Are You Ready For Your Teen To Learn How To Cook A Meal For Your Family?
Then You’re In The Right Place
Designed for aspiring young chefs ages 11–14, our hands-on culinary classes help students build confidence, develop real-world cooking skills, and become more independent in the kitchen. In a fun, engaging, and supportive environment, children learn practical techniques, explore new recipes, and gain the knowledge they need to prepare meals safely with little to no supervision. Whether they're just beginning their culinary journey or looking to sharpen their skills, each class is designed to inspire creativity, encourage independence, and foster a lifelong love of cooking.
Classes We Offer
Building Confident Junior Chefs: Foundational Series
Every child's culinary journey begins here.
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The Building Confident Junior Chefs: Foundational Series is the starting point for every new student at Say Grace Children's Culinary Academy. This four-week program teaches the essential cooking skills every young chef needs before advancing to our Signature Series. Each class builds upon the previous week, helping students develop confidence, independence, and a strong culinary foundation.
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Week 1: Knife Skills
Learn essential kitchen safety practices and foundational knife skills, including proper knife handling and basic knife cuts.
Week 2:
Proper Measuring Wet and Dry Ingredients, Baking Fundamentals
Learn the difference between wet and dry ingredients and how to use the proper measuring tools to measure them for accurate cooking and baking.
Week 3: Skills in Action
Students combine the knife skills, measuring techniques, and kitchen fundamentals learned during the first two weeks as Chef Mai leads the class step by step while preparing a meal.
Week 4: Junior Chef Challenge & Graduation
Students take the lead, preparing a meal with greater independence while Chef Mai provides guidance and support as needed. We celebrate their accomplishment with a graduation.
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Kitchen safety
Knife skills
Measuring accurately
Reading recipes
Mise en place
Kitchen organization
Time management
Clean-as-you-go habits
Confidence
Independence
Problem-solving
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At the conclusion of the Foundational Series, students participate in the Junior Chef Challenge, where they demonstrate the skills they have learned throughout the program. Rather than following step-by-step instruction, students prepare a recipe with greater independence while Chef Mai provides coaching and encouragement.
Graduates receive:
Certificate of Completion
Foundational Series Badge
A four-week program that teaches the essential cooking skills every young chef needs. Completion of the Foundational Series is required before enrolling in our Signature Series.
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The Signature Series is a monthly themed, 4-week series that builds on the foundational skills learned in the prerequisite course. Children continue developing new techniques while preparing a variety of recipes.
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Cooking Around the World
Holiday Baking
Breakfast & Brunch
Restaurant Favorites
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Cooking methods, i.e. Sautéing and roasting
Protein preparation
Sauce making
Seasoning and flavor development
Doughs and batters
Time management
Multi-step meal preparation
Kitchen confidence and independence
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The Signature Series are designed for children who have completed the Building Confident Junior Chefs: Foundational Series. This ensures every student begins with the same essential kitchen safety, knife skills, and measuring techniques and can build on those skills each month.
Graduates receive:
Certificate of Completion
Foundational Series Badge
Our monthly Signature Series allows students to explore new cuisines, techniques, and culinary themes while strengthening the skills developed in the Foundational Series.
Signature Series
Continue building your child's culinary skills.
Culinary Camps
Continue building your child's culinary skills.
Hands-on culinary adventures during school breaks.
Seasonal camps provide immersive cooking experiences where children prepare a variety of recipes, develop new skills, and build confidence in the kitchen.
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Our Culinary Camps provide an immersive cooking experience where children build real cooking skills through hands-on learning in a fun, engaging environment. Like our Signature Series, each camp follows a unique culinary theme, but instead of meeting once a week, campers cook together every day, allowing them to develop skills to progress through the curriculum at an accelerated pace.
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Cooking Around the World
Holiday Baking
Breakfast & Brunch
Restaurant Favorites
Throughout the camp, children prepare both savory and pastry recipes while learning a variety of cooking techniques.
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Campers strengthen their culinary skills through daily, hands-on practice while developing:
Kitchen safety and organization
Knife skills
Measuring and recipe reading
Cooking and baking techniques
Flavor development and seasoning
Time management
Kitchen confidence
Independence
Teamwork and communication
Problem-solving in the kitchen
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Camps are offered during school breaks throughout the year, including:
Spring Break
Summer Break
Holiday Breaks
Depending on the season, camps may be offered as one-week or multi-week experiences, with children attending daily throughout the camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and sign-up for our upcoming classes.
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No. The Building Confident Junior Chefs: Foundational Series is a prerequisite for all Signature Series classes. Completing the Foundational Series ensures every student has the essential kitchen safety, knife skills, measuring techniques, and cooking fundamentals needed to confidently build on their skills in each Signature Series.
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Yes. Each Signature Series features a new collection of recipes centered around a monthly theme. Throughout the series, students prepare both savory and pastry recipes while learning new techniques and expanding their culinary skills.
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Absolutely! While some favorite recipes may return from time to time, each Signature Series is designed to reinforce and build culinary skills through practice. Repeating a series gives students another opportunity to strengthen their techniques, gain confidence, and continue growing as independent cooks.
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Yes. Camp themes rotate throughout the year, giving returning campers the opportunity to explore new recipes, techniques, and culinary experiences.
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Virtual Culinary Camps are offered during school breaks, including Spring Break, Summer Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Winter Break, etc. Camp length and daily schedules vary by session and will be listed when registration opens.
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At Say Grace Children's Culinary Academy, we teach skills first and recipes second. Rather than simply following a recipe, children learn the techniques, safety practices, and problem-solving skills that help them become confident, independent cooks. Our mission is to equip children with real cooking skills that strengthen families and bring them back around the kitchen table.
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Our virtual classes are designed for aspiring junior chefs ages 11–14.
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No. Children of all experience levels are welcome. Our programs are designed to help students build confidence, strengthen existing skills, and develop new culinary techniques in a supportive learning environment.
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Yes. Completion of the Building Confident Junior Chefs: Foundational Series is required before enrolling in our monthly Signature Series.
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Most classes meet once per week and last approximately 90 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Actual class time may vary slightly depending on the lesson and student participation.
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Both the Foundational Series and Signature Series meet once per week for four weeks.
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All classes are taught live using a virtual meeting platform. Students cook alongside Chef Mai in real time while receiving step-by-step instruction, guidance, and personalized feedback throughout the class.
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Virtual meeting instructions and access information
Grocery List
Equipment list
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Yes. For the best learning experience, we require having all ingredients and equipment ready before class begins.
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Equipment varies by class. A detailed equipment list is provided before each session so families have time to prepare.
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Our classes are designed to help children become more independent in the kitchen. Because every child's experience and comfort level are different, parents should determine the level of supervision that is appropriate for their child, especially when using knives, the stove, or the oven.
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Our class menus are developed in advance and may not be suitable for all food allergies or dietary restrictions. If your child has dietary concerns, please contact us before registering to discuss the menu and determine whether the class is appropriate
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If your child is unable to attend a live class, a recording of the missed session will be provided so they can catch up at their convenience. We encourage students to watch the recording before attending their next class to stay on track with the curriculum.
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Yes. Each live class is recorded and available to enrolled families for 14 days.
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Yes. Recipes are provided as part of the class materials so students can continue practicing their new skills at home.
