What To Expect In A "Bake With Mike" Class

When we put on a retreat or workshop all bets are off. We work to create an atmosphere and an experience that will deliver a message to the participants. Our workshops can be at your facility or ours, religous or secular, fun or serious. It's a custom class, created just for you. You can get more information about our custom classes at the retreats and workshops link.

Our regular classes tend to have more of a consistent format to help us get everything done in a reasonable time frame. You should expect a hands-on class, and to get your hands into dough within the first 15 minutes or so of class. If you don't get your hands wet fast, the class won't end on time. (So PLEASE show up on time!)

You should expect you'll have a good time. We always have a good time. Well, almost always. We've had one or two students who were grumpy. Still, more than 99% of our students tell us they had a good time.

You can expect that something will go wrong. That's life. One time we had to make a quick run to the nearest grocery store because someone (someone named Mike) didn't grab the second sack of flour as we were packing for the classes. You know, people look at you funny when you buy a hundred pounds of flour at the grocery store! Another time someone didn't pay quite enough attention when we talked about putting pizza in the oven, their pizza splattered all over the back of the hot oven and the fire alarm went off as the school filled with smoke. The firemen enjoyed some pizza too!

You can expect that even though something will go wrong, you'll still make good baked goods, and you'll still have a good time.

In most classes, you can expect to go home with two or three baked goods, leftovers from the lunch you helped prepare, a book of recipes and, quite often, some other special things. Like a sourdough starter in our sourdough classes. Or some bagels to refrigerate overnight to boil and bake the next day, Maybe a jar of lemon curd if we made lemon curd in class and your name was pulled from the hat.

We're often asked if it's OK to bring children or pets to class. Pets, sorry, no. Some of the facilities we rent are commercial kitchens and they could lose their licenses if animals were brought in. Children? Well, you know your children. If you think they can remain on task for the length of the classes, and if you think they'll enjoy it, sure, they are welcome! Some of our best students have been children. As a word of caution, we don't have baby sitting facilities or much to keep bored kids busy..... all we have to offer in our locations is the class.

We can't guarantee it, but the chances are good you'll make some new friends, friends who are interested in many of the same things you are.