It’s a momentous day for any kid when they’re let loose in the kitchen for the first time with some cake mix and a spatula. But children who live in Abu Dhabi have the chance to learn much more than that. Several hotels, restaurants and companies regularly host cookery courses for littles ones and three of them just happen to be taking place in the city in the next couple of weeks. So if you think your tiny terrors could be the next Gordon Ramsay (minus the bad language), we suggest you cook up a treat at one of these classes.
Lana’s Partiperfect
Tucked away behind Marina Mall is Lana’s Partiperfect, a company who do catering and event planning. Most importantly for the little ’uns of the nation’s capital, they also hold cookery courses and they’re running them until April 14. ‘We offer a variety of kid-friendly food such as chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, individual lasagnes, meatballs, cupcakes, fruit skewers, muffins and smoothies,’ says Lana Nasser, the owner of Lana’s Partiperfect. Lana adds that it’s not about eating junk food. ‘It’s about healthy food made fun,’ she says. ‘Healthy eating starts in the kitchen. It is important for kids to see how their food gets prepared and how to make the right food choices. It will also encourage kids to spend more time in the kitchen with their parents, which I think is a great family activity.’
The good news is they actively encourage us grown-ups to join in as well. ‘We expect them to get involved if their kids are younger or might be a little intimidated. Of course they should also let their kids be and experiment.’ Lana, who started teaching kids three years ago, says where the classes are held is what makes them unique. ‘The best part about the class is that they will be taking it in a professional catering kitchen, where they will experience first-hand how food is prepared, stored and cooked.’
www.partiperfect.ae (02 681 0090).
Emirates Palace
One of the city’s most famous hotels is hosting a Junior Cooking Club on April 13 at 2pm. The course costs Dhs100 and will be run by executive pastry chef Alexander Haebe. ‘Our cooks will be making chocolate mousse and chicken salad sandwiches,’ he says. ‘The kids will prepare, arrange and finish them all by themselves after we show them how to do it. Every child will experience real cooking.’ Attendees must be between the ages of seven and 12. ‘They will learn how to have an awareness for healthy food and how to have fun while preparing food.’ Chef Haebe says his experience of teaching his kids to cook at home will be an advantage. ‘I have two children and we cook together at least once a week. Pizza, fruit jelly, muffins, cupcakes, cookies. They love to barbecue and are amazing little chefs.’
Emirates Palace (02 690 7999).
Api Cae Gourmet
This Italian restaurant just off the Corniche near 30th Street has run many children’s cooking classes since it opened in early 2012 and they’ve also got a few lined up for April, starting with a burgers class for three-five and six-12 year olds on April 10, and a cupcakes-themed fondant decoration class for five-12 year olds on April 14 and 17. Do your kids like Italian grub? There’s a pizza class on April 15. Saad Al Abdeen, managing partner at Api Cae, claims all children taking part will get plenty of hands-on training. ‘To step into the shoes of a real chef you need to learn how to create a meal from a recipe, which helps the little ones develop skills like maths, how to work in teams and how pleasant cooking really is,’ he says. ‘We usually start our class with an introduction to kitchen safety, equipment, different food groups and how to recognise foods they should choose or avoid, ingredients and steps on how to prepare. Most of our classes include decoration which gives our cooks the chance to show how artistic they really are.’ Parents are encouraged to get involved as well. ‘Our team provides for each chef-to-be an Api Cae apron and a chef’s hat,’ he adds. ‘From kids and parent we expect to bring their smile and will to learn.’
Api Cae Gourmet, contact denitsa@apicae.com for details (055 565 9411).
