Take one well-ordered kitchen, add three capable assistants, mix in seven eager chefs and what have you got? The ingredients for another junior chefs class at the new Young Chefs Academy.
On a recent Friday evening, the chefs jockeyed for seats around a high worktable and settled in to learn about one of the key ingredients in that night's recipes: potatoes. This is an important step for Dakota Rocha, 9. "I can see what's inside what I eat," he said.
The academy was opened on Sept. 22 at the corner of West Orange Grove and North Thornydale roads by owner LeAnna Giltner, 56. Giltner is an entrepreneur on a mission to help people live healthy lives.
"Let's get kids interested in food in the right way," she said. "They can play soccer now, dance and cheerlead, but cooking is something you do your whole life."
It's heating up in the kitchen as the children fan out in search of ingredients or utensils needed to begin preparation on two side dishes: bread stuffing balls and loaded mashed potatoes. "It's fun because they don't just give us recipes, they show us how to do it," said Abrielle Agron, 8.
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The franchise is Giltner's second. She owns a Curves, a women's exercise franchise, near West Ajo Way and South Kinney Road. Her plans to open a second gym changed when she visited the original Young Chefs Academy in Waco, Texas, about 18 months ago. "This was my opportunity to improve the quality of children's lives," she said.
Back in the kitchen, children are vigorously chopping celery and onions using plastic safety knives and safety gloves. Marcus Quintero, 6, is enthusiastic about preparation. "I like to cut the potatoes," he said. Marcus' father, William, said he enrolled his son in the class because the boy watches him cook at home and seems to like it. "I'd rather he keep his interest in this than watching TV and playing video games," he said.
Giltner ran a day-care center on the Northwest Side for 18 years and has associate degrees in early childhood development and finance. She is excited by the enthusiasm she sees when the children cook.
"They can't wait to show their moms what they made," she said. "Kids love being creative and food is just another way for them to show their creative side."
It's about an hour into the class and lots of little hands are scooping up the stuffing mixture and shaping it into balls. For Lorelei Sole, 7, the eating part is her favorite part of cooking.
Lorelei's mother, Anita, said the class has helped her daughter in several ways. "It helps her follow directions. She's learning to use cooking tools. She eats things that I could never get her to eat at home, like spinach," she said.
What's cooking?
• What: Young Chefs Academy
• Where: 3684 W. Orange Grove Road, Suite 168
• Phone: 544-5547
• Prices: $25-$30 per class; discount packages available.
• Hours: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays; 1-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturdays.
• Academy menu: Classes, birthday parties, mini-camps, chefs club, merchandise and more.
