Like most creative ideas for kids, the seed for Garden City’s new Culinary Clubhouse came from a mom, owner Sally Barrera, who saw an opportunity that wasn’t being met in her community. Inspired by her own children’s love of cooking, she created a space where young chefs could thrive. Two years in the making, Culinary Clubhouse is open, offering weekly 90-minute classes for $259 a month or $75 to drop in.
At a recent session, pasta was on the agenda. Kids hand-rolled ravioli and stuffed it with plain cheese or butternut squash. Sampling (barring any allergies) is encouraged from an “at least try it mindset for picky eaters,” Barrera said. Parents can watch their children through massive glass windows overlooking the two state-of-the-art kitchens. Kids listen, measure, stir, knead, roll, stuff and season their ingredients. For younger age groups, instructors cook each child’s food on the stove for consumption at the end of the class.
Garden City’s Culinary Clubhouse, a cooking school for kids. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
“I’ve always tried to look for something that helps my daughter focus,” said Jacqueline Rodriguez, of Garden City, whose daughter, Juliette, 6, takes classes at the Clubhouse. “Finally, she’s found passion at cooking because she wants to understand what she’s doing and see the final results. That’s been amazing to watch each week.”
Teachers at Culinary Clubhouse are in college, or older, and working toward degrees in either culinary education or child care, with “most having spent time working at a camp, or with kids in some capacity,” Barrera said. “One of our teachers worked as a soccer coach, another owns a day care service.”
Each month carries a theme. October was the fundamentals of baking; November is seasonal fall recipes using ingredients like squash, pumpkin and corn. December covers international European holiday recipes. Students get a recipe binder to collect each week’s dish, plus swag, like a chef’s jacket. Groups are broken up into ages4 to 7, 8 to 12, and teens, with progressively more involved recipes and skills.
Culinary Clubhouse, 690 Stewart Ave., Garden City, 516-201-0677, culinaryclubhouse.com; Open daily, culinary class schedules vary.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
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