If you're thinking about working with Cathy, save yourself the trouble. I only used her kitchen twice, and even on my second visit I did my best to follow rules. Yet I was suddenly told to "find somewhere else to work out of," with no warning, no discussion, and no chance to fix anything.
She's claimed I was "unprepared," left chocolate drippings everywhere, and that something I asked about was "illegal." Let's be real -- I simply asked if I could bring dough I made at home to bake in the kitchen oven, which is completely normal for a beginner baker. Any "mess" referenced was either on her side of the kitchen while she was actively using it, or the trash, which was never flagged as a serious issue at the time. The second time I used the kitchen, it was actually messy when I arrived, and I made it look cleaner than when I got there. Or the smallest thing I didn't catch -- but that's normal when sharing a busy kitchen. Excuse me, but am I supposed to buy my own trays? What's the point of renting a kitchen if I have to bring everything myself?
She also claims I got upset when the kitchen wasn't available around Thanksgiving -- completely false. I literally replied "okay, understood" after she explained the schedule was full and busy. There was never any argument or complaint from me; this is another example of her rewriting the story.
Payment was pay-as-you-go, which she initially approved. I did pay the first time, and when I asked about payment for the second visit, she told me I could pay "whenever." The only reason mentioned later for being kicked out was if I could pay $1,200/month. Let that sink in: if I had agreed to $1,200, there would have never been an issue. The pay-as-you-go arrangement was explicitly approved, and same-day payment was only mentioned after the fact, yet now it's being framed as if I was negligent or breaking rules. I could afford the $25 rate and even asked if a slightly adjusted rate could be negotiated -- it would have been no problem if it couldn't.
I was new, learning, and tried to follow all expectations. Her guidance was limited to brief, dismissive replies like "ok" or "now you know," which is not mentorship -- it's brushing someone off.
Her matureness is astonishing considering she's pushing 70. She owns a licensed commercial kitchen, but she can't communicate expectations clearly, treats beginner bakers unfairly, and rewrites history to make herself look professional. read more