DINING

Ready, steady, cook

Gemma Shaw whips up the best cooking classes for kids

Hong Kong New Oriental Culinary Art

Kids cooking classes are great for aspiring little chefs to learn the basics in a safe and fun environment. Tie your apron for a smorgasbord of children’s cooking classes in the city – bon appétit!

Harry’s Kitchen Baking Studio

Located at K11 MUSEA, Harry’s Kitchen is a colourful and playful interactive baking studio for students of all ages to learn how to create their own confectioneries and pastries under the guidance of professional chefs. Fundamentals of food are taught through the key senses - taste, smell, touch, colour and vision. From October 4, kids can get into the Halloween spirit with specially-themed classes which include a 90-minute ‘Mischievous Spooks’ class in which students will make a spine-chilling sponge cake topped with “ghosts” of piped buttercream frosting and a three-and-a-half hour ‘Mr Harry’s Malicious Mansion’ class in which students construct a one-of-a-kind mansion from cookies and haunted by ghoulish monsters. Halloween classes from $580. harryskitchenhk.com

Cooking with Alix

French expat Alix noticed a gap-in-themarket for practical, healthy cooking classes for kids, adults and domestic helpers. She launched her business Cooking with Alix earlier this year through which she aims to help children appreciate healthy ingredients and explore new foods in a fun and engaging environment. Alix’s classes are unique in that she comes to your home and takes care of everything - the teaching, ingredients, utensils, aprons and cleaning, making the experience completely hassle-free. Children are entertained throughout the class with Alix arranging food-related activities during baking breaks. Classes for children aged two and up cost $280 each for a group class (three to six students) and $500 for a private class. Contact Alix via Instagram.

@cooking_with_alix

Complete Deelite

The team at Complete Deelite have been baking specialty cakes since 2004 and have earned brownie points with kids across Hong Kong for their eye-catching and imaginative designs which include superheroes, pirates and Star Wars characters. Booking is currently open for their popular mid-term autumn kids camp in which children aged six and up can bake apple pie pops, Halloween character baos and decorate mini monster cakes. Midautumn classes are priced at $500 for an hour and a half lesson. The academy also runs a Wilton certified decorating class for teens and above. completedeelite.com

BiteUnite

BiteUnite is a fully-equipped commercial kitchen space in Wan Chai that provides business support and a neighborhood café for foodie fanatics. Baking classes are taught by experienced chefs with popular options for kids including cake pops, cupcakes and cookies. During the two and a half hour pro pasta and pizza class children can make their own pizza dough and then fill pies with homemade tomato sauce, salmon, sausage and veggies. The session is rounded off with a tiramisu lesson. Classes are priced from $650. biteunite.com

Hong Kong New Oriental Culinary Art

Hong Kong New Oriental Culinary Art (HKNOC) offers a wide range of cooking programmes for children aged three years and up from their specially designed studio kitchen in North Point and online. The Little Chef Cooking Course is priced from $3,600 for six two-hour lessons and covers how to make classic staples and seasonal favourites such as bread, sushi and Halloween cupcakes. Parent-child baking classes are also available.

hknoc.com.hk

The Mixing Bowl

Get your kids mixing, rolling and kneading at The Mixing Bowl in Sheung Wan. Baking classes for kids are held during school holidays at this lovely spacious kitchen space, complete with patio. Classes are designed to be as hands-on as they come and students can take home everything that they make with the recipes so they can recreate what they have learnt. This month, the studio will host autumn-inspired three-day Junior Baker camps from October 11-13 and 25-27. Classes will run for two and a half hours each day and are open to children aged six and above. themixingbowlhk.com

Bakebe

Bakebe is Hong Kong ’s first and only cobaking studio that teaches students to bake via an app. The studio provides all the tools and ingredients while the app provides detailed instructions, graphics, videos and a step-by-step guide that will allow students to complete their chosen baking projects from start to finish all by themselves. All recipes are designed by former COVA pastry chefs so you know that they will taste as good as they look. Children under 12 are welcome to attend classes under the supervision of an adult. Prices vary with monthly subscription options available. Locations in Times Square and Mira Place. bakebe.com

Mums, Margs & Mini MasterChefs

Mums (or dads), get ready to relax with freeflow margaritas while little ones learn how to make burritos and homemade guacamole in a Mini MasterChef class hosted by Te Quiero Mucho’s Head Chef Alejandro. The class, priced at $500 for one parent and one child, will take place from 3-5pm on October 21 at The Aberdeen by Dash Living and November 3 at Te Quiero Mucho in Sheung Wan. Additional parent or child costs $250. Book via EventBrite. ovolohotels.com

Spooky Ghost Cookies

Recipe by Cooking with Alix

Ingredients:

• 250g flour

• 80g cane sugar (unrefined brown sugar is best)

• 125g butter - room temperature (salted is best)

• 2 tbsp milk

• gingerbread spices (optional)

• 1 egg white

• 150g icing sugar

• strawberry jam

• food colourings

• dried nuts, fruit and seeds to decorate

Method:

• Mix sugar and flour

• Add the butter in small cubes. Mix with a spatula and then with your hands

• Add the spices (optional)

• Once a crumbly texture is formed, add the milk and knead into a ball

• Using a rolling pin, roll out to just under one centimeter thickness (rolling between two baking paper sheets helps the mixture not to stick)

• Cut using cookie cutters

• Bake at 180 celsius for 15-17 min, or until golden in colour

• To prepare the icing: mix the egg white and icing sugar and place in a piping bag.

Colour using the food colouring, if desired

• Ice and decorate the cookies using the dried fruits, nuts and seeds

• Can be stored in the fridge for up to four days