First time at Pans on Fire. When I first saw the store when they were on Main Street Pleasanton it seemed like they only sold kitchen utensils and tools but in fact they are much more than that. Now at this new location, though small, it's wonderful that they're here to teach everyone from all ages how to make a meal! I came here with my team (from work) for our celebration/team building event. It was great to learn, eat, drink, and talk to everyone on the team outside of the office (away from work). We cooked an Italian meal consist of Caesar salad (vegetarian one w/o anchovies and non-vegetarian), meatballs stuffed with mozzarella, marinara sauce, vodka sauce, spinach-goat cheese ravioli, fresh pasta (linguine & for the ravioli), and bruschetta for our appetizers. There was a lot on the menu, too many people in the kitchen, but lots of fun. I'd wish I had more time to enjoy the food as most of the time was spent cooking, therefore, a lot of drinks (beer&wine) were left unopened. I would definitely come back to Pans on Fire whether it's to learn to cook other cuisines or a small party of friends. read more

I love gadgets. I love food. Therefore, I love kitchen gadgets! When I stumbled upon this place, I couldn't believe what a little gem I had found. Pans on Fire is a gourmet cookware retail store that also offers cooking classes. Located at the tail end of Main St. (or, at the beginning, depending on your directionality), this store feels like your personal Williams Sonoma. The brand names aren't quite the same, but you're apt to find a gadget for almost any kitchen / food situation. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They talk to you in an informative manner versus hovering and expecting you to buy something. As mentioned, they offer cooking classes for all ages - for the young'uns and grown-ups alike - teaching technique and various cooking styles. What I find endearing are the themed-cooking classes. For instance, "MAD MEN - A 60'S DINNER", "GIRLS NIGHT OUT: SUMMER APPETIZER PARTY", "CHICK FLICK & DINNER: LEAP YEAR" and "GUYS NIGHT OUT: FINE FOOD/FINE BEER". I don't think the latter are gender-specific, per se; some men like chick flicks and lots of women like a good beer, so I'd imagine they'd be accommodating. I don't come here as often as I'd like. But I enjoy the fact that I a visit here is always an adventure. read more

I took a demo class from Linda and thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe those of you who are complaining about her are a tad overly sensitive? I didn't find her to be abrasive or condescending at all. She has this thing called a 'personality' and I would rather have someone with a little edge to them than a bland ass-kisser. I'm hardly a professional cook, but I know enough to know when someone knows what they're talking about in the kitchen and her tips were on point. I picked up some good tips and came away with a couple of good recipes, all for only $15. The store itself is cute and has lots of useful products, worth browsing even if you aren't going to take a class. read more

Wanted a device to create noodle like shavings for my zucchinis as an alternative to pasta. They led me to two different clever tools to do this specific task. It was better than I expected and I can't wait to start using it. Fun kitchen shop for cooking tools. read more

This is a fantastic store and very comfortable for private events. To my surprise, my wife surprised me for a birthday gift. A cooking class for my family. Linda, the owner, hosted the event, an Italian dinner. We learned skills and the food was exceptional. While we prepared all the ingredients and recipes ourselves, the meal was fantastic. Skills we learned, from knife skills to how to cut an onion and garlic without crying. I think we will make this an annual event. The food studio is a great size for an extended family of 20. A huge 7 burner gas grill, and 4 additional induction cook tops. I would definitely recommend this food studio for private classes or corporate events. They also offer public courses ranging from Thai food, to Italian, to vegetarian meals. We will definitely go back. Located in downtown Pleasanton, and the is ample parking behind the store. Try it, you'll Love it. read more

I just completed my second class at Pans on Fire, both were taught by Chef Linda. To say I have little cooking experience might be an exaggeration, so I was intimidated to come to my first class (which was School of Fishes). Linda and the staff put me right at ease. The class is very hands on and I walked out with enough technique to begin cooking meals regularly at home. The second class I signed up for was the Chinese New Year feast and again, I came away with a multitude of skills, tips and encouragement. The recipes are easy to follow and I've successfully duplicated them at home. 1. Linda is very knowledgeable and offers all kinds of facts - whether its the history of a technique, the ingredients or how we relate to food. 2. I have found that the menus seem to be specifically designed for flexibility. I'm learning to prepare food that I can easily adjust to meet my family's tastes or that I can expand to other ingredients. Both classes also included at least 5 different types of preparation. As a new cook, this is so powerful! 3. All of the food we've prepared in class is delicious. Things I never knew I liked, well, I'm looking at differently. 4. She includes a lot of vegetables in her recipes and see point number 3.! 5. Make a mistake, she'll let you know and then (which is SO important for someone like me), she'll show you how to fix it. 6. They have a lot of new tools available in their store and they demonstrate them in the class without making you feel that you have to buy them. I would definitely recommend Pans on Fire (and have!) and am looking forward to my next class! read more

