A true Madison gem! This lovely shop has the perfect blend of thoughtful gifts, useful kitchen tools, and little ways to "treat yourself"! I probably visit this shop every couple of months and rarely leave empty handed! The thoughtfully curated and well organized candle department is usually my first stop. Lots of variety, a recent favorite is the "supper club" collection. Lots of classic Wisconsin themes! There are gifts for all ages, from infant toys and books to puzzles and cooking kits. The kitchenware is an impressive range, everything you need to expand your skills, store your goodies, or spice up your presentation. Basically, you have to stop in-it's totally worth it! Also, the wonderful staff have gone above and beyond to create a safe and protective shopping experience during this crisis. Please respect them, give space and keep those masks over your nose! read more

I used to LOVE this store. Adorable and eclectic gifts, great location, pretty darn charming. In the past, my experiences with the employees were also pretty darn charming, or at least satisfactorily neutral. The last time I was in the store, however, I was made to feel chastised and unwelcome, and while I recognize that this is a very personal response to an impersonal slap down, it left me feeling so stung that I doubt I'll return. What happened was this: I needed a new pair of reading glasses, and I'd gotten the most adorable Peepers from this store in the past. It was 5:50pm, and I saw on their door sign that they closed at 6pm. Great! I thought. I'll pop in and grab a pair. Immediately upon entering, one employee said, "You know we close in ten minutes." "Got it! I'll be quick!" I replied. I went to the rack of glasses, considered a few pairs, and checked the fit in the little mirror on the rack. In that little mirror, I could see the employee behind me, who was frowning and rolling her eyes in exasperation, mouthing to her fellow employees on the other side of the room that , "No, not yet, she's still here." Yikes, I thought, checking my watch. It was 5:55pm, so I chose a pair and went to the register. One last thing--I wanted to get an e-cloth, a product a different employee had recommended to me the last time I was there. I mentioned this to the employee as she grouchily said, "Will that be all?" She huffed, "Well, the e-cloths are in a different part of the store." She strode off, and I said, "Any one will do!" She said, "No, just come pick the one you want." She proceeded to lead me to a section of wash cloths and sink cleaning scrubby brushes? When I explained that no, I was looking for a microfiber cloth to clean the lenses of the glasses with, and that they used to be stocked at the register, she huffed again and said, "Well, they're not anymore, are they? Also, we're just about to close...?" I bought the glasses, walked out the door, and checked my watch. 5:59pm. But golly, those nine minutes I spent in their store, encroaching on what I assume was their rush to be done and escape their pesky customers, left a bad taste in my mouth that nine days later still hasn't left. Which is a bummer. As I said, I really liked that store. Problem is, the cutest merchandise in the world can't make up for poor customer service. read more

I absolutely love window shopping in here. I suppose I cannot say "their prices are too high," because I probably just shouldn't be in gift shops at my income level. Really awesome stuff, really fun to walk around, and it was mildly delightful to see some folks shuffling in from the snow to attend a cooking class upstairs. Maybe someday i'll (be able to afford to) buy something from here. Super helpful staff. read more

I love Orange Tree Imports. This is a really unique place in many aspects. First, they carry a very diverse range of items ranging from kitchen electronics, cutlery, utensils, tea sets, exotic foods, bake ware, creams and moisturizers, shower gels, home decos and toys and gifts for kids. The items they carry works great and are practical to have around the house. I especially like their Japan import section where they bring in cool teapots, sake sets, handmade bowls etc straight from Japan. It helps that they have a different way in which they run the store. Each group member is assigned a specific section of the store in which they come up with the types of items to carry, how items are displayed and the associated logistics. In that way they can better cater to the needs of the customers and really know what they are looking for. Because of this, if there is something you would like, feel free to let the section manager know and there is a great chance he or she can order it in the next time an order is placed, especially if the item has the potential to be popular. In addition, they offer great cooking classes here. This is the best part. I look forward to ending work on class days and then heading over to Orange Tree Imports to learn to cook. So far I have tried sandwich bread, miniature sweet treats and truffle making classes. In all of the classes I walked away knowing how something seemingly so difficult and impossible is made easy by the instructor. And I thought: This is something that I can totally do at home! As you can see I am in love with Orange Tree Imports. As long as you stop by for a visit it is almost impossible not to fall in love with one or more of their stuff. read more

