bambini spotlight: Whisked Away In Fun at Frog Legs Kids Culinary Academy

By Noelle Graf

Kids love to cook and time spent in the kitchen can be fun and a great way to learn—not only about food and nutrition but also about planning, organization, co-operation, and patience. Frog Legs Kids Culinary Academy (KCA) in Seattle teaches all that and more, as kids from ages three to twelve learn to measure and mix ingredients, roll out dough, and whip up delicious treats and batches of fun.

Bambini Kids Photography recently had the opportunity to stir up some fun in the Frog Legs KCA kitchen. Visitors know they are in for a special treat from the moment they step onto the inviting front porch and are greeted by the adorable Frog Legs logo and hand-written daily menu. Through the spatula-handled door you’ll find a mixture of modern appliances and vintage charm, where brightly-colored mixing bowls stand ready for fresh, fabulous ingredients, ceramic canisters hold colorful spatulas and mixing spoons, and wicker baskets cradle wooden rolling pins. Children immediately feel at home in this warm, cozy kitchen.

The brain child of Laura Vida Thompson, this unique cooking school for kids opened it’s oven doors in August 2008. Laura’s love of cooking started at a young age, and manifested into a career centered around her love of food, first as a prep and line cook for a four-star hotel, then as a gourmet food buyer, product developer, and consultant for several major coffee companies. Laura also owned the Firefly Fandango gourmet cookie company, and currently teaches adult culinary classes at Sur Le Table.

Throughout her busy career Laura says she realized that many families are simply too busy to cook, but she believes that cooking together is the perfect opportunity to slow down and find joy in the moment. She loves spending time in the kitchen, especially with her own children, and knows that kids find something wondrous about turning simple ingredients into delicious meals and treats. Classes at Frog Legs KCA are centered around this magical transformation.

Each class begins with a sprinkle of playtime and a dash of active learning; then it’s time to mix it up! While the kids wait for their treats to finish cooking or baking they can let off steam in the play kitchen, at the coloring and play dough table, or in the kid-friendly backyard. Classes end with a tasting and discussion, and a story relating to the day’s menu. Kids even get to take home a sample of their creation to show off to their families.

Frog Legs KCA classes highlight the flavors of the seasons. Planned menus for fall include roasted butternut squash and apple soup, farm stand vegetable hummus, ricotta and blueberry pancakes, pumpkin pie pinwheels, and apple upside-down cake. It’s a great opportunity to introduce children to delicious and healthful new foods.

Classes are held once a week for eight weeks, and are separated by age groups: The Sweet Potatoes, ages 3-5; The Soufflers and The Mac ‘N Cheesers, ages 5-10; and The Ham Bones, ages 6-12.

Individual Saturday classes are also available and focus on seasonal menus, such as the upcoming “Thanksgiving Sweets and Treats” class, where kids will create (and gobble up!) Tom Turkey cupcakes, chocolate pilgrim cookies, and old-fashioned caramel-dipped apples.

Frog Legs KCA also hosts birthday parties, and offers party packages that can be customized to any child’s taste. From petite princess sandwiches and pink lemonade fizzlers to pirate pizza and cannonball cupcakes, Frog Legs KCA has the all the ingredients to whip up a delightful batch of birthday fun.

For party package details, upcoming classes, pricing, and registration visit the Frog Legs website at http://www.froglegskca.com/. For more information, call 206.954.9094 or email info@froglegscka.com.

Noelle Graf is a freelance writer specializing in features about people, places, and things. Visit her blog or email noelle823@yahoo.com for writing services.