My daughter had a blast at their summer cooking camp. Wonderful staff! read more

Pans on Fire - Cooking camp - July 10, 2009 - Cooking Classes Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Pans on Fire has the coolest and newest kitchen gadgets as well as the basics. I usually end up buying at least one thing that I didn't know I needed. The best thing I bought was a wide splatter cover that lets steam escape so you can brown meat. The ladies who work there are also super helpful and informative. read more

Took a Tapas class with Carmen on October 2, 2021. It was a very good, small class size (6 people) for the facility. Anything much more would have been cramped. Carmen kept us very busy, and 2+ hours flew by. The meal selection and preparation was tasty. We had a very nice time and really enjoyed our classmates and Carmen. It is a bit pricey (compared to Sur La Table) but I still recommend taking a class. read more

Wow what a truly amazing store. Every kitchen gadget you could possibly want is there. The staff greeted me with s friendly smile and helped put me at ease with the upcoming Thanksgiving Meal I'll be hosting. The staff tries to stock items made in the USA as much as possible and also carries spices and soaps made here in CA. I spoke at length about their cooking classes. I'm thrilled that have cooking classes for children as well. What a great place read more

Great store full of the usual kitchen stuff but also really interesting items as well. A great place to find a gift with lots of holiday stuff in stock right now. They also have a knife sharpening service. During normal times, their cooking classes are excellent. Their knife skills class is so helpful! Covid safety measures are in place. Great service. read more

Such a great place for a birthday party. They are flexible, accommodating, friendly, organized, and professional. My daughter had the most amazing time at her cupcake wars party. Thank you for Creating a wonderful memory for her. read more

Update: I had no idea there was extra food on the counter. My back was facing the counter when everyone was seated at the table to eat so I didn't see any nor was there an announcement that there was more. After multiple instances of feeling uncomfortable I certainly did not feel comfortable asking if there was more. Yes, I did appear as I was having a good time because as I mentioned there were highlights and it was a gift for my dad so I didn't want him to see me upset. I didn't want to ruin his evening as well. read more

We did a team building cooking class this week. The whole experience was great. The menu was perfect and Mona, John, and our chef - Carmen were awesome. Highly recommend. read more

I've taken 2 classes so far and am more than pleased. I consider myself an avid at-home cook and enjoyed learning all I did. Linda is more than enthusiastic about teaching everything she knows, almost to a fault. If you attend a hands-on class, I suggest you be open minded and prepared to relearn many things you thought you already knew. My class ran over, but I can't think of anything I would have left out. Linda tailored the class to the students appropriately. Those of you that have an Instant Pot and/or are wanting to learn more about pressure cooking, attend her class. You will be amazed at how much you will learn and what you don't know! I wish I had taken the class and/or talked to Linda before I purchased my Instant Pot: my decision would have been different. Need a funny greeting card that can't be found elsewhere? Go to Pans on Fire. Need a kitchen gadget? This is the place! Can't decide on which small appliance/cookware/utensils to buy? Go see Linda and her staff. Not only is the advice free, but the prices are very competitive. Every year I go in just to take pictures of items to give my husband as stocking stuffer and gift ideas for me. The staff helps him find everything and I get what I want! read more

Be aware they do not stand by their work. My friend took in a pair of special quilting scissors which worked but needed to be sharpened. When she got them back they were so ruined she could not even cut paper with them. She called, and they said bring the back we'll fix them. She took them back 6 times, they never fixed them, refused to pay for a new pair or refund her money. Then the owner said she lied, that the scissors were probably broken when she brought them in. I give them a minus 5. ` read more

