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Junior Chef Stars

The Premier Cooking School for Kids and Teens Main menu

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FAQ

General FAQ

What is the format of your classes?

We offer two different formats: Hands On and Demonstration. Majority of our classes are 1.5 hours in duration. You will be given a tasting size portion of all the dishes prepared during the demonstration style class. We will also provide you with recipes for all the menu items.

Hands On: These are full participation classes. Students take part in practicing techniques and preparing the menu items. We limit these classes to 12 participants.

Demonstration: Designed as an observation class, participants watch while chefs explain and show recipe preparation and cooking techniques. Class is limited to 15 people.

What is your cancellation policy for classes?

We understand that unanticipated events happen occasionally in everyone’s life. Business meetings, family functions, car problems, and illness are just a few reasons why one might consider canceling an appointment.

In our desire to be effective and fair to all of our clients and out of consideration for our Chefs/ Staff time, we have adopted the following policies:

  • 48 hour advance notice is required when canceling a spot in one of our classes or camps. This allows the opportunity for someone else to use this space.
  • If you are unable to give us 48 hours advance notice you will be charged the full amount of your scheduled class or camp.

No-shows:
Anyone who either forgets or consciously chooses to forgo their class or camp for whatever reason will be considered a “no-show”. They will be charged for their missed class or camp and future service will be denied until payment is made.

Is there an age limit?

Kid’s classes are limited to children between the ages of 7 to 11.

Our Teen classes range in age between 12 to 17 and adult classes are for persons 18 years and older.

Family classes are typically based upon ages 7 and up unless otherwise noted.

What should I wear?

For all Hands-On, Kids and Teen classes: we ask that you wear comfortable, casual clothing and closed-toed/rubber soled shoes and preferably have any long hair tied back.

Camps FAQ

What do we need to bring to camp each day?

During your camp we ask that students bring a water bottle each day, a hair tie if necessary and a snack. If your Junior Chef is staying with us for the whole day and joining us for lunch, please bring something to eat. Yes, we do cook, and they are allowed to eat that for lunch, but if you’ve got a picky eater who might not like what we are making, we want to make sure they aren’t going hungry.

How does a summer camp work with Junior Chef Stars?

Our camps are all 3 hours long & we usually make 2 – 3 full menu items per day depending on what they are. Within these recipes we also teach our students about the ingredients and tools we are using each day through various different activities. We will provide your student with an apron to wear everyday as well as a reusable plastic container to take their creations home in each day. We do ask that you reuse these and bring them back clean each day in an effort to be a bit more eco-friendly. For more specific details on each camp, refer to the camp descriptions.

How do I sign up for a camp?

Easy! Visit our Calendar online and find your camp, or visit the Parks & Recreation Departments website where you live and you can sign up through them as well.

Will we receive a copy of all of the recipes my Junior Chef made during his/her camp?

Yes! At the end of each camp your chef will receive a recipe booklet with all of the recipes they made.

How do you accommodate different food allergies or dietary restrictions?

We understand that each child and families dietary restrictions may be different and we make every effort to accommodate these needs to the best of our ability. When registering for one of our camps, it is extremely important that you tell us about your restrictions so we can make the proper accommodations as needed. Please be aware that there may be certain recipes we may not be able to alter, however, we will always do our best.

Where does my child go in between camps if they are signed up for both?

Your child will be supervised by our staff or by the parks and rec staff, this will depend on your city and the arrangements you made during registration.

What if I pick up my child late? Or need to drop off early?

Early drop can be accommodated as long as arrangements are made for this in advance at the time of registration. We also understand that things happen and we all run late, however we ask that if you are running late please alert our staff so we are aware. Any student picked up beyond 15 minutes after class has ended may incur a $25 charge if our staff was not alerted.

Will my son or daughter be able to bring food home from camp?

Yes. We will send them home with whatever they made each day in their reusable containers, assuming they haven’t eaten all of the yummy dishes before they get it home. Trust us, it happens!

Party FAQ

What do the parties include?

Our parties include all the food items chosen by you and your junior chef prior to theevent, our provided cooking equipment, two chefs, aprons to wear, and a great time!

