1. ABC Cooking Studio
The famed cooking studio from Japan teaches more than just ingredients and cooking techniques to children. It also weaves in the relationship between food and science. Kids get to learn to cook three items from scratch in the monthly menu. The oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) is accompanied with the house-made mayonnaise and coleslaw, while the Instagram-worthy meatball rice bowl that is fashioned in the form of a teddy bear is served with a fruit cocktail. The corn-themed menu includes a corn pizza, popcorn and corn tea. Each class is limited to four children, aged from four to eight years old.
2. Butter & Bake
Children get to develop their fine-motor coordination as they mix the batter, sift flour and roll out dough during a bake-out session. That’s what Butter & Bake baking school hopes to tap on in its lessons. Some of the sweet treats include Tsum Tsum cookies that are fashioned after the adorable Disney characters, baked cheese tarts, Kit Kat cake and rainbow-hued chiffon cake. The school also organises kids parties centred around the baking session. Best of all, parents get to join in the baking fun for free.
3. ToTT
Parents and kids can bond and cook together in the Junior Chef series by kitchenware shop ToTT. Looking for festive bakes to bring for your next Christmas potluck party? It is still not too late as classes for reindeer-themed cupcakes and Christmas tree macarons run till 23 December. During the regular lessons, kids can get some hands-on action with making carbonara pasta, lasagne and cutesy desserts such as piggy emoji cupcakes. Want to hone their multitasking skills? There is a Three Course Kiddie Meal course that teaches them to make a complete meal that comprises steak with mushroom sauce, potato gratin and brownies. Participants also get to use kitchen equipment and utensils from ToTT.
4. Hungry Mummies
Vegetarian children do not need to feel left out. Hungry Mummies has holiday classes catered to kids who do not eat meat. They get to learn wholesome and hearty vegetarian dishes such as Chinese lettuce wraps with mushrooms, veggie shepherd’s pie and apple oat crumble. There is also a Mexican twist with vegetarian dishes such as corn and avocado salsa and huevos rancheros, a Mexican breakfast dish that consists of fried eggs, charred corn, flour tortillas and a salsa fresca. There are also Japanese- and South American-themed classes. The four-year-old cooking school also dishes out tips on meal planning and budgeting.
Looking for ways to occupy the little ones with food? Head to the Foodie Boot Camp by The Little Things. The three-day programmes are usually themed. For the December Boot Camp (till 19 December), kids get to whip up a different cuisine every day. They include Korean dishes such as japchae (glass noodles) and parfait with dagaiku (honey and sweet potato) and Western dishes such as Fish and Chips, Oreo milkshake and lamington (a popular chocolate-coated sponge cake in Australia). There is also a Disney-themed bootcamp, with confections fashioned after Mickey Mouse and Cookie Monster. The brainchild of former pre-school teacher Emily Yeo and home cook Valerie Lee, The Little Things runs programmes that cultivate independence and confidence among children through food. Children can also try out meal planning and go shopping for ingredients in the markets.
