The Young Ones are Cookin'

Do your children know the difference between an onion and a garlic bulb? Do they know what it means to simmer or saute? Today’s kids know how to program computer games, set up a MySpace page and text their friends with little or no effort. But put them in a kitchen and they’re usually stumped. Jon Beutler and Wendi Dismuke are trying to change all that. As franchise owners of the Young Chefs Academy, 258 East 12200 South, they are teaching a whole new generation the value and fun of homemade cooking.

“It’s more than cooking,” Jon says. “We’re educating these kids about food. There’s a lot of learning and a lot of repetition. Cooking is more than an art form -- it’s just basic values.”

The Young Chefs Academy offers classes for three different age groups. The KinderCooks range in age from 3 to 5 years old. They learn age-appropriate cooking skills combined with nutrition information. The Jr. Chefs classes teach children from 6 to 12 a better understanding of cooking. These classes integrate cooking and creativity to produce exciting dishes. The oldest class, the Sr. Chefs, is for kids 12 years old and older. This class offers a more in-depth culinary experience by introducing advanced cooking techniques and concepts. Classes are held on a weekly basis in one of the two spacious kitchens at the academy.

“The classes are very similar to any other type of class,” Jon says. “The kids are responsible to do pretty much everything. The goal is to introduce children to real cooking.”

Some of this “real cooking” involves making homemade pasta, breads, soups and desserts. The 90-minute classes cover not only basic culinary skills; discussions about nutrition, meal planning and ingredients provide additional knowledge for the students. Upon enrollment, each child receives a backpack, apron, T-shirt and binder to hold all the recipes they’ll be learning.

Membership in the Young Chefs Academy is $40 yearly and classes are $20 each for members. In addition to the regularly scheduled classes, Jon and Wendi have planned mini-camps during the summer. July camps include Campout Cooking Ideas and Fun Summer Treats. A special cooking camp celebrates the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Classes include a focus on Greek and Chinese foods, athlete nutrition and adding American twists to favorite foreign dishes.

“It’s very eye-opening how uneducated kids are about cooking and nutrition,” Jon says. “I can look out my window at my store and all I see are fast-food restaurants. But our food is really good. We have parents come in who are really blown away because the food is so good.”

For a complete schedule of classes or for more information, call 495-2433 or visit www.youngchefsacademy.com.

Highlight provided courtesy of The Valley Journals; written by Peri Kinder.

For more Up & Coming Stories