Whether you own a baking business or you are making cupcakes for a friend, Vanilla Bean is one of…read morethe best places in Madison to find everything you need. Their selection is better than any big box store (including the nearby Joann) and they have the boxes/packing for all your needs. I started my baking company a year ago and Vanilla Bean has been everything I wanted and needed. They keep a stock for all the upcoming holidays and have a wall of cookie cutters of everything you could possibly imagine. Then they have cake and cupcake toppers and plastic characters for parties and milestones also ok that wall. They have a huge selection of flavors and food coloring -- both are highest quality. Their gel colors have been my saving grace! Also, all of their tools, accessories, little things you can use are available. It makes this an awesome place to explore for any baking enthusiast. When I was in the State fair, Vanilla Bean had the cake dummies (styrofoam) I needed and at cheaper prices than Joann or online. They also have all the boxes and cake rounds for the bases that you could need. They also have pans for shaped cakes and characters. It's one of my favorite places in Madison -- go visit!

Great service and products for over Twenty five years!!! Jane,Cindy( no longer there),Joyce…read morethey are all awesome.They will help you bring your cake/dessert vision to life!!!

A cooking class at Sur La Table became the best accident for our summer staff outing. This rainy…read moreday activity was one of the best staff outing activity we've ever done. Chef Adam was able to whip up a recipe in short notice while still accommodating our group's various tastebuds, allergies and food preference. Majority of us made PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN BREASTS (CAULIFLOWER STEAK for the vegetarians) WITH WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD, LEEKS AND TARRAGON; SWEET CORN, TOMATO AND PANCETTA RISOTTO; PAN CON TOMATE (GRILLED BREAD WITH TOMATO); and HONEY LAVENDER ICE CREAM. This experience was more than just following a chef and his recipe, it was also a learning experience and boy did I have some bad habits I need to work on at home. Like the proper way of holding a knife to have the most control. Chef Adams caught me every time I revert back to my old habit. And of course the best part is eating the dish. After plating it up in a presentable manner, we got to stuff our face in the dish we made and it was so surprising to find the dish even more delicious than what you'll find at some restaurants. What's great is that we knew everything that went in and it was all fresh and pretty healthy ingredients. I'm already planning when my next cooking class should be. I'm excited and looking forward to more. I totally recommend a cooking class for any team building activity.

Took a baking class led by Chef Paige, who is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful!! Kitchen…read moreassistant Gina was great as well to prepare the ingredients for pavlovas, souffles, and a lemon tart. Nice date idea and the store selection is vast with high- quality kitchenware and a new series of candles with sniffing dome glasses! Would love to stop by again

Got the farmer's breakfast, and it did not disappoint. The potatoes were amazing, which I would…read morecome back just for those. I love the farm-to-table concept here, especially in Madison. You can tell a lot of care went into sourcing local ingredients. The fresh taste is reflected in their food. FYI, you put away your own plates, and there are self-serve utensils and napkins. They also have a beverage case with a good variety of options for anything you're in the mood for.

Good simple but healthy comfort food. Nice selection of ready made stuff and cute merch. I love the…read morelocal meal kit concept. I had a market salad with beets carrots and goat cheese. It was solid. Cappuccino was good too. Nice place to sit.

we loooove a good tasting menu + wine pairing! delectable offers fine dining on fridays and…read moresaturday nights & cooking classes during the week! not quite as intimate of a dining experience as nook but is along the same line. we got a reservation at the bar a week before so doesn't seem overly difficult to obtain. the menu switches up about 4x a year depending on the season. the chef and sommelier here did an excellent job introducing each dish/drink, and the wine pairings were chosen well!!! I love that you can see them prepare each of the dishes on the screens by the kitchen. excellent service as well, staff did a great job at taking away dirty plates/glasses and replacing accordingly. I also thought each round was spaced out well so that I was never waiting for too long or had too little time to eat. There was a blindfold round where we had to rely on just taste & touch to figure out what we were eating which was both silly and fun (we found out what we were eating at the end and got some more as a gift to go). my personal fav of the meal was the sun meadow chilean sea bass!!! the sun meadow oil is a perfect dupe of butter and melted straight into that sea bass, paired with crunchy capers on a bed of creamy whipped goodness. All of the sauces were done extraordinarily well, especially that under the braised leeks!!! the tuna tartare was my bf's fav - crunchy toppings with fresh tuna on avocado in a spicy, asian inspired sauce. we were less impressed by the raviolo and steak entrees but still good (the chili oil on the raviolo kinda threw me off). the intermission was nice as a brief break to shop around and purchase things at a discount. overall, pricy meal but definitely a whole experience (3 hours long that is!). would highly recommend trying this out if you also enjoy fine dining experiences. I personally wanna come back to try their wednesday night burgers soon!!

