Do your children like to cook, play “kitchen” with their friends or gather around your feet while you make dinner? Then turn that desire to help into action! Southern California offers many FREE cooking classes for kids in our area! From baking to healthy eating to creating delicious meals, your children are bound to find at least one cooking class that will satisfy their taste buds.
My family’s personal favorite are William-Sonoma’s Junior Chef Classes. The classes are FREE and offered at various William-Sonoma stores throughout Southern California for children ages 5+. My children have been a few times and really enjoy them. However, my kids also like more hands-on activities so we prefer the Cake Baking and Easter Egg Dying classes.
In February, William-Sonoma are offering the following classes:
Feb. 14 @ 10 am – 52-New Foods: Stir-Frying
Stir up some delicious fun at the next class in our 52 New Foods series! Together we’ll make Stir-Fried Chicken with Bok Choy. It’s a fantastic dinner you can cook with your family—then claim the leftovers and pack in your lunch box to enjoy the next day. Suitable for ages 9–13.
Feb. 21 @ 10 am – Homemade Chicken Fingers
Who doesn’t love chicken fingers—crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. Learn how to make chicken fingers that are so tasty, you won’t want to eat out again! Suitable for ages 5 – 13.
Feb. 28 @ 10 am – Cake Baking, from Start to Frosting
Calling all bakers! Want to make a cake that will wow your friends and family? In this class we’ll bake a fabulous cake, make a creamy frosting and then sample our decadent creation! Suitable for ages 5 – 13.
The best way to find a William-Sonoma’s Junior Chef Class near you is to visit their store locator and register over the phone or in person.
Mitsuwa in Torranace, a well-known Japanese supermarket chain, also offers FREE cooking classes for kids the first Sunday of every month. They demonstrate how to cook Japanese food using various Japanese and other ingredients. It is a rare experience where children get to learn, try and taste everything that they personally make. In the past ,children have made hand rolled sushi, okonomiyaki (japanese pancake), bento boxes and more.
Mitsuwa’s classes tend to fill up rather quickly, so make sure to call ahead and register your child if interested.
Finally, not free, but close to it is Whole Foods’ Kids Cooking Class at The District in Tustin, California. The class is held every other Friday and costs $5 per child.
Chef Cintia whips up kid friendly recipes that are easy, fun and delicious and talks about why it’s important to color your plate with healthy foods. She plans healthy kid friendly recipes for the kids to make themselves. The idea is that the kids may show an interest in eating healthy if they get to help make it. RSVPs are required by emailing [email protected]. You can learn more about this class on meetup.
Looking for some more tips on cooking with kids in the kitchen? Check out my Kids In The Kitchen Pinterest Board for some inspiration!
Follow SoCal Field Trips’s board Kids In The Kitchen on Pinterest
Happy Field Tripping!
Jilleen
Disclosure: This post is for informational purposes only. All opinions are 100% my own!
Erika
Monday 9th of February 2015
How fun!! I think I might try and take my daughter to the class in Sherman Oaks this Saturday!
Jilleen
Monday 9th of February 2015
Let me know what you think afterwards Erika!
Jilleen
Monday 9th of February 2015
Will do!
Peggy
Monday 9th of February 2015
Field Trip Boy can make me oatmeal anytime!