Summer Culinary

Summer Culinary runs week-long cooking and baking camps for teens aged 12 to 17, and its Seattle program is based at the University of Washington. Students spend 10am to 6pm in commercial kitchens. Mornings start with a chef demo, and students follow along, practicing anything from knife work to rolling sushi. Afternoons go to recipe sessions with a Pacific Northwest focus. The week ends with a light-hearted cooking competition on the last day.

The curriculum covers knife skills and kitchen fundamentals, savory dishes such as seared proteins and pan sauces, plating, and baking and pastry. No experience is needed. Professional chef instructors gauge each student's level and build from there.

Families pick a sleepaway or commuter track. Residential students take staff-led evening outings to Pike Place Market, Capitol Hill, Fremont and the waterfront. Tuition covers meals, a personalized chef jacket and a digital recipe book. The Seattle program holds a 5 rating from 4 Google reviews.