I am an activities Director at a senior living community. This was one of the best programs for kids & seniors.This program was very organized professional. I just want to think the junior chefs of America for memories that will last a lifetime.
Love our JCOA family! They are all so warm, welcoming, easy to work with, and they make you feel right at home. I’ve had the pleasure of serving our community with them, and it was such a blessing to be a part of.
We look forward to volunteering and working with them again in their next projects.
Previous Stories
Junior Chefs of America (JCOA) was an incredible experience for our family.
Our first meetup was at Stone Soup Kitchen in Y’bor City where we met with the staff(the Chefs), the Sous-Chefs-in training, and the parents. It was well coordinated and thought out.
Mrs. Dina, the head of operations and owner has such a sweet, calm spirit. You would not hesitate to entrust her or her staff with your little ones.
Not only were they warmly welcoming, they were very professional during the culinary class.
My son made good friends and amazing connections. So many doors opened up for him after the graduation. It wasn’t just a one time ordeal. It was such a blessing and an incredible experience both for us (parents) and our teen.
As the ACF Tampa Bay Chapter President and a mentor to the young chefs at JCOA, it's always a pleasure to help the future of our industry. This program sparks a broader interest in the H.S. students to take a leap into the kitchen and learning the craft.
My family had the awesome opportunity to experience Junior Chef of America this summer due to my teenager participating in their Sous Chef program. As a parent it’s always great to see your child excel in things they’re passionate about. Thanks to Chef Dina and JCOA my 15 year old is a certified sous chef! I can’t wait to see all of the amazing things my son will do in the culinary field with such a great start. Thank you JCOA!
There was an amazing Sous Chef Certification program my son Anthowan be one of the kids be bles with this course, and always be grateful to all of he chef and the hard work...
The CEO vision is live everyday. I am watching every child or person come through JCOA doors with a purpose and complishments of job well done. I've done it!
They display patience allowing students to understand the art of cooking an assortment of dishes around the world and cake artistry.
The kids protray what they learn throughout the class always. Fantastic job JCOA!
We found JCOA driving by the school a couple years ago. My grandson was uncomfortable and shy around people, so we were apprehensive but gave it a try. Then we watched him blossom.
Not only do the kids learn cooking skills, they learn math thru measuring; geographic info. about the origin of the dishes; and public speaking; they also learn confidence and respect for themselves and others.
The staff is comprised of accomplished chefs and they are always warm and encouraging. They build confidence and inspire the kids to excel. What a great group of people they are!
I just started working with the kids at Junior Chefs of America this year and it is even more wonderful than I expected. The kids have such a great time prepping and cooking and they are learning about science, geography and much more. The program also goes out into the community and teaches the kids about serving and giving back. JCOA gives the kids such a well rounded experience. Highly recommend this wonderful school!
I've known and followed the work and mission of Junior Chefs of America for years. Everything they do is fantastic and exemplary. They combine education and cooking classes to perfection.
We found Junior Chefs of America when searching for cooking classes prior to moving to the Tampa area. We signed up, not knowing what to expect. What we got exceeded any of our expectations. The team of adults that work with the junior chefs are outstanding. They teach more than recipes—life skills, confidence, and community are always on the menu at JCOA. We are so thankful for all the ways JCOA has helped our children grow.
Over the last 4 years, we have seen our daughter become much more confident in and out of the kitchen. The work JCOA does with the kids is amazing, between the lessons in the classroom environment to giving back to those less fortunate, it is a great place to have my daughter go to be a better, more rounded individual.
My child started with a passion but left with confidence and an understanding of the science behind cooking. He learned how to use raw materials and not preprocessed food to make multi course healthy meals. This changed his passion into his future.
It has been an honor to have found myself within the highly skilled and good hands of such an organization as The Junior Chefs of America!
I had the privilege of being selected to be a part of the organization after completing my sous chef certification and safe staff certification during the summer culinary program.
It was a blast getting to meet our chefs and mentors who had found their space and cultivated their art forms over years of experience and dedicated work in their field.
My experience with JCOA is everything and more than I could have imagined, and for that I am grateful; I would do again with the same passion and enthusiasm I had the first time!
This place was great! We went there for my son's preschool field trip and made pretzels. The kids had a lot of fun and enjoyed getting to eat their creations. The class was well designed and interactive, which was key to keep the kids engaged. Would recommend for class trips, birthday parties, or even a parent/kid night out together."