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It's a fun place if you're looking to put together a pricey little care-package. Lots of cool high-quality gift-ty things for the hard to shop for kid or adult. I usually stop in for their supreme collection of chocolates, local (ahem, Gail Ambrosius) and international. The chocolate and candy selection seems to be constantly changing, so I am constantly sampling. Most recently I tried their new singly-wrapped spicy 50 cent carmels. oh la la. as sexy and spicy as they are sticky and sweet. read more

Orange Tree Imports - Cooking Classes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Lots of great items...fun gifty things to kitchen gadgets and other culinary finds. Staff is friendly, but not overly pushy. They will answer questions when asked and are polite when they do. Some items are pricey, but not outrageous. They do carry a lot of local handcrafted products, so the higher price point is understandable. Again, great gift spot for friends who are foodies, gadget-people or just really in to Madison handcrafted stuff. read more

Orange Tree Imports is a nice store. It has nice things for sale in it. Unfortunately, as Justin W. has mentioned, I don't care to be treated like I am only in a store because I can't wait to steal. Believe me Orange Tree staffers, I don't want to go to jail for stealing one of your precious wooden spoons. read more

Finally got the rude service I've read about but refused to believe was true. On a recent visit I was intentionally ignored, nearly shoved out of the way by staff, and overall did not feel welcome. It was very busy when I visited and I understand that employees must have been under a lot of stress (this was before Christmas), but that's not an excuse for treating me differently than the other shoppers nearby. I was so unhappy with my visit that I emailed the owner, who, in my opinion, did not handle the matter adequately or professionally. I'm not returning to this establishment and am no longer recommending it to others. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

All you need to master the culinary arts Far too many hours of my misspent adulthood have been spent wandering the narrow aisles of Orange Tree Imports (OTI). And that's not a particularly bad thing. I attribute much of my growth as a home cook to the wonderful cooking classes I've attended. I also have OTI to thank for my serious addiction kitchen gadgets for which I am in search of a twelve step program. While the store has its idiosyncrasies, it's a tremendous resource to those Madisonians who practice the home culinary arts. Things I like: * I am a HUGE fan of the OTI cooking school. For the cost of a dinner at a nice restaurant, you'll gain some mad cooking skills, pick up some great recipes, enjoy a scrumptious meal and get a coupon for 10% off most anything in the store. It's a crazy good value. I've taken about 20 classes there over the past five years and enjoyed the overwhelming majority of them. For instructors, OTI uses chefs from local restaurants or OTI staff members. Some of my favorites were the knife skill class taught by Clark Stone of Wusthof, bread baking class with an instructor from Batch Bakehouse, the pizza making class with an instructor from Roman Candle, a quick bread class with Angie Derr from the Creamery Cafe in Paoli, a dumpling class taught by Jeanne Tentis and anything taught by Francesco Mangano of Osteria Papavero. I've also scored some nice swag from attending classes sponsored by vendors like Le Creuset and Chantal. * I've always found the staff eager to offer advice. OTI seems to hire people whose passion is cooking, so they often have personal experience with many of the items sold in the store. * Selection, selection, selection!!! Cookware, cutlery, kitchen electrics, specialty ingredients, chocolates, coffee and tea brewing supplies, bakeware, cookbooks and gadgets galore - you can find it all at OTI. Things I don't * Finding a parking spot on Monroe Street is a skill that seems to have eluded me. * OTI can be difficult to navigate when it gets busy since the aisles are so narrow. The store can resemble a rush hour Tokyo subway during the holiday shopping season. * Their prices are generally higher than what you can find on-line. I have been able to offset that difference by using the coupons from the cooking school and the quarterly catalog (get on the mailing list!). They also have a customer rewards card that offers additional savings for frequent fliers. I also appreciate the advice I get from the staff and am willing to pay a premium for that. read more

I left my heart in a Le Creuset pot at Orange Tree Imports. The double-decker kitchen supply area is WHERE IT'S AT. It's impossible for me to browse there and leave sans at least six unnecessary gadgets and four obscure contraptions that I just CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT in my kitchen. Most recent purchases? A tea strainer ball (really, it's cold out, I need more tea), a ravioli stamp (I've been meaning to figure out how to make ravioli for a long time), and a math equations ice cube tray. No excuse for that one. What I'm trying to say is that OTI is the bee's knees. It can get expensive, so if you want to save the big bucks and some time, know what you're looking for before you come. Otherwise, browse to your heart's content and purchase your kitchen essentials locally! Keep your dollars on Monroe St. and the random culinary doo dads in your kitchen. read more

