Junior Chefs

Someone's in the kitchen . . . and it's not who you think. Though some adults may shudder at the notion of cooking anything more advanced than a microwave dinner, that isn't stopping one San Diego business from serving up entrepreneurial success by catering to the culinary aspirations of kids. Consider it the hot menu item of the month: kits to help kids cook.

"It's a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen," says Nancy Reynolds, 36, who launched Kids Cooking Club with partner Deborah Schneider, 40, in 1995. "Kids love it."

Boasting a national membership of several hundred kids, Kids Cooking Club sends out monthly projects that come complete with recipes, ingredients and directions to get kids (and their parents) cooking up a storm. Pasta, pizza and tortillas are but a few of the dishes Kids Cooking Club members have prepared.

"I think it ties in with family values and getting back to basics," says Reynolds, reflecting on the positive response to not only her membership business but also the Kids Cooking Kits she and Schneider have placed in specialty gift stores throughout the country. "People are so busy, they want to make whatever time they can spend with their kids [memorable]."

This article was originally published in the April 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Junior Chefs.