Previous Stories
Junior Chefs Of America has been such a blessing in my son's life as well as mine. He has learned so much from food safety to cooking. This experience has given him such a boost of confidence and determination and has taught him so much more. I will forever be thankful that JCOA gave my son an amazing opportunity to grow into a junior chef and can show the world his talent.
Junior Chefs of America is such a blessing to families in Tampa Bay. I have personally witnessed the positive affects of their classes and courses. JCOA makes a difference in the lives of our youth.
This concept is the best I've seen in years
My grandchildren love the fact that they can do something that when I was a child only grown ups could do. It involves classroom learning as well as kitchen concepts that can be used in every aspect of life. Cuddos to the person that developed this concept
I met chef Dina in 2019 and we have been working together every since. This is the most enjoyable time for the young people working with food. They get an opportunity to work with food and learn about the world.
Junior Chefs of America is a wonderful program to be apart of. My daughter participated in the first Sous Chef Certification class. It has stoked her desire to continue to follow in the culinary profession. She has made so many connections with chefs and others in the business that she will hold on to for years. This program does not end when the class is over. It keeps on giving.
My daughter loves going to classes at Junior Chefs of America. Using all the real cooking tools (but sized for kids) give her such a sense of accomplishment. Anything she learned from one of c the chefs she can’t wait to try again at home in her own! A plus for hands on fun!
My children and I had such an amazing experience while attending junior chefs. Thank you to all the staff.
Previous Stories
This is an amazing experience for young future chefs. Even if your child doesn’t want to be a chef, they can enjoy the fun experience of getting to create their own food while also being educated.
I had a great time eating delicious food at your restaurant. The chefs were committed to a geat service and were very friendly. The atmosphere was awesome and I definitely liked that a very modern style. Most importantly, every food and your drink tasted great!
I had an awesome cooking experience with JCOA. I took my wife on a cooking date night, and it was amazing, and the meal was delicious. The instructor/chef, Nadina was very thorough.
Junior Chefs of America is absolutely amazing! The staff is wonderful and my child had an amazing time. He met new friends and couldn't stop talking about it for days.
Previous Stories
Read moreA very great way to teach children about nutrition to help them out for the rest of their lives. A very nice inviting place to be a part of, and I will tell everybody I know about it.
I absolutely love Junior Chefs.. The environment is very inviting and welcoming. The staff was very attentive to my children. The recipes were easy to duplicate at home.
I told other parents about this place so that their children can have the same experience as mine have.
There is so much love for children, so much attention to detail in everything they do. GOD BLESS this organization.
The level of commitment that Nadina and her staff continues to demonstrate on a daily basis to serve the kids and families in the community is astounding!
The diversity in programs, development and offerings are definitely tailored to meet the immediate needs and trends for optimal positive impact to children & families!
Thank you Nadina for following the divine! Continue to be a blessing and be blessed!
A wonderful experience for my grandson. He thoroughly enjoyed the class and actually learning to follow a recipe and Make a dish.
Junior Chefs Of America is a beautiful place with a beautiful message, there staff is lovely and not to mention there building is always so clean! Our son has Autism spectrum disorder and they offer classes for children with disabilities. I highly recommend this nonprofit organization. Ten stars
JCOA had been a tremendous confidence builder for my son. He continues to cook at home and loves learning a new recipe.
What an amazing impact on a child growth and learning ability! As a professional chef in the industry I notice a trend with adults- they don’t cook! Not for any real reason other than they have never been taught. JCOA’s program introduces young children to the joy of cooking through practical and educational experiences that fit the age category of the child. The classes are so interactive and fun the student doesn’t even realize all the other benefits they are learning, prep, food group identification, cooking procedures, recipe reading and comprehension, team work, diversity and the list goes on! I would highly recommend JCOA’s program for anyone! The latest class “ Jamaica” turned out some amazing food full of flavor and culinary wonder. The students, ranging from 6 to 12 years of age learned all about building marinates and seasoning blends along with roasting and presentation. What an amazing time!
JCOA is not only dedicated to creating an amazing experience for each and every person, they care about quality food, quality education & heart warming experiences!
Highly recommend
Junior Chefs of America teaches kids more than just cooking, they teach and inspire confidence and commitment. I am so excited for the future of this organization as it is an outreach for the leaders of the next generation when we will need them most. Please support Junior Chefs of America.
So happy for this program to help little ones! Young people need a trade that will teach them life skills.
I've volunteered at Junior Chefs a few times over the past years and it has always been a wonderful experience. The kids always enjoy themselves while working with the chefs. I can't wait until my son is a little older to sign him up
Junior Chefs of America is an amazing group with an amazing founder.
