Sur La Table offers so many cooking classes in their very conveniently located professional kitchen…read moreinside the Galleria store.  It was very hard to choose which to do first!  We opted for a Flavors of Southern France feast of Bouillabaisse, salad with tapenade dressing, aioli, and lemon lavender sable cookies.  All were delicious and we felt very comfortable making them with the encouragement of the wonderful chef Tiffany.  The class was a small size so we were all able to participate while being reminded to maintain a lot of attention to cleanliness.  The time passed quickly and we were well rewarded with confidence in our new recipes and skills and a really delicious meal.  The only suggestion I would make would be to see if it would be possible to have stools/chairs available in the kitchen.  It is tough on the back to stand on a hard floor for two hours.  Or, maybe they could put down some of the special mats they have elsewhere in the store where people have to stand for a while.  Other than that, we had a great time and look forward to booking many more classes in the future.

Very disappointed with the customer service at Sur La Table…read more I purchased a coffee machine and returned to the store the very next day because I was not satisfied with it. The machine had only been tested by running water through it, which is a normal step to determine whether it functions properly and meets expectations. Despite this, the staff refused to accept the return. What made the experience even more frustrating was the attitude of the employees. Instead of focusing on helping a customer who had just made a purchase, they repeatedly questioned why I bought the machine in the first place. This felt dismissive, unprofessional, and completely irrelevant to the issue at hand. I understand that stores have return policies, but the way this situation was handled showed very little regard for customer satisfaction. A coffee machine is not something you can truly evaluate without at least setting it up and testing it. Refusing a next-day return after minimal use and then interrogating the customer about their purchase decision is not the level of service I expected from a specialty kitchen retailer. This experience has left me with a negative impression of Sur La Table, and I will think twice before making another major purchase there.

Went with owner Alison Marriott on a private tour of Virginia wineries to look at venues and…read moreavailable wines in Loudoun county. Alison was very helpful navigating the area (how on Earth can you figure out which wineries to go to?) and explaining the difference in the varietals we tried. She also asked questions of the venue I would not have thought to ask, and I found two possible locations for my event (and learned which wines made it through the difficult 2011 growing season!) As someone who enjoys wine but really needs a little extra help, Alison has been my go-to "wine Rolodex" and was invaluable to learning what options were available in Loudoun County.

I hosted a small dinner party to celebrate my husband's birthday and had it catered. Thought it…read morewould be fun to have someone come in and do a wine pairing with the meal and talk to the guests about wine throughout. I was referred to Alison and she was AMAZING. She went above and beyond, talked to me about the choices prior to the dinner, seemed willing and able to work with any budget and her selections were fantastic. She was engaging, down to earth and entertaining. everyone loved it and her. She also took a few pictures of the party, which I'd forgotten to do so I have lasting memories of a very special night. I would definitely use her again.

I recently took a virtual wine class led by Ashwin and organized by my apartment's management…read morecompany. He emailed everyone with photos and a description of the two bottles of wine that we should buy for class, with alternatives suggested. Was very impressed with Ashwin's ability to engage us over Zoom, educate us in an approachable and warm way, and answer our questions without pretentiousness (what's the best glass for this type of wine?). What distinguishes Ashwin from, say, just Googling a question about wine is that Ashwin actually has a point of view that he isn't shy about sharing (like his opinions about the homogenization of the big champagne brands vs. grower-made champagnes). Especially during the time of COVID, his Zoom classes are a welcome distraction--and an excuse to drink more wine. Totally recommend his classes as a fun group event.

Ashwin did a virtual wine class through my apartment building - what a fun time! In times of COVID,…read moreit is hard to see what virtual events are worth it - Ashwin's definitely was! He did an excellent job of managing the technology, creating smaller groups to reflect in, and leading a large class! I learned so much and had such a great time drinking wine and learning about the knowledge and history. The impression I got was of a sommelier who wants to not only teach people about wine, but help us reflect on our own culture, our experiences, and how we view the world (and therefore wine!). I went into this class with a fair level of background knowledge, but I still felt like I learned something and I found several good bottles of wine! I would love to take another class with Ashwin!

