Kids cooking school coming to Winter Garden

Julie Burleson was a seasoned entrepreneur when she started Young Chefs Academy.

She came up with the idea for the academy while she was working on another business that allowed her to serve home-cooked meals to the community. While she was working on preparing a meal, her 4-year-old son asked if he could help. 

“It was the ‘lightbulb’ moment when I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, a children’s cooking school,’” she said. 

In 2003, Young Chefs Academy opened under the name Mud Pie Cooking School for Kids. Though Burleson liked the franchising model, she didn’t originally think of Young Chefs Academy as something she would franchise. But one year later, she started opening other locations.

Today, there are more than 20 locations in the United States and nine internationally. 

“This was a business that there wasn’t anything like it,” Burleson said. “I started it from the ground.”

Young Chefs Academy recently sold its first Florida location in Seminole, and the new owner is going through training with Young Chefs Academy.

Now, the business has its sights on locations in Orlando, including one in Winter Garden. Young Chefs Academy pinpointed Winter Garden because of it suburbs and the strong family presence. 

“We just could tell there’s a strong growth market there,” Burleson said. 

The Winter Garden campus is still in the beginning stages of planning. Currently, the company is taking and reviewing franchisee inquiries. 

The company reviews inquiries out of its office based in Waco, Texas, to see if the person applying is the right fit. Owners must be trainable and passionate about the company’s mission — teaching the joy and value of cooking to children. 

A team based in Waco also writes weekly curriculum and recipes for Young Chefs Academy. The team consists of certified teachers, chefs and food scientists. 

“We’re a real cooking school,” Burleson said, “So we focus on true culinary skills, but that’s just one part of it. They learn invaluable life lessons in addition to culinary skills — from team building, to history, culture, geography. There’s a sprinkling of those lessons throughout every classroom experience.” 

Each location requires minimal staffing — a full-time owner and manager and three to four part-time hourly teachers.

None of the employees at local locations is required to be certified chefs, but they do need to be knowledgable about cooking. Certified chefs have already written the recipes and curriculum. Burleson said many teachers are certified chefs and work at Young Chefs Academy on the side. 

Locations hold weekly classes, mostly comprising students ages 7 to 14. Members are automatically enrolled in the Master Chef Program, a three-year program that leads to the title of “Master Chef.”

Young Chef Academy also hosts birthday parties, teaching kids to make recipes like homemade pizza, as well as summer camps. Preschool and homeschool classes are hosted during the school day. 

“We’re excited about Orlando and Winter Garden,” Burleson said. 

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at [email protected].