Renee Behnke

Renee Behnke grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, in a family that made it easy for her to fall in love with cooking. Food was such an important part of her childhood; every family meal and food-related excursion left a lasting impression on Renee. As a buyer for Nordstrom, she frequently traveled from New York to Los Angeles and gained exposure to new food, people, and cultures from around the world, which motivated her to try new dishes at home and share those experiences with family and friends. In addition, she has taught cooking classes and worked for a catering company.

Renee and her husband, Carl, purchased the originalSur La Table store in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1995. Her retail background and her lifelong passion for food and cooking, paired with her husband's business savvy, have made a dynamic partnership. Renee was the President of Sur La Table from 1995-2004, and her travel opportunities buying products took her around the globe. Today she is the president emeritus of the cookware mecca that has grown to over 75 stores nationwide and 22 cooking class programs. She is on the advisory committees for the International Housewares Association Show and the Gourmet Products Show. She also works with foreign agencies to organize food tours in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, India, and Vietnam.