Junior Chefs
Small enterprise at a glance.
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.
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"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]."