Culinary Confidence Cooking Course for Teens

Are you a teen looking to discover your cooking skills and gain confidence in the kitchen? Join us for this exciting 4-session cooking course in the Hudson Valley, specifically designed for young cooks! Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply want to sharpen your skills, this class will help you prepare simple, delicious meals that you can share with family and friends.In a fun and supportive environment, we’ll cover essential cooking techniques and kitchen safety. Each session will focus on a specific culinary technique, where you will receive the basics, a clear demonstration, and ample time for hands-on practice. You'll create and enjoy your lunch each day with cooks your own age. Explore everything from chopping and sautéing to seasoning and grilling. We’ll encourage creativity and answer all your questions, helping you learn from both successes and mistakes.By the end of the course, you'll have a solid foundation of culinary skills and the confidence to experiment in the kitchen and prepare tasty meals on your own. Let’s get cooking!What will we cook?Each session focuses on a singular cooking technique and incorporates some other basics. Our menu (subject to change based on student interest) is as follows. Vegetarian alternatives are available for each session. Note dietary restrictions and preferences when you register.Session 1: Roasting and Seasoning

• Roast Chicken (or Sunchokes) with Pan Sauce Gravy
• Roast Vegetables
• Rosemary Crusted Potatoes

Session 2: Braising and Sautéeing

• Chicken (or White Bean) Piccata
• Braised Mushrooms (and Cod) in Ginger Miso Broth
• Garlicky Greens

Session 3: Cooking Grains and Pasta Dishes

• Asparagus Risotto
• Fried Rice
• Pasta alla Amatriciana or Puttanesca or Cacio e Pepe

Session 4: Grilling

• Balsamic Marinated Vegetables
• Chipotle Garlic Lime Chicken
• Cheeseburgers or Spice Rubbed Pork Chops
• Muhammara (smokey red pepper & walnut sauce) or Fire Roasted Salsa

Concepts that will be covered:

• Roasting
• Braising
• Sautéeing
• Seasoning and Flavor Development
• Cooking Grains
• Pan Sauces, Spreads and Vinaigrettes
• Menu planning
• Improvisational cooking
• Shopping for ingredients
• Choosing the proper tools & equipment
• Seasonality of ingredients
• Time Management
• Kitchen safety and sanitation
• Knife skills (cursory only, we recommend our separate Knife Skills classes for a deeper dive)

What you will achieve

• Create at least four nourishing delicious meals from scratch.
• Practice eight basic cooking techniques.
• Choose the proper tools and kitchen equipment for the job.
• Apply the concepts you learned to a range of ingredients and recipes.
• Increase your confidence as a cook.
• Build a community with other teen cooks.

What is culinary confidence?1. Teaching Table’s 4-session Series focused on Culinary Basics and Simple meals2. The mindset you will develop from participating in Teaching Table’s Culinary Confidence series3. The ability to cook a meal without hesitation or fear 4. The belief that you are capable of feeding yourself and others.

• Four in-person sessions
• Personalized on-demand cooking coaching throughout the course. Your chef is easily accessible via email and text.
• Priority registration for other Teaching Table classes and events (virtual and in-person).
• A Teaching Table apron and bench scraper (when you enroll in the entire course)
• All materials and ingredients
• Clear demonstrations and hands-on cooking
• A sampling of what you made and in most cases, a complete sit-down meal
• Recipes to take home
• Access to an experienced chef who will answer your cooking questions
• Leave the cleanup to us!

Teaching Table prioritizes sourcing local, seasonal, sustainable, and organic ingredients whenever possible. Read more details