EXPERIENCES

Top 10 Culinary Kids Experiences

8 minute read
Author Profile
Sophie Farrah

Do you know a budding baker or mini master chef? Dream Escape discovers some of the country’s very best cookery classes for kids, designed to inspire young minds, boost creativity and build confidence, both in and out of the kitchen.

1. Plot to Plate  

For an unforgettable country escape, luxury five-star hotel and spa Chewton Glen is located on the edge of the enchanting New Forest. Here, celebrity chef James Martin oversees all things culinary and has developed a delicious menu that champions ingredients from the hotel’s own vegetable beds and greenhouse. This same fresh produce is used in the hotel’s cookery school, The Kitchen, which offers an array of classes, including some specifically for juniors and teens. James and his team have also recently introduced a special family class for two adults and two children (aged 6–17 years) that incorporates techniques and skills suitable for all ages. From making fresh pasta for a spaghetti carbonara to baking cat’s tongue biscuits to have with a restorative cup of tea, even the youngest member of the family will feel at home here.

2. Budding Bakers

The Langham – one of London’s most luxurious hotels – is home to Sauce, an outstanding cookery school that hosts masterclasses led by culinary experts and world-renowned professional chefs, such as none other than Michel Roux Jr himself. Based in a stylish kitchen in Marylebone, Sauce’s baking classes for children (ages 4–10, accompanied by an adult) offer a fun-filled afternoon for budding bakers, and are intended to build their all-round kitchen confidence. Sweet baking classes focus on tasty treats, such as brownies, cookies, lemon cake and scones, while the savoury alternative gives children an insight into bread making, palmiers, cheese straws and more. Parents are invited to join in while Sauce’s team of chefs are on hand to teach them a few expert tips and tricks along the way. Every child will receive an apron, tote bag, recipe pack and their delicious bakes to take home.

3. World-class Cuisine 

The cookery school at Raymond Blanc’s luxurious country hotel, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, is considered one of the very best in the world. Here, amid the beautiful grounds and bountiful kitchen garden of the Michelin-starred chef’s Oxfordshire retreat, courses for all levels take place, from half-day introductions to residential programmes, dinner party masterclasses, ‘kitchen secrets’ and more. Youngsters are warmly welcomed in fun and relaxed Adult & Child (aged 7–12 years) classes, while the Young Chefs Academy caters for budding cooks across two different age groups (10–12 and 13–16). Alternatively, Dream Escape organise private tuition, which is a wonderful way to spend memorable time together as a family. Refreshments are provided, as well as certificates upon course completion.

4. Signature Dishes 

Located in the heart of the historic city of York, The Grand is a stunning five-star hotel and spa, with a state-of-the-art cookery school that opened in 2019. The large kitchen space here is instantly impressive, with bifolding doors, sleek glass panelling and all the mod cons you’d expect. Aimed at home cooks of all abilities, there’s a varied schedule of classes on offer, covering everything from modern British dishes to authentic Asian cuisine. The parent-and-child classes, suitable for children aged 8–13 years old, are a wonderful way to encourage young chefs while sharing some quality time cooking together. Interspersing cookery demonstrations with hands-on tasks, each individual course focuses on a specific dish, ranging from fresh butternut squash ravioli to the ultimate cheeseburger! If your youngster has a sweet tooth, there are classes on making and decorating imaginative chocolate bars, delicious cupcakes, and more.

5. Fabulous Fish  

Where better to learn how to cook fresh seafood than the charming fishing port of Padstow in North Cornwall? At Rick Stein’s Cookery School, which overlooks the beautiful Camel Estuary, visitors can learn the secrets of some of the celebrity seafood chef’s famous recipes in a series of fun, hands-on cookery workshops using incredibly fresh produce. Designed to empower young chefs, half-day courses for children and teenagers (aged 8–12 years and 13–17 years, respectively) cover a variety of subjects, including fish, shellfish and baking. Specific dishes that they can learn how to make include Thai fishcakes and churros with chocolate sauce, while practical skills include filleting a round fish and how to peel and prepare prawns. After a busy day learning the ropes, Dream Escape organise luxurious stays and delicious meals nearby at Rick Stein’s renowned Seafood Restaurant, which can be found close to the picturesque harbour.