My wife loves this place. I think Capital One may be bribing her... I'm only kidding. I stopped in here on December 23rd to pick up a few gift cards for a few special women in my life. I was in and out like that. They even gave me some nice envelopes to deliver them in. Stop here sometime and head over to Pizza Brutta next door. Great neighborhood and friendly staff makes this a 5 star place in my book. read more

This is a fun place to find different kitchen items and gadgets. They also have a wide array of other items such as children's toys, jewelry, candles, magnets, specialty foods, lotions, etc. A friend and I signed up for one of their classes on cooking Middle Eastern food. While it wasn't quite what we had expected, it was still enjoyable. We thought there would have been more hands on learning. The instructor was engaging and a pleasure to learn from. It was almost torturous not to be able to indulge until the end, I ALMOST felt bad for the customers who were getting free smells but no taste :) I will probably only sign up for another class if it was something that I was very interested in, as I felt the classes were a little over priced. read more

Specialty retailing at its best. Orange Tree offers a little bit of something for everyone:kitchenware, toys, cutlery, candy, gifts, specialty foods, cards, soaps, glassware and more. It's a great place to find a gift, or take a cooking class. The Isthmus Annual Manual awarded it the prestigious Best Window Display Award. It's a great stop along with the other cute places on Monroe. http://www.orangetreeimports.com/ Store Hours Sunday 12:00 - 4:00 Monday - Thursday 10:00 - 8:00 Friday and Saturday 10:00 - 5:30 read more

Very nice staff. Nice assortment of merchandise. Great place to find birthday and holiday gifts. read more

Such a fun store! I wish I had more money to invest in the kitchen supplies, WINE accessories (!!!!), coffee/tea chotchkies, and random treats. I picked up so many presents at this store for family and friends. Anybody that knows me, knows that I struggle when it comes to gift giving so this store is a life saver. I picked up a coconut chocolate bar that lasted me a week because I wanted to really experience it. That right there is unheard of...any chocolate maybe lasts a day with me. They also have Moonstruck which is from my old stomping grounds of Portland, which made me happy. They do have a great selection of local options as well. I got a Madison mug that has a really artistic bike on it. I have been trying to add to my mug collection and this one was great to represent Madison! I have not been able to find a better and it is not the usual Starbucks city mug, much more personality! yeah, so, if you want unique, fun and have some time to explore, hit up Orange Tree for shizzle. read more

It's been over a year since I've been here, but before we moved I frequented Orange Tree Imports once a month or so and never experienced the rude service others have experienced. Sometimes I came by to buy some Scharffenberger chocolate for cooking and other chocolate bars to snack on. Other times I looked around for a cute apron, whisk, puzzle or other kid's item. And then there were times where I had a few (precious) hours to myself and wanted to browse just for fun. There are so many great food and just neat things here. Yes, they specialize in cooking supplies and ingredients, but I love their kids section. It's hard to walk away without buying something for my own children or nieces and nephews. I don't want to dismiss what other reviews have said about being treated suspiciously, but fortunately for me I have never experienced that (other places, sure, but not Orange Tree Imports). I have also busted out with Bucky Book coupons with nary an eyeroll or scuffaw. I hope that Orange Tree Imports have addressed these issues seriously with its employees because this is a neat boutique that fits in really well on Monroe Street and in Madison. read more

Since my first visit to Madison, I've loved coming here to quietly browse all the quirky culinary tools and baubles this place has to offer. You will find a wide selection of many interesting items, which makes this place both a joy and adventure to visit. However, this place does have to compete with online and other local stores that have offered similar or the same items at lower price points. For window shopping or gift shopping, this is often a first stop for me, and it's a fun place to take out-of-town visitors who want to do some local shopping. For items for myself while on a limited budget, I usually look elsewhere. read more

Orange tree imports is one of our favorite places to go to look for kitchen gadgets and gifts. We love the fact that it's an independent store that stocks very unusual items. For years we used this for both family and friends. But there is a certain attitude of the workers there that is sometimes off-putting. In several interactions often the employees will spend a fair amount of time talking among themselves before they recognize you as a customer. Although they can be helpful this snobbish type of attitude can be a deterrent for repeat business. Often we will not go back for a while and then realize why we don't go that often. I think orange tree imports would be such a nice place if they would put customer service first. read more

