Do I need prior baking experience to join?

No prior experience is required; the class is designed to teach all necessary skills step-by-step.

Will I take home any bread or ingredients?

Yes, participants take home the sourdough starter and their freshly baked bread or pretzels.

Is the class suitable for children?

The class is best suited for adults and older teens due to kitchen safety and hands-on nature.

Can I bring dietary restrictions or preferences?

The class focuses on basic bread ingredients; you can discuss any allergies with the instructor beforehand.

What should I wear to class?

Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes are recommended; bring an apron if preferred or use one provided.

Is parking available nearby?

Yes, street parking and nearby public lots are available in Berkeley close to the kitchen location.

Master Artisan Sourdough Baking with Chef Michael Kalanty in Berkeley | Food Tour | Workshop

Just a quick drive across the Bay from San Francisco lies Berkeley, California, a hub for culinary creativity and vibrant food culture. Here, in a cozy and interactive setting, Master Bread Baker Michael Kalanty invites you to unravel the art and science behind perfect sourdough bread in his acclaimed "Sourdough Secrets" class. This 3.5-hour hands-on workshop delivers more than just a recipe; it offers an authentic immersive experience tailored to both seasoned bakers and enthusiastic beginners.

Berkeley enjoys a Mediterranean climate that influences its abundant agricultural surroundings, known for fresh, high-quality grains and organic ingredients. Against this backdrop, Michael guides you through each step of crafting artisan sourdough bread and chewy pretzels, emphasizing techniques like autolyse, long fermentation, and crust development for maximum flavor and texture. His approachable teaching style demystifies sourdough, making it attainable for all skill levels.

Sourdough bread itself is a culinary gem. Its naturally fermented starter is more than a leavening agent—it’s a living culture that connects generations of bakers and cultivates deep, tangy complexity unique to each kitchen’s microflora. By working alongside Michael, participants gain hands-on practice shaping dough, scoring loaves, and mastering oven spring under expert supervision. You leave not only with a batch of freshly baked bread but also a sourdough starter—your personal gateway to endless baking adventures.

Beyond the dough, Michael’s class is a celebration of food as culture and craft, anchored in the Bay Area’s artisanal food renaissance. It’s perfect for travelers looking to bring a piece of San Francisco’s renowned food scene back home. The workshop takes place in a well-equipped kitchen space in Berkeley’s vibrant community, easily accessed from nearby Oakland or San Francisco, making it an ideal culinary day trip.

Whether you are passionate about baking, curious about fermentation, or eager to add homemade artisan bread to your repertoire, this class provides a unique hands-on learning experience framed by local culture and expert insight. The knowledge gained here empowers you to confidently bake sourdough that rivals any bakery. Perfect for foodies, home cooks, or families wanting an engaging and tasty activity, "Sourdough Secrets" with Michael Kalanty transforms simple ingredients into a crafted, delicious story you can tell and taste for years to come.

About Kitchen on Fire

Kitchen on Fire is a hands-on cooking school and event producer that offers a broad calendar of culinary workshops, multi-week series, camps, and virtual classes. The school presents technique-driven, chef-led experiences ranging from single-session workshops to 12-week fundamentals courses. Classes focus on regional cuisines, baking, pastry, vegetarian and seasonal cooking — examples include Italian pasta and breads, Indian and Burmese dishes, Middle Eastern street food, Mexican and Latin specialties, and classic bistro techniques.

Chef-led offerings feature named instructors and visiting chefs, with programs such as multi-week Basics of Cooking series, themed nights like A Night in Florence and A Night in Rome, specialized workshops including ricotta and doughnuts, and seasonal pie and baking classes. Kitchen on Fire also runs teen camps, school-break day camps, and virtual workshops to reach learners at different levels and schedules.

Instruction emphasizes hands-on practice, practical skills like knife work and recipe fundamentals, and communal dining of the dishes created during class. Many classes run three hours or longer; multi-week series provide progressive skill development. In addition to in-person workshops, the organization publishes virtual classes and instructional series led by its roster of chefs.

Kitchen on Fire’s program diversity — from single-session craft workshops to immersive multi-week courses and teen camps — reflects a commitment to accessible, skill-focused culinary education. The school’s transparent class descriptions, named instructors, and recurring series offer prospective students clear expectations and opportunities to build lasting cooking skills. Class sizes vary to prioritize engagement, hands-on practice, and personalized instructor feedback for students.