I have never posted anything before but felt I needed to share my experience at Pans on Fire. I took a class with instructor Linda and while the facility and the store are wonderful, I cannot say the same about the instructor. The best way to describe her style is that she is a bully with a chip on her shoulder. She is very knowledgeable but the way she speaks and treats her students (who have all paid to be there) is unacceptable. Very disappointing night. read more

We had a great relaxing evening learning hands on cooking with bourbon tonight. We left full of wonderful food and great company and full of knowledge from Linda. What a treat read more

They have some cool cooking things here... But I had a terrible experience in the cooking class. I was expecting more because of the $70 per person price. You know, at least some respect from the teacher. But I think the fact that she was the teacher made her power-hungry. She barked out orders to everyone. She felt the need to yell at me for doing something wrong in front of the class, thus embarrassing me. Maybe I wasn't doing something right, but it's a class. I'm there to learn. I felt that she wanted to slap my hands or something. She kind of went on and on about how awesome she was at the culinary arts throughout the class. If you want to be a bossy chef, why not have a restaurant with people who actually know how to cook and yell at them when they mess up? That would be more understandable than yelling at the people who are keeping your business alive. I was thoroughly nauseated by her attitude. Not only that, she made me tense. It was not a relaxing evening... And I really didn't learn anything. After this experience, I decided to look online to see who this woman was. Turns out, it was Linda, the owner. What a horrible way to run your business! Treating them like they're stupid is not how you get returning customers. Taking this class should be a special treat that is enjoyable, especially because it is not cheap. I will never, ever go back. read more

My girlfriends and I were so excited to take the hogwart themed dinner class. We are all cooking novices so we were excited to learn some basic skills, have fun together and eat some good food. I have taken similar cooking classes- one at a larger chain store and another time at the chef's residence. The class started in a similar fashion as my previous experiences. We were told the menu split up to conquer the individual components. My friends and I were assigned the soup base for the bouillabaisse and instructed to read the recipe. I started to cut the onions (instruction said to slice) Linda became annoyed that I had improperly sliced my onion. I had sliced it vertically and not horizontally) and proceeded to yell me that it was not the right way for soup. It was the right way for stir fry and that I probably cut it that way because I was Asian and grew up learning that way. Wtf why would she assume that because I am Asian that I cut my onions a certain way because of my teaching. Ugh I would have left at that point but didn't want to waste my 3 friend's money. The class went downhill from there- we all got scolded at different times for not knowing different techniques. I apologize that we didn't know liquids has to be measured in measuring cup, where all the produce and equipments were. I felt like I was an intruder in someone's kitchen instead of in a cooking class because Linda seemed annoyed when we would ask about the proper tools to use or where to find produce. Overall aside from the overt and offensive racist comment, the class ran an hour longer than advertised, we were rushed through the steps because there was too much to do, and Linda appeared annoyed by our lack of culinary knowledge and when we requested a demonstration (should I know how to create a matchstick cut). It was a really stressful experience and I felt completely offended. In hindsight I should have walked out or said something back. I was too shock and embarrassed to come back with a witty response. The highlight of the class was that Linda had a great assistance (Stacy I believe?) she would explain knife skills technique, patiently explain how toffee is made, the function of a roux whisk vs a regular whisk. I wish I took her class but sadly I will not be coming back into this store for a class or otherwise. read more

Unfortunately, I used to think quite highly of this store and after a recent interaction I don't believe I'll be going back. My fiance was given a gift certificate for a cooking class for Christmas. Unbeknownst to us, it was for a specific class at a specific time. Apparently my mother had reserved him a spot in the class - although when speaking to her, she had no recollection of that conversation with the store employee who sold her the gift certificate. The gift certificate said "This gift certificate entitles 'So and So' to 'Insert Cooking Class name'" No where on this gift certificate was there a date, time, the word "RESERVE" or a disclaimer about the need to cancel 72 hours in advance. If any of us had seen ANY of those items, it would have been a clear indication that he was reserved in a class and we needed to cancel. And no confirmation phone call came even though they were provided with contact information - which you would think they would do with reservations. Much like a hair stylist or something else where class size matters. Well we missed the class unbeknownst to us. Then my fiance calls up to make an appointment with his gift certificate and we are told that the GC was only good for that one class and they can't help us. I tried to explain the situation to them but they were very unapologetic and unwilling to help. I tried to tell them that I had three additional people that wanted to come and take a class with my fiance and hoping maybe the salesman in them would see the plus side to this. Nope. They were 100% completely unwilling to do anything for us. Their policies are fine and I respect them. But when they fail to communicate their policies, I have a problem. And then when they fail to do anything to meet me half way and try and retain me as a customer, it just shows me that they aren't people I'm interested in doing business with. They won't be receiving anymore of my hard earned money. Products in the store - they're great! But I can buy them elsewhere, cheaper. Customer service - they could use a few lessons. read more

