If the number of cookery schools catering for children is anything to go by, says Nick Wyke from Looking to Cook, we can expect the next generation to produce more than its fair share of super chefs. In fact, there are almost as many cookery schools and classes for children as there are for adults now – and that’s saying something.
Here are Nick’s five tasty ideas for budding chefs in London this summer…
Munchkins, in Blackheath, South-East London runs fun, hands-on Summer Holiday workshops for 4 to 11-year-olds from 9am to 12.30pm Monday-Friday in its purpose-built kitchen behind a lovely cook shop.
Each week has a cool theme such as ‘food from around the world (Aug 1-5); ‘food from the stories of Roald Dahl’ (Aug 8-12); ‘funky fruit and super veg’ (Aug 15-19); and ‘cooking the rainbow’ (Aug 22-26). Children make their own snack to eat during break in the kitchen garden, and their own lunch, plus lots of goodies to take home.
Maximum class size is 12 kids, and the cost is £42 per session or £168 for a week. There are also teen masterclasses available in the afternoon, including cupcake baking and pizza making.
The Kids’ Cookery School in West London is a registered charity whose aim is to teach children to cook, hoping that it will encourage them to make sensible choices about what they eat. Classes are very hands-on and students are prompted to taste and touch all ingredients. From fajitas to scones there’s always plenty of food to take home and show-off to the family (£30 for a 2.5hr afternoon session).
Trendy London gelateria Dri Dri based in Portobello Road runs ice cream making classes where the children design and colour in their own stickers before mixing fresh fruit, chocolate and dairy ingredients in a 1950s’ ice cream making machine (£15 for one hour; and take home whatever gelato hasn’t been scoffed on site).
Every other Monday at 5pm Whole Foods Market in Kensington organises a different class from sushi rolling and cake decorating to seed planting in a bid to convert your mini eaters into little kitchen helpers and gourmet growers.
Cookie Crumbles, based in West London, offers a wide range of cooking activities for children and teenagers from 4 – 18 year olds.
They claim to have taught more than 10,000 children to cook since it was set up just over seven years ago and they vow: “Even if your children have never cooked at home before, they will enjoy the squidgy messiness, the tasting and creativity of being in charge of their own party food, and they always leave the place spotless afterwards!” (£165 for 6 children for two hours)
For more children’s courses nationwide visit Looking to Cook’s children’s cookery classes listings.
–Nick, Lookingtocook.co.uk
*Image from OakleyOriginals on Flickr
About Holly Seddon
Holly Seddon is a writer, editor and community consultant and helped launched the community for Adoption UK, which won charity website of the year just 9 months later. She also writes a music blog.