AlwaysInformed: Claremont Cooking Academy, Cooking Camp for Kids

The Gluttoness — July 02, 2009

What most people don’t know about Scott Conant, the acclaimed Executive Chef of Scarpetta, is that he took his first cooking class when he was eleven years old. It’s often during these formative years that children can focus their passions, especially when given the chance to explore different avenues. If your child is interested in cooking, there’s a kid-friendly cooking camp that could be perfect for them: Claremont Prep’s Claremont Cooking Academy (view site).

Aimed at children 8-13 years old, the academy includes trips to the Union Square Market, Chinatown and The French Culinary Institute. The curriculum includes instruction in: bread baking; making sauces; soups and salads; the preparation of meats, poultry and fish; menu planning; food safety; knife skills; and the art of presentation. Claremont Cooking Academy runs from July 6-10 and July 20-24 and costs $675 per week. Aside from individualized instruction, the fee covers materials, daily meals, off-site excursions, and necessary tools and toque—a requisite for any budding chef. On the final day, campers demonstrate their new skills by cooking lunch for the proud parents.

Who knows, given the chance to flex his or her culinary muscles, your child could be the next Mario Batali, just look where Scott Conant ended up. For enrollment, contact Claremont’s Camp Director Steve Levin at 212-232-0266 (ex. 254).