I am a guy who likes to grill, watches food network, and loves to learn more about cooking. When I moved to Pleasanton and found Pans on Fire, I was interested to see what they offered up. Since then, I have taken two classes at Pans on Fire: A Knife Skills class and a Grillin' Guyz BBQ class. I can't say enough about this place. I am hooked. The classes have been put together very well. In both cases, I walked away with a great deal of new knowledge about cooking and had a great time learning. If you are in Pleasanton and have a passion for cooking (and it doesn't matter if you are a pro or someone who just loves to cook for fun), stop into Pans on Fire. They have great tools you can buy, a knowledgeable and friendly staff and a great location. There is actually a great set of classes up on their calendar right now. They even have a Hobbit's cooking class! I love the fact that they are thinking outside the box about their concepts. The Kitchen studio is very nicely outfitted with great tools (As you would expect, they also sell most of the tools you use in the studio. If you like something.. I really liked the knife I was using during Knife Skills.. you can pick one up on your way out. You also get a 10% discount for a week when you take a class). The food they use is very high quality and tastes great! I haven't done this yet, but they also do Private Parties, Team Bulding Events, and Birthdays. I am hoping to eventually do a team building event there in the future. Again, check them out! They are great. (And no, I don't get any sort of kickback for posting this review. I just really enjoyed my classes here) read more

I have taken many classes at Pans on Fire and have to say that that Linda Wyner, the owner of the store, is a patient, kind, and talented teacher. She is enthusiastic about ingredients, technique, and the history of food. That enthusiasm is contagious. Most recently, I attended her Downton Abbey class for fun and I invited three girlfriends to come with me. Two of them were from San Francisco and one from San Jose. We had a terrific time, had great food, and learned something. In the past, I attended her Foundations in Cooking class which "changed my life" because I became more confident in my cooking, my understanding of different ingredients and techniques and following recipes. I am a much better cook for it. I am also a more confident entertainer. I enjoy my dinner parties more instead of being so nervous. If you are a foodie and want to learn then this is a great place for you. I had some "culinary disasters" while cooking in the series class and although I felt disappointed, I became a better cook for it and Linda was very supportive. We are very lucky to have this business in Pleasanton and I look forward to attending more classes and buying more cooking gadgets at her store. read more

I have to agree with the other comment's in regards to Linda. I have taken a few classes here, and each time I come here, I remember why I hate coming here so much. Not sure if anyone else feels this way, but Linda creates anxiety in her class. Her condescending and abrasive comments make me feel like a crappier cook than I am. I will definitely be taking my business somewhere else. The only way I am coming back here is if I take a class with Sarah. read more

Pans on fire has some great cookware for your home or small cooking business. the staff are very knowledgeable about there products and the classes are exceptional my favorite items are the swiss diamond pans and the kyocera ceramic knives read more

I wish it were possible to give two grades - one for content and the other for teaching style. The grade for content would be A+ as, even though I consider myself an excellent cook and baker, I learned new knife skills, how to clean fruits and vegetables with vinegar-water, how to cut an onion properly without crying, how to determine which bell pepper is sweet and how to quickly get one cut up, different ways to cook jams and jellies, which knife to choose for particular tasks, etc. All the things I learned were definitely icing on the cake in addition to the good recipes that were provided for this "Summertime Home Canning Class". Other pluses to the day were that the other members of the class were all pleasant and helpful and we worked well together and the group was just the right size to work well in the small teaching space the kitchen occupies. The only other thing I would have liked to learn was how to prepare jams and jellies with less sugar, something that should be very easy to do during the summer when fruit is at its ripest and sweetest. Lynda spoke sharply to me when I asked about this and said she had no intention of teaching such a class because no one wanted to eat those types of jams and jellies. Well, I guess I'm the only one, then, because that is precisely what I would have loved to learn to prepare, in addition to the other high-sugar recipes we prepared that day. The second grade would be for teaching style. I should have read reviews of the classes before I signed up, because, as an educator, I am acutely aware of how facial expression, tone of voice, word choice, gestures, and sense of humor, all affect a learner's experience and in some cases, make more of an impression than the actual instruction. In addition, if someone asks a question more than once, it means that the question was not answered in a way that made sense to the questioner. As a teacher, I would probe a little more to get to what the questioner is asking. Repeating "I've already answered this three times" doesn't help and lets someone go away with a bad taste in his/her mouth, certainly not the teacher's intention, I am quite sure. It seems from the many who have written about this that Lynda has ongoing issues with the way she talks and how she directs students during her class. Perhaps she has a friend who is an excellent teacher who could give her some coaching - it would be a wonderful gift to someone who has as much to share as she does. read more

