Nurturing young chefs
Welcome to Cooking With Phlava's youth cooking classes, where culinary dreams take root. Discover how we empower young individuals with essential life skills, creativity, and a passion for delicious, healthy food. We're excited to have your family join our culinary journey.
Our culinary education programs
At Cooking With Phlava, we offer specialized culinary education programs designed for young aspiring chefs. Our approach focuses on practical skills, nutritional knowledge, and an exploration of diverse cuisines.
Ages 8-18
Our youth programs cater to ages 8-18, with lessons tailored to various skill levels, from beginner to advanced. We also offer family cooking classes for all ages.
What they will learn
Students gain practical skills in knife handling, cooking techniques, nutrition, recipe reading, kitchen safety, and meal planning. We also explore food science and cultural cuisines.
Class durations
Youth classes are 90 minutes to 2 hours long, while family classes are typically 2-3 hours. We offer single sessions, multi-week courses, and exciting summer camps.
Empowering the next generation
Cooking With Phlava is more than just a cooking class. We are building a pathway from the Rockwood kitchen to the professional world, fostering self-sufficiency and confidence in every student.
Education and workforce readiness
Each year, 15-20 Black youth receive 48 hours of structured, professional-grade culinary instruction across 12 sessions. Upon completion, every student receives a documented skills record, a recipe portfolio, and a certificate from Cooking With Phlava. Students aged 13-18 are introduced to kitchen hierarchy, professional conduct, menu planning, and the business of food through hands-on experience in a real professional kitchen.
Health and nutrition literacy
Every lesson integrates nutritional awareness, covering food origins, ingredient interactions, and the impact of cooking methods on nutritional value. Students leave with the knowledge to make informed, empowered choices about what they cook and eat. We also offer scholarships for SE Portland youth to ensure culinary education is accessible. Contact us to learn more.
Hands-on culinary techniques
Our classes are highly hands-on, ensuring every student actively participates in the cooking process. They will receive instruction in identifying and managing common allergens (gluten, dairy, tree nuts, shellfish), preparing allergen-free versions of core dishes, interpreting dietary restriction documentation, preventing cross-contamination, and practicing food safety standards consistent with Oregon Department of Agriculture guidelines.
What your child will master
In our classes, students will learn various culinary arts. In the bakery, they'll master yeast activation, dough hydration, gluten development, bread shaping, and oven management. The pasta kitchen covers scratch pasta dough, rolling technique, sauce ratios, and balancing acidity and fat. In heat and protein, they'll learn Dutch oven braising, the Maillard reaction, knife skills, internal temperature, and food safety. The finale teaches plating and presentation, non-alcoholic mixology, flavor balance, and event execution and hosting.
