The Frederick County Guide Spring 2016 | Page 34

KIDS / YOUTH

HELPING KIDS GET CREATIVE

IN THE KITCHEN

BY KATIE RAGUINDIN , TINY CHEFS EVENT PLANNER
Many families in Frederick County have been experiencing a renewed interest to be back in the kitchen making healthy and creative meals for family and friends . And kids also want to be part of the fun .
Tiny Chefs is dedicated to providing interactive and educational children ’ s cooking classes at schools , camps or community centers throughout Maryland , Washington , D . C ., and Northern Virginia .
With a philosophy of , “ learning through cooking ,” Tony Chefs encourages children to discover the joys of cooking while obtaining basic skills and culinary techniques . Instructors teach kids to follow recipes , measure and combine ingredients , and work together in a team all while promoting personal creativity .
The company strives to instill health-conscious values in kids along with the confidence to experiment with their own creations in the future . More than 25 different themes contain about 20 recipes for each theme . Themes range from healthy eats such as Veggielicious and Gluten Free to comfort food such as Donut Bar and Baking Boot Camp .
Tony Chefs ’ cooking events are a fun way for kids to flex their creative muscles , spend time working in peer groups , and best of all : a great way to introduce them to the joy of cooking and baking .
HERE ARE ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES TINY CHEFS OFFERS :
Party Planning
Choose an entrée , dessert , and / or appetizer from the kid-friendly menus , and an instructor will come to your home to host a 90-minute party . Kids will decorate their own chef hats and as the entrée is cooking , will have time to decorate a placemat and chat with friends . The kids eat the food they prepare and receive printed recipes of everything they make . Girls and boys , from age 4 to 14 , will get to learn by doing , and are encouraged to explore
their imaginations and creativity while learning basic cooking skills and safety in the kitchen . For older ages , specialty themes such as Chopped ! or Iron Chef allow kids to incorporate secret ingredients in their dishes .
In-Home or After-School Cooking Classes
In addition to essential cooking skills like chopping , grilling and sautéing , instructors work with children to teach them skills that will stay with them for years . Classes and camps cover organizational skills , learning to work as a team , cooperation and taking turns . Sessions also touch on math skills ( as they learn to double or halve ingredient measurements ) and reading comprehension ( as they learn to work from a recipe ). An effort is made to introduce ingredients and flavors that may not be familiar to many students , such as adding sweet potato to a biscuit recipe for a healthy , hearty twist . Fun , unusual flavors are balanced with classic recipes kids will want to make again and again .
Summer Cooking Camps
Delicious eats and sweets are being cooked up all summer long during summer cooking camps . Each week of class focuses on a different theme . Example themes include Molto Italiano !; Snack Attack ; All- American Summer Favorites ; Breakfast for Dinner !; French Bistro ; Tapas & Small Plates ; Nutrition Sleuths ; Mexican Fiesta !; Amazing Asian ; Let ’ s Make Every Day a Holiday !; Cupcake Wars ; Books for Cooks ; Cookie Explosion , Tropical Madness ; and Chopped .
+
More information 301-841-7395 | www . tinychefs . com | info @ tinychefs . com
34 FREDERICK COUNTY GUIDE | SPRING 2016