Another lunch time soup class success - the results were wonderful Lentil soup, very hearty and Meatless (my favorite!), Naan and Indian rice pudding. Linda, you are a gifted teacher with much wisdom and knowledge to pass on to others. I will be back! read more

Pans on Fire is a neighborhood gem that I'm glad I discovered. I visited the store intending just to browse, but ended up signing up for the first of my wonderful cooking classes. I love the personable and knowledgeable employees who have guided me in product selections and offered great suggestions for gift giving, especially Sarah. Haven't yet asked a question she couldn't answer. The class offerings have been fun and educational. Linda Wyner, owner and teacher, has has complemented her own broad knowledge and skill base and brought in other experts who have taught sessions in her classes. I feel I have learned a lot, which surprised me --considering how long I have been cooking, and have enjoyed Linda's wit and sense of humor while she is teaching or offering product information. Her teaching kitchen is fabulous. Now if I can just figure out to duplicate it in my house! Don't miss the opportunity to drop in and check it out. As I said, it is a neighborhood gem that I'm glad I discovered. read more

Our neighborhood dinner group decided to mix it up and learn some cooking skills at Pans on Fire. We had a blast cooking, drinking wine and eating the fabulous food we had all prepared. Linda the owner is a hoot and educated us about food items and food prep. Guess I've been using my knives incorrectly my whole life. Good to know! Also, their kitchen store is filled with irresistable gadgets. The classes are fabulous, but I highly recommend booking your own private party. read more

Went to a cooking class... "Crab Extravaganza" with my wife, son and daughter-in-law. Had a wonderful time. It was great FUN ! We all learned something that we had never even thought of such as the correct way to dice an onion! The food that we prepared was off the charts and Linda, the owner instructor, did not hesitate to spend extra time with us. Highly recommend any class for the entire family including kids. read more

I stumbled into this very nice store and was immediately greeted by several warm and friendly people. I had a few questions, which they answered immediately with a thoughtful and intelligent response. I was looking at their selection of knives and they brought me back into their classroom kitchen area to give me a demo on several different knives. They even showed me how to hold the knife properly. It was then that I learned that they hold cooking classes for adults and cooking camps for kids. Very cool store - interesting selection of products that make great gifts as well as wonderful practical items for the home. I left with a bag full of goodies and a schedule of their cooking classes. I had a wonderful and unexpected experience that afternoon. read more

They carried the copper mixing bowl I was looking for! The woman helping me was very knowledgeable. If you appreciate quality you will find it here. read more

I absolutely adore these classes and wish I was rich enough to take them all! My husband and I love to cook although we have much to learn, we have taken two classes and I am attending another this week. They are always fun, you get to meet new people and drink, I love asking questions to gain knowledge on proper techniques to make my home cooking more efficient. Linda is wonderful and I love her personality! I always recommend this facility and plan to start bringing my kids when they are old enough! read more

Held a networking event there last night (GNON) and it was amazing. Not only is the staff so nice and helpful, the cooking demonstrations were fun and informative. Linda and her crew do a great job. I highly recommend this place to those who already cook or want to learn to cook. I went from making reservations to making an entire meal...Thanks for changing my life...my husband thanks you too! : ) read more

