Think kids will only eat chicken nuggets and pizza? Think again. Imagine, if you will, a group of 6-10 year-olds making a whole roasted bass in a salt crust, and then actually eating it… and that same group mastering Parisian macaroons and Croquembouche. Or whipping up homemade tortellini en brodo that would make Mario Batali proud. And eating it with gusto.
At the Little Feet In the Kitchen Cooking School in Los Angeles, one might actually call dishes like Mexican chilaquiles and Alsatian tarte flambe “kid UNfriendly,” but founder Jennifer Evans Gardner disagrees. Her philosophy? If they cook it, they’ll at least taste it; in other words, cooking becomes a bridge to developing children’s palates.
With fare such as gruyere gougeres, Parisian Macaroons, crepes, clementine souffles, empanadas and mini-Pavlovas, one can see that these cooking classes are for young people who are as passionate about food as some of their parents. Little Feet in the Kitchen combines the creativity of cooking with arts and crafts, cookbook journaling, field trips and guest chefs among the many fun activities for children. (Check out our Kids’ Cooking page for the latest in cooking classes and summer camp.)
Based in Studio City, California, these hands-on classes are limited to 10 children each for optimum instruction and safety. Taught by cookbook author and food writer Jennifer Evans Gardner, the summer camps have a near cult-like following among discriminating L.A. moms and children.
A gourmet cook and entertainer, Gardner has trained over the years in cooking schools such as The New School of Cooking, Epicurean, Santa Fe School of Cooking, and Canyon Ranch, in addition to classes from various renowned chefs such as Suzanne Goin (“Lucque,” “AOC”) and Mark Peel (“Campanile”), among others.
“You don’t have to be a professional chef to be a great home cook and entertainer,” says Evans Gardner. “Cooking shouldn’t be intimidating for kids or adults. The only requirement is that you love food.”
For information on classes, summer camp and birthday parties, see pages on this site or contact:
Jengardner@roadrunner.com
