Jr Chef program at food and wine festival

[BeccaG]

Tell me all about it.
How do you sign up/participate?
What do they do?
Can my three year old participate with my help?
Got any pics?

 

[kerickson]

Tell me all about it.
How do you sign up/participate?
What do they do?
Can my three year old participate with my help?
Got any pics?

I wanted to do this last year but it never worked out with our schedule. I'd also love to know the details, what to expect, how early you need to go to get a spot...

If we participate next week I'll take pics and let you know how it was!

 

[imp&pixie]

I was hoping that they would offer this on weekdays since our trip next week is Monday-Thursday. Unfortunately it is only Friday-Sunday. I guess the kids will not get to be Jr. Chefs this trip. I'm also interested in what it involves for future planning.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

One of the other DIS Unplugged Disneyland correspondents took her 4-year-old daughter to Junior Chef this weekend. This was on Friday, but the one they went to wasn't full. I think she said the kids had to do it themselves, so not sure about the 3-year-old.

They made oatmeal cookies and each kid was able to add an ingredient.

There's even a surprise visitor that helps out.

 

[the donut]

My daughter did it last year when she was almost 3 years old. They do take the kids into the event by themselves, though the parents were able to stand around the periphery to watch and take pictures. If your daughter's not comfortable being separated from you, it probably wouldn't be a good idea. Last year, there were several supervising cast members, and Goofy and his handler showed up to "teach" the class. She also got a chef hat to wear during the event and to keep. She still talks about how silly Goofy is. The whole thing lasted around 20 minutes and was very cute.

 

[Ross3half]

We went last Sunday and my 4 yearl old and 7 year old participated. They say that kids have to be 5+ but as long as they're with an older sibling or you reassure them that your child will be fine participating while you stand behind the parent rope, then they seemed to let younger ones do it too. They are strict about the 40 kids per session rule, so you may not get in after waiting in the line. We lined up about 30 minutes before the start time and there were about 20 kids ahead of us already. Our kids made the oatmeal apple raisin cookies. There are 10 kids per table and each one adds one ingredient to the bowl. When they're done, each table assistant brings over a basket of individually wrapped cookies to hand out to the kids. These are "healthy" cookies (no sugar) which our kids ended up throwing away. Usually they love healthy foods but the cookies are rather dry and tasteless. But, the experience is fun since Goofy is there "helping" out!

 

[tinkermell]

We went last Sunday and my 4 yearl old and 7 year old participated. They say that kids have to be 5+ but as long as they're with an older sibling or you reassure them that your child will be fine participating while you stand behind the parent rope, then they seemed to let younger ones do it too. They are strict about the 40 kids per session rule, so you may not get in after waiting in the line. We lined up about 30 minutes before the start time and there were about 20 kids ahead of us already. Our kids made the oatmeal apple raisin cookies. There are 10 kids per table and each one adds one ingredient to the bowl. When they're done, each table assistant brings over a basket of individually wrapped cookies to hand out to the kids. These are "healthy" cookies (no sugar) which our kids ended up throwing away. Usually they love healthy foods but the cookies are rather dry and tasteless. But, the experience is fun since Goofy is there "helping" out!

I just have to say, what good does a healthy cookie do, if it gets thrown out? A cookie is supposed to be sweet. That's what cookies are. Full of calories and fat, and that is why they tastes so darn good. Sorry If I got off subject, but alot of the food at Disney is getting to the point of losing its taste. I don't eat the good stuff because it's good for me, I eat it because I'm on vacation and having fun. We try to eat healthy when we are back home in the real world. Sorry...vent over.

Now back to the subject.

The Jr. Chef program sounds like alot of fun. I would love for my grandsons to try it. My DD is a 3rd grade teacher, and I do cooking with her students on special occasions to go along with their lessons. The kids love it!! Every single one of them can't wait to do it.

So to be able to do it at DL, would be a real treat. Especially if a certain character shows up to help!!! My grandsons would think that was the living end.

If any of you have time, listen to the Podcast. It has alot of great info on it about the Festival and the Jr. Chef program for inquiring minds.

 

[Ross3half]

Yeah, it tasted like a handful of oats straight from the canister. I had to try it just to see what my kids didn't like since they usually eat anything! If there was any sugar in there, it wasn't much. But, maybe we just got an off batch that day. It's a fun experience for the kids though! I did feel bad for the last family in line that got cut off at the 40-kid mark :-( so be sure to get there a bit early!