By Micaela Williamson
Do you have a budding little chef? Is your child a huge fan of the Food Network? Then let your culinary kid whip up a feast and host a fun, hassle-free birthday party at one of these great Northern Virginia venues.
Amphora Bakery
294 Sunset Park Drive
Herndon, VA, 20170
Be a cake boss and help a professional pastry chef decorate a master birthday cake. Then guests can learn pastry and sugar techniques to decorate their very own 6-inch cake and/or fondant cookies. Deluxe parties can even add on homemade pizza and tea sandwiches.
Champion Chefs
4701 Plank Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
The hands-on parties occur in their special kid-friendly kitchen and are recommended for ages 4-17. Festivities include a personalized menu with an appetizer, entree and dessert; customized invitations; and all party supplies. Plus, the birthday child will love receiving a special keepsake apron for future chef adventures.
Creative Kids Kitchen
(Classes take place in private home in Arlington)
From cupcakes and pizza to less traditional international fare, Creative Kids Kitchen will work with you and your child to plan a customized cooking party. There are even signature spa parties where kids make healthy granola and smoothies and create homemade spa products like lip gloss, bubble bath or bath salts.
Cookology
21100 Dulles Town Circle
Sterling, VA, 20166
Children ages 4-15 can have a delicious time at one of the area’s most popular cooking schools. Events are hands-on and fully customizable based on the child’s age and interests. Cookology will provide all the ingredients, supplies and cleanup, and the kids get to have a blast cooking.
For the budding culinarian
Culinaria Cooking School
110 Pleasant St. NW
Vienna, VA, 22180
Children ages 9 and up who are serious about quality cuisine can hold an event in this charming cooking school in downtown Vienna. Culinaria places importance on using seasonal ingredients and teaches children both proper preparation and presentation of food.
Tiny Chefs
(Mobile parties)
A party professional will visit your home and instruct the kids how to cook a complete meal. Kids get to decorate their own unique chef hats and place mats, and they get copies of all the recipes. While guests nosh and chat, Tiny Chefs takes care of all the dirty dishes.
Micaela Williamson is a coauthor of local travel guide Kid Trips Northern Virginia, an extraordinary resource that provides descriptions, useful information and insider tips for hundreds of local destinations. Micaela is also an award-winning blogger who enjoys supporting area businesses and scouting out family-friendly venues with her two young sons.