Decorations are not included, however can be provided for an additional fee. Aprons and chef hats to keep are available to purchase.

How do your parties work and how much do they cost?

Most of our parties run off the same guideline, meaning they all include an entrée, dessert item to either decorate or partially cook and a beverage. For example, Gnocchi with Marinara Sauce, Italian Cream Cupcake to decorate and Italian Soda. We try to allow our Junior Chefs to do as much as possible when it comes to cooking within our allotted period.

Our Baking parties and “Competition Style” parties are a bit different in that one is all dessert based and the other does not require you to choose an actual menu since it is competition style and students can create their own menu.

Our general cooking parties usually range from $55.00 per chef. Baking and Competition style parties are generally $65.00 – $75.00 per chef. These prices rarely vary in cost unless special requests are made outside of what normally is included.

How long do your parties last?

Our parties usually last 1.5 – 2 hours long on average, again, depending on the menu chosen. If your party is hosted at your home, our staff will arrive 45 minutes to 1 hour prior to event start time to allow for set up.

How do you accommodate food allergy requests?

We always do our very best to accommodate all dietary restrictions, whether it be allergy related or for religious or personal choices. We are a 100% nut free facility and never use them for any event or class we host. Should you have a need for special dietary accommodations, please let our staff know at the time of booking so this request can be accommodated.

Where will our party be held? My home or your studio? Is there a difference?

Our Parties can be held at your home OR our studio. The choice is yours. Should you choose to host it at your home we will provide all necessary cooking equipment that would be needed to host your event. Please note that there is a $150.00 traveling fee for all in home parties.

If I host it at my home does your staff clean up the mess, and what would I need to provide?

Yes, our staff will leave your home as clean as we found it. We provide all necessary equipment & food needed for the party, the only thing we may use depending on your menu choice, would be your sink and your oven should it be required.

Should we bring a cake or our own dessert?

This is completely up to you. We do not provide a cake, only the dessert that is included in your package. If you would like to
use the dessert item made to sing Happy Birthday, you are more than welcome do so.

Should we bring our own decorations or do you provide them?

We do not provide decorations for parties although our room is well decorated already. We can provide extra décor at an additional fee if the request is made at the time of booking. When bringing decor, please keep in mind this is a kitchen facility and certain decorations may not be allowed for safety reasons. Should you have any questions about your decor please feel free to reach out to your event coordinator.

My child’s friends have never cooked before, is this ok?

Absolutely! We are a cooking school after all. Before the beginning of each party, our chefs will go over kitchen safety, cleanliness, and staying organized while cooking. It’s a great way to introduce kids into the kitchen.

Is there a price difference if the event is held at our home versus your studio?

Yes. We do charge a traveling fee of $150.00.

Not all kids attending will be around the same age, is that ok?

Yes. We know that sometimes our party host may have a younger or older sibling that would like to participate. Most of the time this is not an issue, however, should our staff feel the child is of an inappropriate age for the event that is happening, we do reserve the right to ask the child not participate for safety reasons.

Do you have a minimum and maximum number of kids you can host?

Yes. Our minimum for ALL events is 10. You are not required to have 10 children attend, however, there is a paid minimum of 10 kids that must be met. Our studio maximum is 20 kids per event. Should you be hosting your event elsewhere and feel like you may be able to hold more than 20 kids, we are usually able to accommodate these requests.

How does the process work once I decide to book?

Pretty simple! We take all necessary information about your event and a credit card to hold it. Once we have this we will email you our “Terms & Conditions and Release of Liability”, this must be signed and returned to us no later than 5 days prior to your event. That’s it.

Are we allowed to bring outside food for snacks or appetizers for parents?

Yes. You may bring extra snacks and appetizers, we do not provide paper products for these items. We will provide additional catering and snack options for your party at an additional fee. For a menu of the food we provide, all made in house by our amazing chefs, please ask your event coordinator.

If I told you I would have a specific number of kids at the time of booking, but a few don’t show up, will I be charged?

