a seasonal or a necessity visit. Foodie things, whether it’s restaurants, festivals, beautiful stores like this one can hold my interest all year through. The technical classes are great!
Dear Cristina – Ooh…..fabulous pics that make me drool. I would walk right past the Jimmy Choos for a W & S! Either way, unfortunate for my hubby ;)
Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Hi Devaki Yes! Either way too bad for our hubbies. I could get my pasta extruder and a bunch of other “needed” cook/baker tools in place of “shoes” =o)
Your WS store now looks exactly like mine in the Manhattan Beach Mall, where I have been to many of their classes and spent mucho dinero. I have two posts on my blog about a beloved WS cooking teacher, Linda Steidel, who just came out with a book, For Every Season There Is a Salad. Your photos are awesome!
Hi Lynne and thank you! LOL…I hear you on the mucho dinero part. It’s too fun. WS has great instructors…I attended a class a couple months ago on souffles at another location because my local one was closed. The instructor there was awesome too.
you need to print up some business cards that say your a professional food blogger or food photographer…..all they want is something with your name on it and that you work with food….I bet it would work!
I’m going to submit it, Chef Dennis. I have those business cards all made up already… Thank you for the encouragement! :)
(That would be so cool..but dangerous!)
Williams-Sonoma is one of my all-time favorite stores – I’ve always said I couldn’t work there or I’d be giving them my entire paycheck and I’d be broke to boot! Gorgeous pictures – so much so, that I’m heading down to my own Williams-Sonoma right now! Love this post!
LOL! Hi Smith Bites and thank you!
Yes, it would be difficult to work there as I would be paying them to work in their lovely stores. :o)
Talk about eye candy for a foodie. You represented Williams-Sonoma beautifully.
I keep trying to get into some classes in my area but my favorite ones always sell out, including those at W-S.
By the way, I gave you a mention on my blog. :-)
Thank you Jean!!! The technique classes are free. Reservations are recommended, but if you decide at the last minute to attend I have never had the experience of them turning anyone away. The cooking classes usually have a fee. There’s a good lineup of fall classes…let me know if you are able to attend one and what you thought of the class… :)
WOW!! I would move to the States just for the Williams Sonoma stores!!! Unbelievable!
Hi Denise – I’m sure you have stores similar to Williams-Sonoma too? =)
Hi Cristina
I have an award for you
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Thank you torviewtoronto for honoring me and the Teenie Cakes site!
I love this store…always go inside to look what is new…by the way, your pictures are great!
Thank you Juliana! Yes, WS has that magnetic pull when attempting to just walk by it. I luv it! :)
The closest Williams-Sonoma to me is still some distance away. I did not know they offer free technique classes. I’ll have to check it out as it sounds like fun. Great pictures!
Thanks Biren! Let’s hope they have plans for something closer your way in the near future. :)
Cristina, your photos are beautiful. Such a great re-model W&S did. Do ya think they are open at 6:30am today?? I would love to pop in :) xo
Hi Marla and thank you!! Are you out this way so early in the morning on a Monday? I hope you’ll have some time to visit!
Like a kid in a candy store, we always love wandering around these places. The cooking demonstrations are always a fun time for me, attending or giving them also.
Bon appetit!
CCR
=:~)
Hi Chef Ryan – these are fun stores, indeed. Please let me know if you have a demo scheduled out this way for your Blends and….blue cheese dressing! :)
Cristina…you just put a great big smile on my two passions…my interior design profession and my Foodie nuttiness. I could see myslef spending quite a bit of time at their place.
Thanks for the fabulous captures…very appreciated.
Have a great week and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
HI Claudia and thank you. You are truly a creative being an intetior designer (how fun!) and foodie. You would like this location of Williams-Sonoma because right across their store is a two-story Pottery Barn! :)
Oh my goodness, how is it that I never put two and two together and realized you are so close to me in San Diego! I was actually thinking of checking out that new WS at Fashion Valley, I usually go to the one at UTC since it is closer but I wanted to see the new store. :) As though I need more temptation!!! Lol, we should meet for lunch one day and oogle all the goodies they have there! Thanks for the virtual “tour!”
