Mommy & Me Cooking Classes
It's never too early to start nurturing love for cooking and crafting nutritious meals:
Hi, my name is Tami and I have a soon to be 5 year old that is very interested in cooking and baking. She loves Martha Stewart! I thought it would be fun to take a baking/cooking class together. Are there any "Mommy and Me" baking/cooking classes in Vancouver/Portland area that would meet our needs? I bought her an EasyBake Oven for Christmas but I think she has exceeded it's culinary limits. Thanks!
I know that Wild Oats at Bridgeport has children's cooking classes, although I'm not sure what the ages are. A friend's kids who are 6/10 took the class and both loved it! Good luck!
Posted by: Alisa | June 11, 2007 at 10:31 AM
The Portland Farmer's Market has a Kids Cook dealie:
http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/?sm=kids
I know there's also a fancy schmantzy cooking school for kids downtown, but Loaves and Fishes (the senior "Meals on Wheels" program) was displaced to house it so I can't personally support that.
Posted by: OldMama | June 11, 2007 at 03:46 PM
I've seen different classes listed at the portland parks community centers from time to time.
http://portlandonline.com/parks
Posted by: karen | June 11, 2007 at 09:25 PM
Hey...I think we've had the "displaced Loaves and Fishes" story straightened out, right? This is someone's livelihood-let's be careful here.
Posted by: fionnsnana | June 11, 2007 at 09:44 PM
So, this isn't 100% what you asked for, but I just got Mollie Katzen's Salad People Recipe book out of the library and it is WONDERFUL. She has a book for older kids too. Might be a way to do a class at home instead...
http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Pretzels-Other-Amazing-Recipes/dp/1883672880/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6/104-1658761-0775937?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181624286&sr=8-6
Posted by: Betsy | June 11, 2007 at 09:59 PM
Here's one I found on a search. Sounds like fun! www.themerrykitchen.com They also teach about gardening, a double plus. It just opened.
Looks like Sur la Table might also offer kids classes. I don't know if they include mom though.
Posted by: meg | June 11, 2007 at 10:13 PM
fionnsnana:
I'm not sure what's been "straightened out". I wouldn't support that business nor the YWCA going forward based on how this was handled. That's my choice.
I'd like to see community resources like the Farmer's Market and Portland Park and Rec get utilized more often. Especially since utilization increases the accessibility of cooking classes for families that may not be able to afford private cooking schools and classes.
Posted by: OldMama | June 11, 2007 at 10:47 PM
Supporting it or not, can we get the name of the cooking school?
thanks...
Posted by: Heather | June 12, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I think you're looking for Petite Gourmande:
http://www.petitegourmande.com.
Posted by: Cher | June 12, 2007 at 02:08 PM
I have just opened a cooking school for kids ages 3-18 out of my home in NE Portland. I live on NE 72nd between Alberta and Killingsworth, near Sandy Blvd and 205. Check out my website and see if there's something there for you. I have classes for 3-5 year olds with parents present and classes for 6-8 year olds with parent optional. Classes for ages 9 and older are just for the kids. I also have an organic garden out back where I am growing herbs and vegetables for us to use while we cook .
Posted by: Julie Merry | June 12, 2007 at 02:12 PM
I have a friend with an 11 year old that wants to cook but without her mom on a more regular basis than the farmer's market. I will give her your info for the merrykitchen.
YAY!
Posted by: OldMama | June 12, 2007 at 06:49 PM
There is a cooking school for kids in Tualatin called Young Chefs Academy. I've never tried it but it looks pretty cool. The website is:
http://www.youngchefsacademy.com/stores/store_page.php?franchise_id=171
Posted by: Leslie | June 13, 2007 at 04:57 PM
This was my question...thanks so much for the options you all have opened up for me. Sur a la Table has a great cooking class on June 30 themed on "Ratatoullie" where they cook some french themed dishes, but kids have to be 7 or 8. They even get tickets to see the movie. Petite Gourmande seems to just have summer camp type programs right now that would be too expensive for me. I will check out The Merry Kitchen for sure, but in the mean time, for her 5th birthday party I'm planning a "Junior Chef" theme where the kids will make small pizzas and decorate small cakes to take home. I'm sure it will be a hit! My daughter enjoys watching Food Network more than Nickelodeon! Crazy! Thanks for the ideas!
Posted by: Tami | June 14, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Cooking with your children is an excellent way to bond with them, create a special time to talk and it also teaches educational skills like reading and math.
Came across another interesting site and would like to share it with other moms –
http://www.bizymoms.com/kids_cooking/index.php
helps you teach your children to cook and information on the numerous benefits enjoyed by moms who encourage their kids to cook. Check it out as there are loads of healthy recipes and easy and fun online cooking classes which you could enjoy with the help of your kids.
Posted by: Jackie | June 23, 2009 at 06:25 PM
RE: Cooking classes for kids:
Kitchen Kids at Storied Ridge Farm, by the former Petite Gourmande at YWCA, is up and running for summer camps 2010! We will also be doing school-closure-day camps beginning September 2010. The new location includes 3 acres of gardens, fruit trees, chickens with eggs and sheep to milk! Please contact Chef Steph at petitegourmande@msn.com for more information and to receive a summer camp schedule/registration form.
Posted by: Stephanie Johnson King | March 30, 2010 at 10:32 AM
FYI: Before you enroll your child in a summer camp, as the camp provider for 1) State Business License, 2) City Business License, and most importantly, have they completed them courses required by the 3) Department of Human Services to do Child Care? AND if so, are all of their camp staff 4) qualified? AND have all of their camp staff had a 5) criminal background check? Has the facility been 6) inspected for safety/health/fire?
All of these licenses/permits/courses/background checks/inspections are REQUIRED to run a kids' camp/kids' after school program in Portland.
What is not required is liability insurance. But I wouldn't put my children into a program that didn't have insurance.
Protect your kids by doing your homework. Any qualified and licensed camp should have their license information and credentials POSTED for you to see without having to ask.
Posted by: Kitchen Kids at Storied Ridge Farm | March 30, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Sorry about the spelling errors above :-)
Posted by: Kitchen Kids at Storied Ridge Farm | March 30, 2010 at 11:19 AM
All these posts are really wonderful. One who is fond of cooking and likes to learn the art of cooking even if not become a chef can enjoy these classes. But individual should make sure to take full details about the classes and that they are not fake or something. Still these are some good posts.
Posted by: cooking classes | May 20, 2011 at 05:20 AM