6 Pittsburgh cooking schools where kids can embrace their inner chef

Photo above by Brooke Lark via Unsplash. 

With TV shows such as “Master Chef Junior” and “Nailed It” gaining popularity among young children, parents are looking for ways to help their young foodies sharpen their culinary skills in age-appropriate cooking classes. Kidsburgh has you covered with a list of stores, organizations and cooking schools that offer classes for your future chef. 

1. Gaynor’s School of Cooking

This is the gold standard of Pittsburgh cooking schools. Gaynor studied under Peter Kump, who was the prodigy of world renowned chef James Beard. Your kids will be in great hands at a school that offers a variety of cooking classes for kids, including pizza making, cookie decorating and cake decorating. There are also summer camps and classes offered on school holidays such as MLK Day and President’s Day. Located on East Carson Street, Gaynor’s School of Cooking also offers “mommy and me” classes for children ages 3-5 and kids birthday parties. Visit their website or call 412.325.2703 for more information. 

2. Flour Power Studios

Flour Power Studios in Allison Park has something for preschoolers through adults. Children’s weekly classes, summer camps, workshops on days when schools are closed and birthday parties are just a few of their offerings. Tuition for the weekly classes includes recipe handouts and all supplies, so the meals can be recreated at home. Summer camp themes include sessions titled “Flavortown Express,” “Street Foods,” and “Happiness is Homemade.” Kids will also eat while they’re cooking: Tuition includes snacks, lunches and a recipe booklet. There is also a “parents’ night out” option, where kids do an evening class while their parents enjoy an evening off-duty. Visit their website for more information.

3. Crate Kitchenware Store and Cooking School

If your child might take a cooking class and immediately decide they need more kitchen equipment, Crate Kitchenware Store and Cooking School is the place for you! The winning recipe of Crate is that it’s one part kitchenware emporium and one part cooking schools. In addition to standard cooking classes, they offer kids summer camps with enticing titles like “Around the World,” “Sweet and Savory,” and “Road Trip USA.” Visit their website for more information. 

4. Sweetwater Center for The Arts

Sweetwater Center for The Arts has a long history of offering culinary classes for people of all ages. In addition to offering adult and child-aged cooking parties, their regular course listings include cooking decorating, pasta making, pizza baking, and knife handling skills. Summer culinary camps are also available, including “baking basics” and a more advanced high school intensive culinary camp that will teach skills such as sauteeing, grilling, boiling, blanching, egg cookery, roasting, baking and more. Visit their website for more information.

5. Chef Alekka

Chef Alekka is a local chef who was classically trained in French pastry at The Le Cordeon Bleu, owned her own culinary school for several years, and now offers cooking classes to clients in their homes. Her menu of options include knife skills, seasonal appetizers, candy making, pasta from scratch, and cupcake decorating. Visit https://www.chefalekka.com/ for more information. 

6. Pittsburgh-area libraries

The libraries aren’t just for reading anymore! Local libraries have been offering cooking classes and competitions in their teen departments. Keep your eyes peeled on your library’s teen department page to see what they have to offer. Moon Library has offered a teen cupcake decorating competition, Sewickley Public Library’s teen department has “Global Kitchen” workshops happening on July 13 and July 27, and the Upper St Clair Library has a teen cooking club with upcoming event titles such as “Will it Waffle,” “Air Fryer Churros,” and “Basil Pesto and Homemade Pasta.” Visit your local library website to see if they have something similar cooking!