The first Sur La Table store opened in 1972 in Seattle’s Pike Place Farmers Market, nestled in a tiny space that once held a speakeasy and barbershop. Sur La Table was inspired by the unique Parisian kitchen stores found during that time. Until it opened its doors, you couldn’t even buy a pastry bag in Seattle. Thus customers, including professional chefs and bakers, found their way to the quirky little store stocked floor-to-ceiling with hard-to-find, premium-quality culinary tools. Today the company remains true to its heritage and retains its reputation for providing an amazing assortment of high quality tools, many which cannot be found anywhere else, and superior customer service. Many of its employees hold professional culinary backgrounds and are eager to share their knowledge and passion for food and cooking. From home cooks to professional chefs, the company continues to attract a devoted and enthusiastic customer base.

 The King of Prussia store will showcase the newest look of the company’s design evolution.Its French-inspired exterior features wrought iron gating, striped awnings, copper finials and rolling pin door pulls. Inside the store, customers will witness an expanded knife presentation and French Mauviel copper beautifully displayed in a lighted case. With built-in wall units featuring select products, the store has a warmer look and feel while retaining the authentic industrial environment Sur La Table is known for (the store will still feature its signature Metro shelving). In addition to the teaching kitchen, the store will have a full cooktop and oven for product and technique demonstrations.

 Sur La Table’s cooking class program started in 1996. Today it is one of the largest nationwide, avocational cooking class programs in America. Most classes are hands-on and focus on seasonal cuisine and technique-oriented courses. Skill levels range from beginner to advanced, with special courses designed for kids and teens. Private cooking lessons and kitchen rentals are available in all programs. All stores are outfitted with beautiful state-of-the art Thermador appliances. Classes are taught by cooking class staff chefs or visiting chefs and restaurateurs who are professionally trained and excel at teaching. King of Prussia’s cooking classes begin on May 7, 2010. Guest chefs include best-selling authors Karen Tack and Alan Richardson of Hello, Cupcake! teaching decorating techniques in What’s New, Cupcake? (5/14) and acclaimed baker and teacher, Peter Reinhart, demonstrating bread making skills in Artisan Breads Everyday (5/15). Kid’s cooking camps begin in July.

 The company’s latest book, Eating Local: The Cookbook Inspired by America’s Farmers (Andrews McMeel Publishing, June 1, 2010) was co-authored by award-winning author and journalist Janet Fletcher. The cookbook shows food lovers how to incorporate more local, fresh ingredients into their kitchens and how to celebrate the local foods from their CSA box or farmers market. Sur La Table hopes the recipes and farmer profiles will be an inspiration to experience the benefits of eating and cooking with food grown in their community. An Eating Local: Making the Most of Your CSA class will be taught in King of Prussia (5/16).

 Sur La Table’s buyers are known for introducing cutting-edge tools and are frequently asked by vendors to exclusively launch new products. The company recently introduced SousVide Supreme the first water-oven designed especially for the home cook. It also launched the fun new Kuhn-Rikon Decorating Pen and Le Creuset cookware in two fresh new shades Lilac and Cassis.

 Known for carrying the best knives around the globe, Sur La Table just launched the beautiful new artisan-made Shun Premier cutlery line. Additional new knife lines will be introduced in 2010. (One of the most innovative lines to hit the market this spring exhibits the perfect fusion of European and Asian design and technology—information will be released closer to launch.) For those in need of knife sharpening, Sur La Table stores throughout the country offer knife sharpening services. Complimentary knife sharpening is provided twice a year. The culinary program hosts various levels of knife skills classes throughout the year. An Essential Knife Skills class will be taught in King of Prussia (5/8).

 An industry leader in the BBQ category, the company carries grilling tools year-round. The grilling trend has grown into an everyday occurrence in many regions of the country. Being at the forefront of the trend the buying team looked for innovative ways to expand the category. Customers will be able to cook everything from appetizers to desserts right on the grill. Cast iron grill humidifiers, stylish stainless steel plank savers, stainless steel grill grids and woks, heat-resistant grill mitts, fruit and vegetable grilling racks, even a crème brûlée grill set are part of the product line. Sur La Table is also introducing ultra-durable, shatter-resistant melamine dinnerware and shatter-resistant BPA-free drinkware for outdoor entertaining.

 With one of the broadest assortments of espresso machines and coffee equipment in the country, customers may join an associate at the store’s “coffee bar” to learn about the benefits of different machines, test them out and even taste the coffee to make a truly informed buying decision. Mini Nespresso and Capresso coffee “shops” showcase the full lines of these brands within the electrics department.

 The company’s reputation as the trusted authority within the culinary industry is evident in the variety of tools showcased throughout the store: seafood tools, bar tools, measuring tools, vegetable tools, egg tools, thermometers, timers—everything is merchandised as one would find in a well organized home kitchen. “Color in the kitchen” continues to be a growing trend with playful splashes of color found on everything from prep tools to small electrics. A colorful new ice cream machine line with matching scoops will launch in May.

 Renown for its comprehensive baking collection, Sur La Table features the best baker’s tools for every baking project imaginable: barquette molds, brioche molds, bread pans (even paper pans), Bundt pans, cannoli forms, cake combs, cake turntables, candy and charlotte molds, cookie and biscuit cutters, decorating and baking ingredients, flan rings, madeleine plaques, pastry tips, pie weights, pudding molds, rolling pins, springerle molds, tart pans and more. Flirty cupcake wrappers and gift packaging is available to embellish home-baked goods.

 Presentation is just as important as preparation when it comes to serving meals. Step into the tabletop section, where 80% is exclusive, and experience an explosion of seasonal color in dishes, linens, glassware and other accessories, along with the largest collection of Revol white porcelain in the United States.

 Believing in the importance of giving back to the community, Sur La Table established a national partnership with Feeding America. In the greater-Philadelphia region, Feeding America provides hunger-relief support to Philabundance. The company expanded its community-giving program in 2010 to include an employee matching-donation program to the American Red Cross for earthquake-relief in Haiti.

 Being on the cutting edge in equipment, the company was also aware of the rapid shift towards social technology. In 2009, Facebook, Twitter and YouTubeaccounts were created. Tasty tidbits about the store opening will be posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Sur La Table offers a professional discount to individuals in the culinary industry, such as cooking school instructors, culinary students, employees of casual and formal dining establishments, food stylists, cookbook authors and food journalists. Customers should contact a store sales associate for program details.

 Sur La Table provides inspiration, tools and techniques for those who wish to enhance their lives through creative cooking and artful entertaining. Sur La Table’s comprehensive selection of products includes tools from around the world to prepare any cuisine, as well as beautiful dishes, linens and glasses to create a striking presentation. Sur La Table shops the world for new products providing the unexpected and a sense of discovery, whether you step into one of its stores nationwide, open the pages of its catalog or visit surlatable.com.

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