Orange Tree Imports serves as my inspiration whenever I need to find a gift for someone or am asked what I want as a gift for myself. Excellent selection of kitchenware and gift items (jewelry by local and independent artists, hand-painted serveware) in a space that is much bigger than it appears from outside. Helpful staff, and the owner herself is often there to offer recommendations! Some of the products are high end (Le Crueset, All-Clad) and not usually discounted from retail, but there is a variety of brands and items, so there's something for every price range. $200 roasting pan? Check. $10 set of wine stoppers for the oenophile? Check. Fun chocolate selection too, with a variety of chocolate bars, baking chocolate, and hot cocoa mixes from several different chocolate companies. read more

Everything you need to entertain or cook with and more. You'll likely walk in needing one specific thing and walk out with a dozen other items that were just too cute or handy. read more

I could spend hours perusing this store. Unfortunately I am not a middle aged woman so the staff will treat me like I must be there to rob them. Seriously. My girlfriend and I were both mistreated by the staff here on more than one occasion. And it is not like we never bought anything there either. We often bought ourselves fun kitchen gadgets and this was one of the first places we'd look when trying to find a gift for that hard to shop for person. Yeah, maybe they weren't making thousands off of me, but my money is just as good as anyone else's. So I guess my advice is that you'd better dress in your Sunday finest if you want any help at Orange Tree. read more

Possibly my favorite kitchen / gift shop ever. I noticed on Google reviews that people spend an average of 30 minutes here? That seems insane. The only way I could possibly spend *only* 30 minutes in this store is if I arrive exactly 30 minutes before they close. I am especially enamoured of their beautiful kitchen supplies and accessories (another Le Creuset item that I probably don't really need? Why, yes, please!). I love their towels and pot holders. I know, that seems so mundane. But they're so adorable! Whenever I am stumped for gift ideas, this place provides an immediate solution--even if it's just a gift card. Also: if you join their preferred customer list, they have a gift for you every year for your birthday. I have four OTI gifts. They are all orange (of course), and they were all delightfully, amazingly useful! Almost forgot to add: lovely staff, so helpful, never too intrusive, happy to let you wander the store trying not to buy every darn thing. read more

I purchased 5 new pots and pans, a few kitchen knives, and several utensils from Orange Tree Imports last Mother's Day, 9 months ago. One of our Swiss Diamond pans has recently had almost all of the non-stick coating come cracking and flaking off. I stopped into the store recently in an attempt to exchange it for another brand's pan. I received a call from the owner yesterday saying that they could not offer an exchange or a refund and that I would need to contact the manufacturer. You'd think that if someone spent over $2,000 on new kitchen supplies they'd be willing to accommodate. Not the case. I would highly urge everyone who is thinking of going to Orange Tree Imports for pots, pans, cutlery, utensils, anything, to go somewhere else unless you want a major headache if something goes wrong. I wish I had known that this would happen before I purchased the rest of the supplies, but unfortunately I didn't. I can tell you that I will NOT ever again be stepping foot into that store and I hope everyone follows suit. read more

I remember going here when I was younger and visiting my grandfather. They have lots of chocolates, candy, and rolls and rolls of STICKERS! Remember sticker collecting and trading with your friends? I still have my sticker album- I am an 80s child! :D They have some of my favorite sticker makers, including Mrs. Grossman. They sell all kinds of foodie treats and specialty cookware. It is a bit overpriced, and I have occasionally gotten 'the hard sell', but it's worth a trip for gifts and tchotchkes of all kinds. Also, they sell very high quality chef knives. Yes, it is kind of crowded, but it's two floors of rather cozy and crowded awesomeness. read more

I can't believe it's taken me 2 years of living in Madison to find this place. Staff is super nice and helpful, prices are reasonable. Great selection of different cooking utensils and tools (the rack of spoons, spatulas, turners and tongs sent my heart aflutter). It took all of my willpower to not load up on fifty different cooking spoons. Great place for gifts. Decent selection of harder to find ingredients (hawaiian sea salt, mexican chocolate, etc). I haven't tried the cooking school though because I am just too slow at signing up for the classes I want to take. They're always full WEEKS in advance! read more

Orange Tree Imports is a great place to find a variety of items, from kitchen supplies to knick knacks to artisan-made jewelry. My favorite things to buy are kitchen tools and earrings! They have so many high quality, reasonably priced kitchen items. I have bought so many-- spatulas, wooden spoons, whisks, microplane graters, brushes, cookie sheets, and cake tins. There are always different items on special, making their already competitive prices way better than chain stores like Bed Bath and Beyond. With such a range of items, it's always easy to find a gift for many special occasions. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

