HALF A CENTURY OF WOMEN AT SUR LA TABLE
This Women's History Month, we want to share the stories of the women of Sur La Table—colleagues, partners and makers—who create happiness by cooking and sharing good food. These remarkable women have inspired us since our start 50 years ago and continue to daily, in and out of the kitchen.
SUR LA TABLE FOUNDER
SHIRLEY COLLINS
When Shirley Collins opened our first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, she was embarking on something entirely new—for her and the city. Customers found a surprising selection of global cookware no one else offered, plus knowledgeable employees who were cooks too. We now have stores coast-to-coast and the largest cooking school in the country, but our passion is still the same: to provide the tools and skills to gather people together over good food.
FOOD & FRIENDSHIP
OUR TALK WITH SHIRLEY
From Sur La Table's start to how her friendships with customers and cooks like Julia Child helped her store thrive—Shirley covers it all here.
Read More
COOKING CLASS PROGRAM FOUNDER
RENEE BEHNKE
When Renee Behnke introduced our cooking classes in 1996, she envisioned a
place where anyone could learn techniques to create amazing global flavors at home. More than 20 years
later, over 393,000 people take our classes each year—that’s a lot of traveling taste buds!
FRAN'S FOUNDER
FRAN BIGELOW
A pioneer of the artisan chocolate movement, Fran Bigelow opened her first Seattle shop in 1982. Today, Fran’s is a world-class chocolate company with shops in Seattle and Japan. Renowned for creating lovely confections from local, organic and fair-trade ingredients, Fran’s has built a loyal following around these elegant sweets.
ILLUSTRATOR
HILLARY SORRENTINO
From our retro-inspired Christmas collection to the watercolor of our Pike Place storefront to commemorate our 50th anniversary and more, Hillary Sorrentino is the illustrator behind our most recent collections. She works with the Creative Lady Collective, a support group and resource guide for women working in design.
THIS IS AVOCADO FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER AND RECIPE DEVELOPER
STEPHANIE ALVARADO
Stephanie is a Los Angeles-based, first-generation Salvadoran-Guatemalan American food photographer and recipe developer. Her food blog, This Is Avocado, reflects her favorite Latin foods growing up and all the dishes she has fallen in love with along the way.
JOYOUS APRON FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER AND RECIPE DEVELOPER
MINSHIEN DENIS
MinShien is the creator, recipe developer and photographer behind the food blog Joyous Apron. She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband, John. Previously, she was a marketing professional in the corporate world. She loves a good bubble bath and ice cream.
LENOX BAKERY FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER AND RECIPE DEVELOPER
BIANCA DODSON
Bianca shares easy and delicious dessert recipes for home bakers on her food blog, Lenox Bakery—named for the street in Detroit on which she was raised and where she learned to bake from her grandmother.
OLIVE AND ARTISAN FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER AND RECIPE DEVELOPER
KARLEE FLORES
Karlee is a food blogger, recipe developer, food photographer and videographer. She spends her days working on her blog—Olive and Artisan—and creating fun videos for her clients.
SUR LA TABLE COMMUNITY
CHEF
VANESSA C.
“I love teaching anything dough related: bread, pasta, cookies, etc. One of the first things I cooked with no culinary training was French toast for about 300 people during navigation on a ship. I had no idea what it was, I had never eaten it or seen it, but it turned out good!”
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
AMY C.
“Don't let the fear of failure keep you from trying new things or taking a calculated risk. In my home life, I always talk about setting good examples for my two girls, including showing them that it's ok to stumble—pick yourself right back up and learn something valuable along the way.”
HR MANAGER
DEBBIE G.
“Being a leader and positive role model is important to me. My advice to others: believe in yourself, self-advocate, stick to your values and make a difference. Every day I tell myself, 'be the change you wish to see in the world.”
SR. DISTRICT MANAGER (EAST COAST)
KERI S.
"When I think about the leader I strive to be, I am reminded of what I try to teach my daughters. Work hard, play fair, be courageous, have fun and always be true to yourself."