Restaurant Camp 2024
A 5-day summer immersion camp in Brooklyn for chef-teens to hone their kitchen skills and learn the essential systems of the professional kitchen.
Restaurant Camp 2024 by Purple Kale Kitchenworks
(July 22 - July 26)
Introducing "Restaurant Camp" by Purple Kale Kitchenworks, a 5-day summer camp where teens can refine their cooking techniques, prime their palates, and learn real systems of the professional kitchen. The camp will be led by Purple Kale Kitchenworks' chef/owner Ronna Welsh and a visiting crew of her NYC professional chef-friends.
Chef campers will learn:
How to design, plan, shop for, and prep a multi-course meal in a professional commercial kitchen. Throughout the week, campers will explore the flavors of a range of cuisines and cooking techniques, which they will use in designing their own original dish. Each dish will be featured in an 8-course meal at the week’s end, The Dinner Showcase. At the showcase, each campers will explain the process and inspiration behind their dish. The Dinner Showcase is scheduled for Friday July 26 at 5:30 pm.
Each camp day will start with a deep dive into essential cooking techniques, using a full range of seasonal and premium ingredients. Midday, we will break for staff meal (lunch). We’ll end each day with a kitchen breakdown routine (your teen will learn to clean!).
Enrollment is limited to 8 campers. No experience is necessary to apply for a spot, but prospective campers should show genuine enthusiasm for cooking and a willingness to immerse themselves in serious (but really fun!) instruction. They should be eager to work as part of a team to make each class and, especially, the Dinner Showcase a success.
NOTE TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: You should feel comfortable with your child working both independently and with others, and with commercial kitchen equipment, including sharp knives. One note: If your teen has not taken a basic knife skills class before, they will need to sign up for Purple Kale Kitchenworks’ Basic Knife Skills on Sunday, July 21 from noon until 2:30 pm. This class will be offered only to campers and at a steep discount (see below).
Fees:
The fee for the Restaurant Camp is $800 per camper. This includes a daily lunch and snacks, a wide range of ingredients, fees to cover guest chefs, and an invitation for two guests to join the 8-course Dinner Showcase. Additional diners are welcome at $50 per person, with advanced notice.
Registration for a camper-only Basic Knife Skills on Sunday, July 21 is $45 (reg. $125).
Logistics:
Purple Kale Kitchenworks is on 44th Street, between 2/3 Avenues, in Sunset Park, just south of Industry City. The closest subway is the R to 45th Street. Also not far from the D/N/R at 36th. The B63 and B37 are also nearby.
Camp hours are 10am - 3pm or 4pm (tbd). We will be as accommodating as possible about pick up logistics. We will not charge for late pick up, and no camper will be rushed out the door.
Questions?
This is the Restaurant Camp’s first year, but the idea for the camp has been in the works for many years. Please feel free to reach out to Ronna with any questions about the camp, and to see if your teen would be a good fit: ronna@purplekale.com