Cooking is an ideal class for kids to take. They can learn new chops, get exposed to new foods and tastes, and they can try it all out at home. And cooking engages all five senses, plus children’s sixth sense — getting messy!
Here's a baker's dozen of places that offer kids’ cooking classes, sorted by locale. Note: Many of these sell out fast, so book early, and our apologies if some of the classes we noted aren't available.
Seattle and the Eastside
Paris Eastside, downtown Seattle
This French cooking school offers a number of classes for adults, kids and families; upcoming classes include crepes and tartlets. French Marmitons is a four-class series that teaches kids iconic French dishes on Saturdays at 4 p.m.
Location: 816 East Pike, Seattle. 206-452-3622
Details: $35/single class."Marmitons" recommended for ages 8–12. $130/student for four-class series.
Frog Legs Kids Culinary Academy, Seattle
Located in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood and owned by mom-of-three Laura Vida, Frog Legs offers many cooking classes, parties and camps for children (and some for adults, too). Classes are interactive, nut-free, and include active time, art opportunities and stories. Upcoming gems include "Bake Me a Pumpkin Pie" in November.
Location: 3217 33rd Ave. S., Seattle. 206-954-9094
Details: Classes for kids starting at age 3. $55–$65 a class, $125/ 4-class series. Email for more info froglegskca@comcast.net
PCC Kids Cook
With locations around the Sound, the kids' cooking classes at these beloved neighborhood markets are affordable and fill up quickly, so reserve early (as in the minute you get your catalog). Upcoming kids' classes that are still open include include kitchen chemistry, cooking with squash and holiday treats. See also PCC's online cooking with kids series, hosted on ParentMap!
Location: At PCC locations around Seattle.
Details: Classes for kids starting at age 4. $35–$45 a class.
The Pantry, Northwest Seattle
Part small business, part community kitchen, the Pantry in Ballard offers a "Cooking With Kids" series. As with the adult classes, kids' classes fill up quickly (like months ahead of time), so check their calendar often and sign up for the email list (at the bottom of the website) to get alerts about when new classes are posted.
Location: 1417 N.W. 70th St., Seattle.
Details: See a list of upcoming classes on their site; usually all classes are filled until a few months out. Register online.
Pure Food Kids
Beecher’s Cheese has a program just for 4th and 5th grade students in Seattle and New York, aimed at turning kids into Food Detectives with in-school workshops. Workshops are free, last 2.5 hours, and are available to any type of school: private, public, or homeschool. Tell your favorite teacher and get the word out!
Location: Beecher's Cheese, Pike Place Market, 104 Pike St.
Details: To schedule a workshop in the Seattle Metro area, register online.
Bean Spouts, Seattle Center
In addition to its café, Bean Sprouts also has a cooking school for little ones, located inside the Seattle Center Armory. Imagnibbles, its signature class, is a fun and engaging class for groups of kids ages 2–6 and 7–10.
Location: Seatle Center Armory, 719-375-4216
Details: Schedule a class online.
Kitchen Coach
Kitchen Coach in North Seattle, a branch of Mangia Bene Catering, offers classes for parents and kids; they’ll do after-school cooking classes for youth groups of six or more. Upcoming classes include pie-making and holiday gifts.
Location: 850 NE 88th St., Seattle
Details: Ages 9-15 for scheduled classes. $40–$60/person plus fees. Register online. Call 206-548-4994 or email deb@mangiabenecatering.net for more information.
Seattle Parks
There are several kids' cooking programs offered through Seattle Parks; examples include Lil' Chefs (ages 2-5) and Parent/Tot Cooking Creations (ages 3-4 and 4-5). Again, book early!
Details: $99/child for Lil Chefs series; $88/child for Jr. Chefs. Register online.
Kirkland Parks
Kirkland offers parent/child cooking series for preschoolers with themes that change monthly, including holiday treats for kids age 3 and up. Classes are held at McAuliffe Park. Note: Currently, fall classes are mostly full, but there are openings for winter and spring. Search the website.
NuCulinary
NuCulinary has various locations and may also come to you. Children’s classes are offered on demand, so get some friends together and make a date. They do birthday parties, too.
Shoreline Parks
Shoreline offers Kids in the Kitchen with Chef Robin, teaching the basics in 2-hour classes like Breakfast Food and Gingerbread Cookies.
Details: Ages 7–11 for Kids in the Kitchen; $25/resident, $30/non-resident.
South Sound classes
Pierce County Parks
Topics change weekly in Kids are Cooking, a four-week series for kids 7–12. Two one-day classes focused on holidays are offered for $15. For older kids, Chambers Bay Grill Restaurant hosts Junior Top Chefs, a basic kitchen and cooking class taught by Chambers Bay’s Chef Josh Corcoran and his team. Next class session, Nov. 4–Dec. 2.
Details: Kids are Cooking. Ages 7-12. $40/4-week series. Junior Top Chefs. Ages 9–15. $120/junior, $110/each additional junior. Register online.
Bayview School of Cooking, Olympia
Olympia’s Bayview School of Cooking has a special kids’ cooking program called Kids in the Kitchen, with classes divided into two age groups.
Details: 516 W. Fourth Ave., Olympia
Cost: Age groups 5–8 and 9–13. $30/ages 5–8, $35/ages 9–13. $50 for parent-child workshop. Register by phone or online.
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