International School of Baking:  Marda Stoliar and Associates, consulting, Culinary arts school – professional training for baking European breads and pastries and complete bakery start-up    

Frequently Asked Questions

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Following are the 10 questions most frequently asked by our future students:

How do I get to Bend?

Which would be the fastest way to Bend?

Where would I stay during the course of study?

Do I need to rent a car while in Bend?

What would a typical class day be like?

What makes International School of Baking different from other schools?

Bend's weather?

Do I need to bring anything special to the class?

How long do students stay for course study?


1. How do I get to Bend?

The most direct way to get to Bend is to fly into Redmond/Bend airport (Robert's Field) (Airport Code RDM) which is a short 19 miles from the school.  Taxis are available at the airport but we strongly recommend that you rent a car from one of the six rental rental agencies located in the Redmond Airport terminal.   You will find the use of a personal vehicle to be very beneficial during your stay.

Redmond's airport (Roberts field) is central Oregon's busiest airport and handled nearly 1/2 million passengers in 2009.  It is served by Allegiant Air, Delta, Horizon/Alaska, and United Airlines with more than 50 flights a day.  Direct flights are available from Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.

As an alternative, you can fly into Portland.  There is an airport transport company operating between Portland Airport and Bend, twice daily in a 19 passenger mini bus or a 12 passenger van.

If you fly into Portland and then rent a car to drive to Bend you will experience a 3½ hour drive of scenic beauty with a 4,000 feet elevation pass at the base of Mt. Hood that can demand “chains required” during winter months.  

2. Which would be the fastest way to Bend?

Via air with a direct flight to Roberts Field (RDM) Redmond/Bend.  it takes just 40 minutes flying time from Portland to Redmond/Bend Airport, or 1 hour from Seattle, or 2 hours from San Francisco.  Bend is 20 minutes by car/taxi, $40 from the airport.  Again, we strongly recommend that you consider renting a car.  There are six rental companies in the Redmond Airport.

3. Where would I stay during the course of study?

  • Bend Riverside Motel: meets most of the students needs – kitchen fully equipped, 5 minutes from downtown and located on the beautiful Deschutes river – most of the rooms with river view - $60-120 (International School of Baking special rate), it will take about 30 minutes walking to the school (which is uphill from the Motel).   1-800-284-2363/541-389-2363

  • Econo Lodge 1-877-326-6262.  $60-80.  You will need a car to get to the school from this location.

  • The Phoenix Inn: is located in the center of downtown, no kitchen but great location, $80-119 per night, a new facility.  1-888-291-4764.  You will need a car to get to the school from this location.

  • Fairfield Inn and Suites is located near the Bend Riverside.  Rooms starting at $99 a night.  A new facility.  1-800-551-2409.  A car is recommended.

  • There are 40+ other motels/hotels and bed and breakfast facilities to choose from upon request.   Check http://www.expedia.com or http://www.hotels.com    You will need a car for any of the hotels provided by these web sites.

4. Do I need to rent a car while in Bend?

We highly recommend that you consider renting a car while you are in Central Oregon.  A car is wonderful if you plan on sightseeing while you are here or if you are not a bicyclist or a walker.  Bend is a vacation destination for many people in the know because there is something for everyone, such as:  Mt. Bachelor ski resort 20 minutes from town, 100 beautiful lakes within a 50 mile radios, several extensive lava flows in our area and one just south of town, 26 Championship golf courses, the nearby old western town of Sisters is a shoppers delight, and the High Desert Museum (to name just a few) can make the days off really fun-filled and worth the rental car. 

The School loans mountain bicycles to its interested students.

The School is 30 minutes from town (walking) and 20 minutes on a bicycle.  The walk to the school is uphill.   Most students welcome the walk before and after the day in the baking room and taste tasting what they have made.

5. What would a typical class day be like?

10 to 20 minutes is spent on the questions and class of the previous day and possibly questions pertaining to the reading of the night before.

8 Hours of hands of baking of 3 to 4 formulas, many times working with 10 to 15 lbs. of dough to get the feel of what lies ahead for the baker and to get the feel of the proper molding or techniques necessary for each formula or a day of discussion of equipment needed or how to run a successful business.

Lunch time comes sometime during the middle of the day when the dough or batter permits. At the end of each day, after the clean-up, books from a very extensive library are loaned out for evening reading.  Usually the books or material pertain to the topics to be covered in the next few days classes. A rare opportunity to browse through a lot of very expensive and sometimes hard to find books which will also help you to determine if you want to purchase them for your own library.

6. What makes International School of Baking different from other schools?

It is truly an “a la cart” system that is designed with your specific needs in mind.  You can learn in a setting of one student to one teacher ratio, anything baking and pastry related.  At other schools you have to sign up to take a specific course at the time they determine with many other students.

If the flour is an issue where you come from we recommend that you bring 2 kilos (4.4 lbs.) of your local flour with you so that it can be analyzed and a similar flour used in the course that would closely replicate what you will be using back home.  Other schools are not prepared to do this because of the other 10 to 30 students in the class.

7. Bend's weather?

Summers are sunny, hot and dry 80 to 90 degree F. by day and 40's by night and at 4,000 ft. elevation over the Cascade mountains in the center of the state.

Winters are usually sunny and dry, mild 0 to 30's degree F by day and night.  We do have snow so you should bring clothing which will be suitable for the weather.

Spring can be rainy in the 40 and 50's F., cold nights but still a lot of sunshine.

Fall is spectacular, warm, sunny and not to be missed.

Sunglasses by day and jackets for evenings are a year round thing. You will understand after visiting why Bend is a destination resort not to be missed.

8. Do I need to bring anything special to the class?

Comfortable shoes, back pack or some means for carrying several heavy books to and from class, camera, tape recorder if desired.

9. How long do students stay for course study?

Each student’s interests are so different, so together we talk and determine the length of the course needed based on material to be covered and the students level of experience.  It can be as short as a 2 day course on Biscotti, Dog bones, or one specific product and 20 days for the “Complete Bakery Start Up”. Many courses are 1 to 2 weeks in length such as plated desserts, cookies or Chocolates.

Just a note- We cover in 1 month what most schools cover in 3 to 5 months. For this reason we strongly recommend good note taking, product step by step photographs or any means possible to take home very comprehensive notes that can be utilized later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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