Very nice store. They have some unique items. They used to have a little bit more variety as I recall but still a nice store. They are crowded and need more room. Fun place to hunt for that unique gift. read more

Orange Tree Imports is a treasure to explore and although I would love to buy so many items at this store, browsing is such a fun way to spend an hour! The staff are very friendly and they have used or own many of the items they sell, they have high quality products that are functional and beautiful, and I feel that I'm always able to find things at Orange Tree that I can't find elsewhere! If you are looking for a fun gift, card or to use in your own kitchen/home, I highly recommend a visit to Orange Tree. read more

Yes to the Christmas santas they sell. So cool! Love walking around and checking out all of the gadgets. When you buy a Bucky Book, you usually get a free wooden spoon from this place. Sweet! read more

I am not a frequent customer of this store, but was on Monroe St looking for flavored vinegar and I thought I would stop in. I entered and noticed 3 people behind the counter talking, without as much as a hello. There was one other couple in the store. I wandered through the store and found the vinegar section. I was probably there around 10-15 min without anyone asking if I needed assistance. I decided they were not worth my time, or my money at this point. I walked by the same 3 individuals behind the counter, and again, no acknowledgement. I will not return. read more

Funny how I can't cook to save my life and I am always browsing through their kitchenware. Although I'm not an avid tea drinker, I like to pretend I am and I've bought a couple tea sets from here that are quite darling. There's an amazing olive oil section that blows my mind--a bit pricey but I've been cooking quite a bit with EVO and experimenting is fine by me. There's also a great selection off to the right of the store that holds appropriate gifts for weddings, mothers and such. I like looking through cards and love the journals I've found here. One of these days I will be worthy enough to purchase quality pots and pans and cutlery from their upstairs gallery. Before the summer is up, I aim to take a cooking class here. For sure with Shinji Muramoto, yes as in THE Restaurant Muramoto and Sushi Muramoto. Cute and quaint. If you are here after 4, make sure not to park on the street as they will tow. read more

Pretty cool store with plenty of unusual items you won't often find in most department stores.

I would have to agree with previous reviews in that it's a unique and fun store, but I too have been treated very rudely by employees. Not only do they sometimes look at you and not say hello, but when you go to purchase something they barely acknowledge you then too. I've gone back to give them various chances, but they are not exactly warm or inviting unless you are a 50 year old, upper class woman doing some damage. It's rather unfortunate. read more

One of the few great gift stores in Madison. I wish there were more eclectic things though. It's fairly standard. They have wonderful gifts for foodies! read more

I find the store very inviting. I usually spend a long time looking through their collection of items. I have especially enjoyed the beautiful tiles on the wall as you climb the open stairs to the second floor. Orange Tree has a wonderful collection of cookware, dishes, candies, garden supplies, jewelry, glassware, children's toys, cards, picture frames, cooking books, serving dishes, etc. It is a perfect store for finding a special gift. They have wonderful store front windows. The store has many sale items throughout the store. There is something for everyone there. The owner "Orange" has been very delightful to chat with. I have received very nice service. read more

Great place to find nice but cheap wine glasses. I got 6 white and red glasses a year ago, but have broken a few and was able to go back and buy more the the same kind to replace them. It is nice not to have to three or four different glasses because you can't find the same one's when you go to replace broken ones. Great service and good stuff. read more

I bought a Swiss Diamond wok from Orange Tree Imports instead of amazon.com because I expected easier return/exchange and better customer services. This wok has been marketed as a durable product using nano technology with diamonds. However, after I used this wok twice, the wok showed a lot of scratches. I went to Orange Tree Imports to ask if I could get refund or exchange, but I was told to look up manufacturer's phone number online and call the manufacturer for information. I could not believe how this store treats their customer. I am now convinced that I will be better off to shop at amazon.com becasue Orange Tree Import charges more with no customer services. read more

I've always enjoyed browsing at Orange Tree (for 20+ years!), but my latest experience has soured me on the store. Wanting to support local business, I brought in a part to my Cuisinart that needed replacing--two months and 5 visits later it is finally replaced. When I went to pick it up not only were there no apologies for the delays or inconvenience, but there was clear attitude like I was annoying them! It was ridiculous! I'll support local businesses that deserve supporting--in my book, Orange Tree does not. read more

Love this place. Tight quarters, but the amazingly friendly and knowledgable staff make for a wonderful experience every time. We've updated most of our kitchenware and appliances over this past year, and almost all from Orange Tree. Great frequent buyer program, so sign on up! We don't even consider going anywhere else now. read more