I visited DelecTable in Madison for a multicourse chef's tasting experience. The restaurant leans…read moreheavily into the idea of dining as an experience, leaning into the European way of dining - that is, you have the table for the night." Think dining as the entertainment and the social experience, not shoveling it in and table turnover for tips. With creative presentations, themed courses, and a strong emphasis on sensory elements, the team puts a lot of thought and passion into crafting something unique. The multicourse meal offered a wide range of flavors and techniques--some dishes were genuinely impressive, others more about the concept than the taste. The pacing was smooth, and the staff was warm, knowledgeable, and clearly invested in making the night feel special. It's the kind of place where you sit back and let the experience unfold. That said, for me, it landed in the category of "worth doing once." The evening was fun and distinctive, but more of a special-occasion outing than a spot I'd return to regularly. If you enjoy immersive dining or want something out of the ordinary, it's definitely worth trying at least once.

A true Madison gem! This lovely shop has the perfect blend of thoughtful gifts, useful kitchen…read moretools, and little ways to "treat yourself"! I probably visit this shop every couple of months and rarely leave empty handed! The thoughtfully curated and well organized candle department is usually my first stop. Lots of variety, a recent favorite is the "supper club" collection. Lots of classic Wisconsin themes! There are gifts for all ages, from infant toys and books to puzzles and cooking kits. The kitchenware is an impressive range, everything you need to expand your skills, store your goodies, or spice up your presentation. Basically, you have to stop in-it's totally worth it! Also, the wonderful staff have gone above and beyond to create a safe and protective shopping experience during this crisis. Please respect them, give space and keep those masks over your nose!

I love Orange Tree Imports. This is a really unique place in many aspects. First, they carry a very…read morediverse range of items ranging from kitchen electronics, cutlery, utensils, tea sets, exotic foods, bake ware, creams and moisturizers, shower gels, home decos and toys and gifts for kids. The items they carry works great and are practical to have around the house. I especially like their Japan import section where they bring in cool teapots, sake sets, handmade bowls etc straight from Japan. It helps that they have a different way in which they run the store. Each group member is assigned a specific section of the store in which they come up with the types of items to carry, how items are displayed and the associated logistics. In that way they can better cater to the needs of the customers and really know what they are looking for. Because of this, if there is something you would like, feel free to let the section manager know and there is a great chance he or she can order it in the next time an order is placed, especially if the item has the potential to be popular. In addition, they offer great cooking classes here. This is the best part. I look forward to ending work on class days and then heading over to Orange Tree Imports to learn to cook. So far I have tried sandwich bread, miniature sweet treats and truffle making classes. In all of the classes I walked away knowing how something seemingly so difficult and impossible is made easy by the instructor. And I thought: This is something that I can totally do at home! As you can see I am in love with Orange Tree Imports. As long as you stop by for a visit it is almost impossible not to fall in love with one or more of their stuff.

I've lived in Madison since 2014, and somehow there are still so many places I've never explored…read more That's what inspired me to step outside my routine and become a tourist in my own city by joining a Madison Eats Food Tour bike tour--and I'm so glad I did! Our adventure began at Garver Feed Mill, where we picked up bikes and set off to discover Madison one bite at a time. What surprised me most was how much I learned about the city's history. Even after living here for more than a decade, I heard stories and facts about Madison that were completely new to me. The food stops were fantastic and showcased the diversity of Madison's local food scene: * Kosha Retreat - The kitchari and chai tea were incredibly comforting. The kitchari felt like a warm hug from grandma on a chilly day. * Roll Play - The spicy tteokkochi paired perfectly with the sweet peach lemonade. A delicious balance of heat and sweetness. * Buraka on Willy Street - The sampler plate was excellent, but the yuca fries stole the show. Easily some of the best I've ever had. * Starkweather Brewing - We enjoyed cauliflower wings, fried chickpeas, and a Helen Mule. The fresh-made sauces were absolutely delicious and elevated every bite. * Calliope Ice Cream - The aguapanela sorbet sounded unusual at first, but it was incredible. Think brown sugar lemonade in frozen form--refreshing, unique, and completely dairy-free. One of my favorite parts of the experience was being intentional about supporting local businesses. It's easy to get comfortable visiting the same places over and over, but this tour reminded me just how many amazing small businesses make Madison such a special city. Whether you're a longtime resident, new to town, or visiting for the weekend, I highly recommend this tour. It's a fun way to explore the city, learn local history, meet new people, and discover hidden gems you may have otherwise overlooked. This experience reminded me that sometimes the best adventures are waiting right in your own backyard. Othelia was the host and she did amazing!!!

Othelia was an incredible guide and hostess. We loved our bike tour and it was filled with lots of…read moreamazing local foods. Would not hesitate to book again on our next visit! Thank you so much Othelia!!

If I could give 6 stars I would. What an experience. Not only did the team offer a personal advice…read moreon travelling with goods but they allowed me to try different cheeses based on what I liked and it was fantastic. They got it spot on! Almost like being back in Italy, what a vibe! Food is solid here.

Wide range of cheese and very attentive staff. Tried several new cheeses and bought several real…read moregems.