Hi Cilantropist – The extra travel time from Fashion Valley to UTC is the 20 additional minutes for me. I’m glad we have our store back. We will definitely have to meet for lunch and catch a class at WS! :)
Of course, one of my favorite stores, too! And I’ve been meaning to take advantage of their free technique classes here in OC. Your photos are gorgeous and I’m going to their site now to calendar a few classes :) Thanks, Cristina!
Hi Priscilla and thank you! Interesting and fun classes to look forward to…and the subject matters are so timely for the season and current interests/trends.
I love this store! They have a great selection of cooking items, and I like the displays. I will have to try the cooking classes, thanks for the post.
Your welcome RKM! Yes, beautiful displays that lend to inspiring ideas. :)
Williams-sonoma is my FAVORITE place in the mall. Even more so than Borders. Can you tell I’m a complete fashionless nerd? Anyway. I used to browse through the stores, just smelling in all the different smells, the smell of cookbooks, the smell of new equipment, baking pans, dishware…it just filled me with such joy and peace!
I did not know they had cooking classes, though…This gives me an idea for my school food column…I’ll have to check if the one in LA offers them too.
Hi Sophia – I think most of the Williams-Sonoma stores offers both technique and cooking classes. Check with your local stores for times and offerings. Here in San Diego, they are offered on both Sunday and Wednesday mornings…but I recall during the holiday season they added an additional day on Monday in the evenings. They are great sessions! :)
Beautiful…..I love WS too. (Well, who doesn’t?) LOL
Angie
LOL! Hi Angie…you’re right – who doesn’t love Williams-Sonoma! =)
I just spent my afternoon in the Williams Sonoma in Colorado Springs. The store always invites me in with yummy samples and bright and beautiful cooking displays. Today I was tempted by a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker…I’ve been seeing so many good recipes for frozen treats. Your pictures were great and your descriptions informative. I’m going to need to find some of these classes in my local store!
Hi Monet…you’re right, I should’ve mentioned that the stores sometimes invite you in by delicious aromas of something baking or cooking. Especially around the holidays…they used to sometimes have a warm serving of cider at the entrance way!
Williams Sonoma is one of my favorite stores! This store is beautiful and your photos are amazing!. I’ve never considered taking a class there but that’s something I should explore. :)
Thanks for the compliments on the photography Judy! The classes are fantastic. I always learn things…even things “I thought” I knew already. It’s fun also because these classes have other foodies in it too, you get to taste things and you cannot beat the complimentary part (free) for the technique classes! :o)
wow,what a beautiful store!it’s like heaven for a foodie!beautiful pics,also.thanks for sharing!
You’re right alison!! It’s a foodie’s paradise :)
This is one of my favorite stores and always feel lucky when I can get out of there without spending. I like getting the catalog in the mail and going through it over and over again. They have a outlet center in las vegas that has some good deals. I will look into those cooking classes.
Hi Samantha – I feel like I have overcome a strong addiction and am victorious when I can leave there without a bag of goodies. However, I still think about the things I’m going back for! I enjoy the catalog, especially when there’s recipes in it. I LUV/heart that outlet center at the State borderline. Wish they had one of those fun stores out this way.
what a beautiful store!! I love williams sonoma, especially since I get a 20% discount for being in the business!
Hi Chef Dennis – LOL! How sad for us aspiring cooks/bakers that aren’t actually in the food service industry that we don’t get to enjoy that fantastic discount! :(
I want 20% off too! =)
It looks like their remodel was worth the wait! Luckily, we have several stores here that offer cooking classes. They are always so much fun and I certainly enjoy wandering through any of the stores to see all of the neat products.
Hi Bunkycooks – it was worth the wait and looking forward to the lineup of classes too.
Great photos! One of my favorite stores. :-)
Hi Lisa…and thank you. My favorite too!
Lovely pictures
Thank you torviewtoronto! ;)
If this store was here, I would be one of their loyal customers. I love to visit such stores selling kitchen tools. This one would be like an exhibition for me. Thanks for introducing it. I would love to join their Knife Skills class as I have problems using my knives.
Hi zerrin – You’re right, it is like an exhibition and the very first time you visit a store like this, your mouth literally drops as you glide around the store, mesmerized. =)