I just took my second cooking class at Pans on Fire - and wanted to submit a Rave review for Chef Linda and this wonderful gem of a kitchen ware shop! This class was Evening in Thailand, the previous class was a Night in Spain. Loved both of them! Lots of hands on experience with food prep and cooking, and Linda has a lot of info to share beyond the food and prep techniques! I highly recommend Pans on Fire - locally owned and operated, with a true personal touch. Lots of fun gadgets in the store - I'll be doing some Christmas shopping for many of the unique items I saw demonstrated during the class! read more

I love this place. The little tools I've purchased here have been invaluable. I especially love the Mario Batali nested measuring and prep bowels and the spouted 4T measuring cups. read more

I recently had my daughter's 9th birthday party at Pans on Fire. First let me say let me say Chef Sarah was great with the girls and they enjoyed what they made. Where things fall apart and a one star rating has to do with a policy they have about parents or anybody has to pay extra to watch your child's birthday party (not participate just watch). I was told this two days before the party started by Rayan, who helped me organize my daughter's party. When I asked her why this was, Rayan said it would be like me taking the class. That is just so ridiculous! I would be there for my daughter's birthday party not for a cooking class, especially not a child's cooking class. I was quite upset that they wanted me to pay extra just to watch, especially since I paid over $500 for this party to begin with, but since the wheels were already in motion with Pans on Fire I didn't think it was nice to back out since they were nice to accommodate my requested time/date. Let me tell you how disappointed I was the day of the party that I had to wait outside and was only able to walk in to take pictures. My friends who had dropped off their daughter were also floored and outraged on my behalf. When I asked if I could stay again I was told again I would have to pay there fee. I sent an email to Rayan after the party explaining that having to pay for me to sit and just watch was just wrong on so many levels. Needless to say I eventually spoke to Linda, who I believe is the owner but I could be wrong. She told me that information is in the contract and I kept telling her that it doesn't matter because her policy is wrong to begin with. Parents shouldn't have to pay to just to watch their child's cooking party. Linda compared the fee to like going to Great America, which is so outrageous of a comparison. Linda told me I was "cheap" for not paying which I so did not appreciate it considering how much I did pay. She then told me that they don't like parents there because it distracts the kids, but if I paid then it would be okay? Linda also gave all kinds of other excuses of why they charge extra and none of them were justifiable. My older son took a cooking class there last summer and enjoyed it, but be aware if you want to have a birthday party, parents have to pay extra just to be in the same room. I hope Pans on Fire takes action to correct this policy as it just sends the message they are gouging the customer which in my opinion they are. read more

I have been shopping in this store for years but will start going somewhere else. The minute you walk in the owner starts following you around, I don't know if she thinks I will steal something or trying to hard sell me as she walks around with me, this happens every time I go in, I am sick of it. read more

I'm so sorry these people didn't want my business! Why? Because of a dog. I had a very well mannered (obedience titled) greyhound with me and was refused entry into this establishment. This is a shame, because I'm a fool for cooking/gourmet shops and money isn't really a concern when I'm shopping in these sorts of shops. My tab usually runs in the hundreds on any one visit. Although an employee offered to hold my dog outside while I shopped, I'm sorry, if my dog (who is cleaner and better behaved than most children) isn't welcome, than neither am I. Every other business in downtown Pleasanton, with the obvious exception of restaurants, is dog friendly or at least open to considering them on an individual basis. These ladies need to reconsider their policy, or modify their approach because in the time it took them to tell me I couldn't come into their shop with my dog, they lost my business and everyone I will tell about it. Shame. read more

I definitely agree with the negative reviews! Rude! Abrasive! Demeaning! Yes the place is clean and organized. There is lots of cool gagets but from now on will go back to William Sonoma. They have even more cool things. Thought it would be so much FUN a night out with some girlfriends doing something different. It was HORRIBLE. Even from before we got there. @ 3:00 my gf hubby was rearended so she had to go get him and take care of all that. I called right away. Linda was " generous" enough to credit HALF. really? I would qualify that as an emergency. Then one of the other girls couldn't do anything because she had open toed shoes. Ok I can get no knife work but there were other tasks she could have done. So a waste of $ for her. She divided us into groups so us 3 only got to experience one dish. Didn't see anything of the others till finished. Worst of all the main dish. ....she cooked....we watched! I can save money and sit on my couch and watch tv for that. I agree you can't do anything right! She will rudely berate (even if your an older lady) loudly in front of every one. She is EXTREMELY abrasive and i would tell people find a different place. read more