Pros
Really enjoyed teaching Pastry classes, having a full staff to help out in a full class, equipment availability, display of products for the class to upsell. I'd work for Sur La Table again, but in Seattle instead.
Cons
Having to last minute shop for ingredients that may have been used by someone else's class, walking into a dirty kitchen, not having a staff for dishes, not having break snacks, ovens that aren't regulated, refrigerators that break and your food that you've prepped for a packed class right after Christmas is now spoiled and can't be used. Honestly the class should have been rescheduled. I felt terrible for everyone, but did my best, and know I received awful reviews. 4 people stuck it out and went home with food after they traveled 200 miles to the class. In the end I lost my job because I was an instructor, not an entertainer. I Loved my job. It was the best job ever. And I was heartbroken, over this. I worked hard, came early, stayed late, did what ever it took and they still let me go. The reviews were terrible, the store lost money, Walnut Creek is a hard area to work in, lots people with money and attitudes to match. The people of Walnut Creek have spoken!