We try to give you as much time as possible to confirm how many guests will be attending. One of our staff members will call you 48 hours prior to your event to confirm your final head count. The number we are given at that time is the number of students you will be responsible for paying for.

Junior Chef Box FAQ

How do I get my box?

The day, time & location are listed in your city’s Parks & Rec Guide. Pick up day & time will vary by location. We do contactless pick up. The day before your session is to start you will receive a “Welcome Letter” from us with additional details.

What does my box include?

Every ingredient is included in the box that you will need except: salt, black pepper, oil and cooking spray. We find that these ingredients are readily available in the pantries of our families. You will receive one recipe that will create a meal for up to four people.

What equipment do I need to complete the recipes?

There is no specialty equipment that you are required to buy. However, if you have it great! For example, we have shown our families how to make homemade gnocchi with a gnocchi board and a fork. We have demonstrated for our families how to seal homemade wontons with a pastry brush and our fingers. Junior Chef Box is created with the beginner and the advanced chef in mind!

What type of recipes are we to expect?

We pride ourselves on authentic cooking. We use real knives, we go over different cutting techniques, authentic recipes and we try to offer a variety of different cooking techniques and introduce a range of ingredients and cultural recipes. You may review the Recipe Page for our past yummy recipes that we’ve cooked in the past.

How do we receive our recipe cards?

Each week we include a digital recipe card. This allows us to save the planet and for our families to create a log of their favorite recipes.

Do we need to log in to zoom or another virtual class?

No, we realize now more than ever every family is busy with different schedules. We did not want to have a live class and dictate when you had dinner. However, we have started offering a pre-recorded video for our families that would like to follow along. You can visit our Junior Chef Stars YouTube Channel to see our most recent recipes.

Is parent participation recommended?

Yes, again your Junior Chef will need to use real knives and the stove and/oven. However, if your child is 16 and if you are confident, they do not need your supervision then this is your parental discretion.

We are a family of 2, 3, 5 or 6 this will not work for us!

Not necessarily true! Yes, the box portions are geared toward four servings however, they are delicious so have it for leftovers or lunch the next day. If you have a larger family with creativity it can be stretched to accommodate. Add a side of rice, a salad, some extra vegetables, and this will go a long way. If you email us and let us know ahead of time what you need, we can send additional suggestions.

I am vegetarian, have allergies, or dietary restrictions!

We are a nut free facility. The only substitutions we can guarantee at this time are for vegetarians or dietary restrictions on meat. For example, if you are unable to eat beef, shellfish, pork, etc. However, in the “Welcome Letter” we do always ask for allergies and any dietary restrictions. We would never want to include an ingredient that someone is allergic to. Also, while we cannot guarantee it, if we can make a reasonable accommodation we will. We work with all kinds of diets and we are more than happy to send suggestions to a family if we know to.

  • My 11 year old daughter was born to cook and she had the time of her life!
    She learned a lot of cooking skills, made a ton of great food and played games in the process.
    They also gave her a very nice printed booklet with recipes, and made a wonderful YouTube video of the class.
    Lindy, San Mateo
  • I used them last week for my twins (boy/girl) 9th birthday party. It was fantastic!
    The location, decorations, etc. were all top notch.
    They handled all the details from start to finish (set up and clean up too!)
    Carolyn, Redwood City
  • Best summer camp my 8 year old daughter ever had! She's comfortable and confident in the kitchen now,
    either cracking eggs, or rolling cookie dough, or mixing on the side.
    She is always so happy at the end of day talking about what they learned!
    Newaur, Burlingame
  • Our kids are 14 and 12, and enjoy cooking immensely.
    This is a wonderful little school - easy-going and knowledgeable instructors,
    inviting little kitchen, very clean and friendly.
    Lisa, San Jose
  • I love to cook with my daughter.
    She has taught both my husband and her friends how to cook these dishes.
    Her confidence in the kitchen is astounding.
    This is the ONLY camp that she has asked to repeat next year.
    An, Burlingame
  • My 7 year old son has been begging for cooking lessons. He had a blast!
    They made so much food, Dad enjoyed it for dinner and
    he was so impressed that his son had made it all from scratch.
    Sharon, Redwood City