This group provides important lessons through cooking and camaraderie.
It is a very important organization for the community.
Highly recommend...
I absolutely love Junior Chefs of America!! This is a great program! My youngest daughter wants to be a chef when she grows up and loves to participate in the cooking class. ❤️
I Love This Organization as well as my 9 yr old grand daughter. The school is perfect for little chefs.
Nadina & the JCOA is one of the most amazing experiences my daughter has ever had. While I love to experiment with different foods, my daughter doesn't share the same passion ( sad I know..lol) but after learning new techniques and seeing other kids find joy in cooking. My daughter has become my little sous chef, which I'm extremely proud of!!
This is the BEST Non profit organization !! My kids absolutely LOVE it and so do I !! They get to learn all about healthy eating and how to cook with such fun, hands on experiences everytime! It is designed for every child of every age to learn and flourush in the kitchen and beyond. It is so rewarding on so many levels!! The opportunity for kids to be able to experience the enjoyment of learning how to cook healthy foods, with hands on assistance, through a non- profit organization is not only so needed and so beneficial, but it is simply uniquely beautiful.
The learning aspect of this organization is incredibly AMAZING!! They not only learn about how to cook and the nutritional benefits of the different kinds of food, but they also learn about culture, history, math, even sometimes science! They learn how to use various kitchen utinsils and even learn about proper food etiquette!!
There have been several local community events, some with food competitions, where local restaurant chefs and food experts will participate. They have even had celebrity guest appearances with photo opportunities. It's SO COOL!!
JCOA always comes through with unique, creative and fun interactive activities for all kids of every age group. They even give each child a generous gift bag at the end of many events filled with tons of much needed everyday kitchen utinsils.
Everyone not only leaves with full bellies from the delicious healthy food they just cooked, but also happier, more confident, more independent and even more self sufficient everytime! I can't say enough about the JCOA program and every member involved. They truely care about the kids and their families from the bottom of their wonderful hearts. They are making a positive and healthy difference for our future and the future of our children!
This is a great experience for children and youth. The Chefs are great and the education shared is both exciting and practical.
Junior Chefs of America is a wonderful non-profit to be involved with. From the moment you walk into the classroom, you can feel the happy energy. The children are truly blessed to have a program like this in our commuinty. And we are truly blessed to have such talented and enthusiastic children to work with.
As Chef Guy Fieri says, "Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It's about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity."
It's more than just food. At Junior Chefs of America, children have a safe space to create and develope important life skills. Being with them in the kitchen helps them in a myriad of ways. They not only learn how to cook healthy recipes, but also they are given educational practices as well. It is the best of both worlds!
It is a fun class for children of all ages. I would recommend everyone to be involved with this non-profit. If you come to one class, you will know why.
My role at JCoA is a chef. Working with the children has changed my life in so many ways. I have learned from them, as much as they have learned from me. I always look forward to my Saturday classes. Being in the hospitality industry can cause you to become burned out and lose your passion. Since working with these children, my own passion has reignited. They definitely keep you on your toes.
Loving everyone involved,
Ashley Sims
My children love this place and they learn wonderful recipes every time. The staff is friendly and very professional I recommend you try it for your family
Very professional. My son loves attending and having a sense of independence with learning how to cook.
JCOA.is one of the best. They sparked an interest in my children that I never would have known was there . Thank God for this organization.
I had worked with this company for 2 years as their academic tutor. It felt great to be a part of this program. I enjoyed teaching the students and seeing the smile on their faces. Science is my favorite subject in the program and the messiest. One of my favorite experiments was the baking soda and vinegar because of the mini-reaction it made. I also had fun watching the students learn how to make different types of foods from other countries and seeing their reaction to eating something new. Plus you can view some of the activities on the Junior Chefs Facebook page or their website at https://www.juniorchefsofamerica.org/.
This is a wonderful safe place for children to learn how to cook and more they get a lesson in math or English and the staff are very wonderful with the children I recommend you give this place a try and see for your self.
This organization has tapped into something that I have always believed: our youth are far more capable than we give them credit for; so expose them to experiences and opportunities, and watch them excel. This is the thriving that I witness with Junior Chefs. The organizers of their programs are highly skilled trainers who reach each demographic at just the right level to engage them and help them to succeed. Everyone grows. Everyone excels.
Junior Chefs of America is not your typical kids organizations, since I have known this great team, I have witnessed the most incredible examples of self-sacrifice, commitment and love for the kids the help. If you have a child I would highly recommend registering them for a season of cooking classes, the curriculum not only teaches cooking. But health, since and so much more.