Young Chefs Academy

[Southern4sure]

Young Chefs Academy opened it doors here locally and I just came across it online. I have not heard anything about it good or bad.

Has anyone used this place for a birthday party? My youngest will celebrate his 11th birthday and he tells everyone his career is to be a chef. The website looks like it would be alot of fun but I'm curious about price and it is it worth it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Southern4sure]

Anyone?

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Young Chefs Academy opened it doors here locally and I just came across it online. I have not heard anything about it good or bad.

Has anyone used this place for a birthday party? My youngest will celebrate his 11th birthday and he tells everyone his career is to be a chef. The website looks like it would be alot of fun but I'm curious about price and it is it worth it.

Thanks in advance.

DS4 went to a party there a few months ago. It was great, but from what I heard, it is the most expensive party around. I think it was $25 a head, or something crazy like that.

 

[Southern4sure]

I plan on calling in the morning to get some info....We might have a mini-party (up to 5 friends) at that price.

Thanks for the info.

 

[mumto2]

I think we paid $15 or $20 for the trip. I was a chaperone. When the teacher booked, she ordered the pizza party and was told that it would be enough for each child to have lunch (YCA would provide the juice). Teacher confirmed that the children were 6-8 (Montessori classroom), YCA assured teacher that in their experience it was a good lunch. Kids made their pizzas, they were about the size of a bread and butter plate .

All of them, even the eat-like-a-bird kids were looking for more food. We had always planned to take the class to the park after YCA - we still did that, but I went to Little Ceasar's to buy 4 of their hot-n-ready pizzas - we had a picnic in the park. So, for an 11 year-old, I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

We had themed DDs party as a cooking party (prior to YCA trip), and while it was a bit wild, it was a ton of fun and something I would definitely recommend. We made grilled pizzas (I made the dough ahead of time, but the kids shaped it and added sauce/toppings). The kids also made chocolate crinkle cookies that I put in nice cellophane bags and attached two recipe cards - one for pizza and one for the cookies. DD was 7, so we also did the decorate an apron craft, but for an older boy, you could have them make the dough (kneading is a lot of work, but can be fun), add a salad or veggie tray to the mix, or have them make something else age appropriate. We have the Cooking with Kids book from Williams Sonoma and the Rachael Ray 30-minute meals for kids - both have great ideas!

The party at home probably cost a bit less than the YCA party (not much, but a bit), but I think the kids had more fun, and definitely more to eat. Frankly, I would find it embarrassing to send a kid home hungry the way YCA did.

 

[leafette]

My daughter (age 7) takes classes there, and she wants to have her birthday there as well. I think the regular price is $250 for 10 kids, but she gets $50 off because she's a student there. They make a pizza, get paper goods, juice boxes, etc. All of the kids also get a chef's hat and their recipe card for the pizza. The birthday child gets either an apron or t-shirt. The party is 1.5 hours. They print and mail out all invitations. All we have to do is bring a cake. They also have other options where you can get treat bags, etc. for more.

 

[Southern4sure]

Thanks thanks thanks for the info. I knew the Dis would help....

 

[sha_lyn]

We had a bad experience with them.
Our home school group went there on a field trip.
For $15 per kid the were handed a lump of pre-made dough. Shaped it into a pretzel shape, then sat around and did nothing for the 15-20 min the dough baked. Then the "pretzels" were passed around with a shaker of cinnamon sugar. They also got juice boxes,but that was it. There wasn't any teaching in this "class"

 

[DVCLiz]

DD had her 11th birthday there, and also took a year of classes. She loved it!! I'd say if you go into it looking for the "experience" you'll be happier than if you weigh out the individual components and become unhappy over the size of the pizza, amount of food, etc. Just bring a bigger birthday cake and some ice cream to fill in. I think it's a neat idea, and DD loved it every time. Nothing wrong with letting kids see that cooking can be fun and rewarding instead of a chore that only MOM should do!!!

 

[sha_lyn]

I plan on calling in the morning to get some info....We might have a mini-party (up to 5 friends) at that price.

Thanks for the info.

From reading this
http://www.youngchefsacademy.com/stores/store_page.php?franchise_id=79&page=birthdayparties

I get the idea that they have a set price, and it is for up to 25 kids. I don't think a "mini" party is an option, with out spending the same amount as you would for 25 kids.

 

[Poohnatic]

My son attends classes at one nearby. They are franchised, and YMMV as far as what you get for the price. I've seen what kids would get for a party here and it's enough for the average kid (my 7yo can eat). However, I could also see where a franchisee would want to cut corners on it.

I probably would recommend giving him a gift of a month of classes, rather than putting all that money into the party. Have one at home or elsewhere. I will say that my son had been talking of being a chef for a long time and the classes have fueled that passion for cooking!

Suzanne

 

[sha_lyn]

The link I gave above is for one that wasn't opened when we went. Hoever from what was being said when we were at the fieldtrip, I think the same person owns both.
I did find a menu for their classes (the new one who's link is in myprevious post), and I have to say the menus were much better than what we were offered. I also noticed they offer homeschool classes. I like the idea of YCA, but the experience was lacking. DD complained she was bored (the instructor didn't interact with the kids while the dough was baking) and she wanted to know why they didn't get to measure or anything. Heck for a Xmas dinner she was doubling a recipe for me in her head, then checking the math on paper. I mainly was there to make certain she was safe while she cook (ie I drained the pasta)

 

[Southern4sure]

My son attends classes at one nearby. They are franchised, and YMMV as far as what you get for the price. I've seen what kids would get for a party here and it's enough for the average kid (my 7yo can eat). However, I could also see where a franchisee would want to cut corners on it.

I probably would recommend giving him a gift of a month of classes, rather than putting all that money into the party. Have one at home or elsewhere. I will say that my son had been talking of being a chef for a long time and the classes have fueled that passion for cooking!

Suzanne

Not to be nosey but what price are the classes? I have alot of questions when I call in the morning. I may just go in person and look it over. Im really excited about finding this.

 

[leafette]

We pay $79/month for one class per week, at 1.5 hours a class. They usually make 3 recipes in each week's class.

 

[Poohnatic]

Not to be nosey but what price are the classes? I have alot of questions when I call in the morning. I may just go in person and look it over. Im really excited about finding this.

Our prices were about what leafette posted. I paid for 8 months of classes at once, so we got a month free-ended up somewhere around 15 a week for prepaying the year.

We're getting the whole shebang here. Measuring, nutritional info and even info on substituting ingredients. The instructors we've had (there are two lead teachers) keep things going and are good multi taskers. They do try to fit a lot into 90 minutes. As a result, the franchise owner has unofficially made them 2 hour classes.

There is a lot of interaction back and forth between the instructor and the kids in my son's class. My DH feels it was a lot of money for the class, but I'm looking at it as a building block for a 4th generation foodie . He knows enough in the kitchen now that he definitely won't be living on ramen noodles when he goes off to college, lol.

Suzanne