Family Cooking Class at the Culinary Institute of America

Raising a budding Julia Child or Jacques Pépin? Or just looking for a more interactive family activity? Register your family (or kids) for a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America.

The CIA at Copia is an offshoot of the renowned culinary academy geared toward food enthusiasts rather than aspiring professionals. The facility in Downtown Napa houses a kitchen shop, garden-to-fork restaurant, exhibit about Julia Child and the Chuck Williams Culinary Museum, which houses kitchen gadgets, cookware and serveware from the founder of Williams-Sonoma. They also offer cooking classes for all ages and cooking ability, including families with school-aged children.

“We love to welcome parents and families for cooking classes at The CIA at Copia,” says Emma Leggat, director of brand marketing. “It’s a fun and different way to learn and create memories together as a family and we often hear from parents that it helps kids build excitement about being more involved in the kitchen at home as well.”

Family-friendly classes. Photo: Victor M. Samuel Photography.

Here are some upcoming offerings — where noted, some are held at their facility in San Antonio, Texas, or New Hyde Park, New York, rather than Napa:

Family Funday Classes are one-topic, one-hour classes for those aged 4 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Tuition ($30) includes one adult and one child; each additional guest (up to four total) is $15.

3/11 Pizza (San Antonio)

Young Chef Classes are five-hour hands-on classes where young chefs aged 8–12 learn basic kitchen safety, knife skills and kid-friendly recipes. Kids must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Tuition ($500) includes one adult and one child; up to one other guest can register for an additional $250. All participants receive a CIA logo apron.

3/13 The Young Chef (San Antonio)

3/14 The Young Chef (Hyde Park)

America’s Test Kitchen – Family-friendly classes. Photo: Victor M. Samuel Photography

America’s Test Kitchen & CIA Kids Camp are either one- or two-date, three-hour classes. Young chefs aged 8–12 will be signed in by an adult and spend the day with instructors in the CIA kitchen learning fundamental cooking and baking techniques and preparimg kid-tested, kid-approved recipes. Tuition ($150) includes one child for one-day camp, $295 tuition includes one child for two-day camp and participants will receive a CIA logo apron.

3/12 (San Antonio)

3/28 (San Antonio)

Parent and Teen Hands-on Classes are five-hour hands-on classes where chef instructors teach the fundamentals of the topics covered. Parents and teens work as a team to complete a recipe. Open to ages 13–18, must be accompanied by an adult over 18; all adults must be accompanied by a teen aged 13–18. Tuition ($500) includes one parent and one teen; another guest can register for $250 additional and all participants receive a CIA logo apron.

2/29 Parent and Teen Baking at Home – The Desserts (San Antonio)

3/14 Parent and Teen Creative Cupcakes (Hyde Park)

Parent and Teen Boot Camps are two-day, five-hour classes perfect for getting comfortable in the kitchen and learning how to handle a knife and cut in a safe manner with the help of chef instructors. All adults must be accompanied by a teen aged 13–18; all teens must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Tuition ($1,500) includes one parent and one teen; $770 tuition includes one guest. All participants will receive a CIA logo chef’s coat. Check the website for upcoming dates.

Family-friendly classes. Photo: Victor M. Samuel Photography