Relish Catering was featured by SDSC Gaithersburg for the second time. I missed the first time…read more It was a wonderful and smooth experience from ordering to curbside contactless pickup. It was a pre-set menu: peach salad, choice of seafood or veggie cannelloni, and choice of strawberry pretzel pie or chocolate ganache cake for $22. There was an optional add on of the pina colada sangria for $10. The peach salad with candied walnuts and balsamic vinegar was wonderful start. Next, I choose the seafood cannelloni. It came with heating instruction. The cannelloni was filled with plenty of seafood. It was divine. Lastly I choose the strawberry pretzel pie. At initial look, it didn't look like anything special, however after the first bite, I realized how wrong I was. I did ended up ordering the sangria - it was strong and plenty. Overall, the experience, food and service were excellent!

Ordered rosh hoshanah catering from relish. Alison was very friendly, responsive, and easy to work…read morewith. She brought the meal out to our trunk when we were parked on Nebel street. We enjoyed all of the dishes and they were all well prepared. The chicken should have been cooked a bit longer but otherwise everything was good. I would order from them again but would also be curious to try other caterers in the area.

Paradise Springs Winery is such a beautiful spot, especially if you're looking to spend a relaxing…read moreday outdoors. The grounds are amazing--surrounded by trees and rolling hills, with a vineyard nearby that really adds to the atmosphere. On a nice day, it definitely gets busy--almost every picnic table was taken when we visited--but there was still plenty of seating inside and on the patio. They had a food truck on site, and you can also order charcuterie platters at the counter. I liked that you can bring your own picnic too (just no outside alcohol). They are also dog-friendly! I was a little surprised to see so many kids, but thankfully parents were keeping a close eye on them, so it didn't take away from the experience. There's a solid selection of wines available by the bottle or as tasting flights, so it's easy to find something you like. Tastings at the bar with a wine educator are a nice touch, though they can be a bit limited if the place is really crowded. The only downside was that they seemed a bit short-staffed during, so tables weren't cleared as quickly as they could be. That said, there are plenty of trash cans and bottle bins around, so it's easy enough to help keep things tidy. Overall, a great place to unwind with friends, enjoy some wine, and soak in the scenery--just be prepared for crowds on nice days!

I attended the tour, and it was very fun. It was quite comprehensive, and insightful, both in terms…read moreof how they produce their wine, as well as the overall history of the vineyard. Our tour guide was very friendly and thoughtful. Outside of the tour, the vineyard has a very nice, quiet vibe. Very scenic. It's a very good way to spend a Saturday or a Sunday, with friends/family, or as a date.

I absolutely love Stacie!! She is a down to earth, lovely person with an amazing disposition of…read moremaking you feel comfortable with whatever level of cooking skill you have. It's a fun time of getting to know people and learning new recipes and skills. Perfect class for those wanting to learn how to step up your cooking game.

Wow!!! I had the honor of spending the morning cooking with Stacie and several other ladies. Stacie…read moreis such a natural in the kitchen, she is very skilled and knowledgable about every cuisine she cooks. It just comes so natural to her, her ability to teach and show those in her kitchen is an art. You not only get to help, you then sit down for a full tasting. Our menu was Vichyssoise, Sole Meunière, and Herb Hollandaise Sauce, Roasted Asparagus and Tarte aux Pommes. I highly recommend anyone wanting to expand their cooking adventures, you will not walk away disappointed.

Great instructors, very communicative! I am currently…read moretaking a course with Kasia. She is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about wine! Would definitely recommend!

I took 2 WSET exams at the school. Both were conducted in a very professional and friendly manner…read more The registration prior to the exam handled by team member Kirstyn Kralovec was very efficient, So was the service later on, to deliver the Certs.