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Junior Chef Stars 1027 Terra Nova Boulevard
Pacifica, California 94044

(650) 898-8742

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Simmone

Simmone is one of our fantastic Chefs & she is part of our Product Team at Junior Chefs Stars. Born and raised in San Francisco, Chef Simmone’s fondest memories where growing up in the kitchen with her grandmother and mother cooking and baking using food to bring the family together. A tradition that she continues with her own son. When Chef Simmone is not cooking in the kitchen you can find her on the soccer field referring youth soccer and coaching baseball.
(ServSafe, First Aid & CPR Certified)

Dina

Dina joined Junior Chef Stars in 2017. She has worked in the finance industry over 10 years and now serves as our Program Director. She grew up learning how to cook from her mother. After becoming a mother herself she developed a passion for cooking, making wholesome meals for her family is priority. When Dina is not at the office you will find her driving her kids to soccer practice or a gymnastics recital. Her hobbies include cooking, running and volunteering around the community.
(First Aid & CPR Certified)

Mikey

Mikey was born in the Philippines, while raised in the Bay Area. From a very young age he developed his love for cooking from his mother and sister. He grew up cooking and eating traditional Filipino food. He has years of experience working in the food industry and worked at Boudin Bakery for 4 years prior to joining Junior Chef Stars. He loves to cook different types of traditional Filipino food and he loves creating brand new flavorful dishes. .
(ServSafe, First Aid & CPR Certified)

Mary

Mary, joined the Junior Chef Stars Team in 2017. She’s a certified baking fanatic and loves to bring in delicious treats to share with our team! Mary grew up in Utah and moved to the Bay Area as a teenager. She grew up loving to cook and bake with her mother Dorothy, another amazing baker (we can verify this). When Mary isn’t working she loves all things gardening and never turning down a belly rub from her adorable cat Rex, whom we all think looks like the cat from Puss in Boots.
(ServSafe, First Aid & CPR Certified)

Julia

Julia is one of the newest employees of the JCS team. Although she is relatively new to the culinary field, her love and knowledge for cooking has grown tremendously. When Julia is not working hard in the kitchen as one of Junior Chef Stars assistants, you can find her guarding the goal on the soccer field.
(ServSafe Certified) 

Linda

Linda is one of Junior Chef Stars amazing instructor assistants, she has been part of our team since 2017. Linda has always had a passion for working with kids and has three adult children of her own. Linda loves spending time with her two grandkids in her free time and loves to share her love of cooking & baking with them.
(ServSafe, First Aid & CPR certified)

Marley

Here’s the real runner of the show, our CEO, Chief of Chewing & Executive Shedder. Marley LOVES food, ALL kinds. He practically begs to take a bite of anything that gets in his rural area. But with his love for food comes his love for people, he is a social ninja who somehow gets everyone to love him upon first impression! Greeting them at the door being nothing but a ball of positive energy. In tough times, we look to Marley for solutions.
(Eating & Chewing Certified)

Joel

Joel serves as the Business Manager for Junior Chef Stars. He has an extensive knowledge of all things business. Joel graduated from California State University, Bakersfield with a Bachelors of Science in Business Management. Joel has worked in the banking and finance industry for over 11 years and has now found his place at Junior Chef Stars. He has grown up learning to cook all things from his Mother. Joel enjoys spending time with his family learning how to create exciting new dishes and sharing his heritage through the medium of cooking with all of the staff and students here at Junior Chef Stars.
(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Brian

Chef Brian is Junior Chef Stars Owner. He attended the California Culinary Academy of San Francisco in 2001 for its famed Le Cordon Bleu’s Hospitality Management program. Brian brings with him many years of sales, business management, marketing experience and of course his culinary expertise.
Brian gained a passion for cooking from being in the kitchen with his Father and Grandfather as a small child. His favorite cooking memory is baking chocolate chip cookies with his mom as a child. Brian currently lives in Pacifica with his partner and his dog. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion for cooking with others and spending as much free time as he has in the kitchen with his friends and family.
(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)