6. Wild Food 

Braemar is a thriving village located in the Cairngorms National Park in the stunning Scottish Highlands. Here, five-star boutique hotel The Fife Arms is well known for its splendid interiors and incredible art collection, but outside its beautiful grounds, a fantastic foodie experience awaits that will delight and excite both young and old. Guided foraging tours are led by the luxury hotel’s in-house forager, Natasha Lloyd, who will identify, explain, and share the taste of an array of local plants and vegetation that can be transformed into teas, tinctures, condiments and more. Hunt for wild garlic and learn how to use all aspects of the plant in your cooking, from the leaves to the bulb and flowers, or, in the autumn, forage for berries and learn how to create delicious chutneys and sauces with them. For an extra special experience, Dream Escape organises private walks for the whole family.

7. Yes, chef!  

Just outside London, in the pretty Surrey town of Woking, world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay has recently opened his very own cookery school, staffed by a team of fully trained chefs who host a variety of classes for aspiring cooks of all levels. With an impressive library filled with cookbooks and four fantastic kitchens, The Gordon Ramsay Academy has a vast selection of cooking experiences for both families and children specifically. During Cook Together classes, parents and children can get together and learn how to create sushi, noodles, hearty pies, Mexican food and more, while Junior Chef classes (suitable for ages 6–10 and 11–15) cover the likes of pizza making, baking, stir-fries, and some tasty Italian classics. All classes include a special Gordon Ramsay Academy bag, recipe pack and plenty of food to take home.

8. Fun on the farm 

At Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s picturesque smallholding in Dorset, children can take part in a fun and inspiring full-day cookery class led by the talented team of River Cottage chefs. They’ll learn how to make a selection of recipes, gain a better understanding of where their food comes from, and learn how to stay safe around knives and hot things. They’ll make dough and bake a farmhouse loaf, and then whip up their very own pizza from scratch, including the tomato sauce. Next, there’s a baking session that covers how seasonal veg from the garden can be delicious in cakes, such as beetroot brownies or something similar, depending on what is in season. The afternoon’s focus is on learning to make a comforting family favourite, like cottage pie or lasagne with homemade pasta, while breaks can be spent exploring the vegetable garden and saying hello to a few of the friendly animals that live on this very special farm.

9. Mocktail o’clock 

Situated in the pretty seaside town of St Helier on the beautiful island of Jersey, luxury hotel and spa The Club is well known for its fabulous food offering – thanks to its Michelin-starred restaurant, Bohemia. Here, children can get behind the bar and have a go at shaking, stirring and blending their own mocktails with one of the hotel’s mixologists, while the grown-ups look on with a glass of chilled Champagne. Once the kids have finished mixing and muddling, it’s time to head into the kitchen and join a member of the hotel’s Michelin-starred pastry team; here, in their aprons and chef’s hats, they will be shown how to decorate a selection of fanciful treats, while the adults relax and enjoy the hotel’s delicious afternoon tea.

10. French fancies 

With alumni including Julia Child, Mary Berry, Yotam Ottolenghi and more, there are few more distinguished cookery schools than Le Cordon Bleu. At its central London HQ, which sits on beautiful Bloomsbury Square, it hosts a very special course designed for children aged between 8 and 12 to enjoy with a parent. Le Petit Cordon Bleu, as it is known, has been designed to encourage children to develop their creativity and taste; over the course of three hours, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef will teach each petit participant several cookery techniques and show them how to make the likes of scrumptious profiteroles, fresh pasta and more. At the end of the course, all their tasty creations can be taken home to enjoy.

A cookbook…for kids 

Introducing The River Cafe Look Book: Recipes for Kids of all Ages – a beautifully designed, child-friendly cookbook from the famous Michelin-starred restaurant The River Cafe, which sits on the banks of the Thames in West London. It contains 50 fresh and playful recipes for kids to cook and everyone to enjoy, bringing the warmth and ease of Italian family home-cooking to all levels of kitchen expertise. Highlights include inventive veg-centric meals, such as smashed broad bean bruschetta, fusilli zucchini, and grilled peaches, as well as classics such as carbonara and focaccia. Filled with stunning images, its vibrant and engaging pages encourage young readers to connect with their food while getting messy in the kitchen. Priced £24.95, published by Phaidon. 

IMAGE CREDITS : ©Rafaella Bichiri / Wonderhatch / Lynk Photography / Matt Austin / Adobe Stock / Jenko Ataman / Evgeny Atamanenko / Matt Porteous

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