Welcome to Hinckley & Sons Kids Cooking School!

At Hinckley & Sons, we believe every child can become a kitchen superstar! Our fun, hands-on classes teach young chefs to create delicious recipes while mastering essential skills like mise en place—a fancy French term that means “everything in its place.” It’s all about organizing ingredients and tools before cooking to make the process smooth, stress-free, and, most importantly, fun!

From safe knife skills to easy-to-follow techniques, we focus on using fresh, local ingredients to inspire creativity and confidence in the kitchen. Our classes are designed to engage kids of all ages, turning cooking into a playful and educational adventure.

Let your child discover the joy of cooking and join us on this tasty journey!

  • We will create a “harvest” experience.

    Kids will gather island ingredients, meet a local fisherman for lobster and mussels, tour a local organic farm, pick our own seasonal fresh herbs, veggies, berries and greens inspiring the recipes we create back in the kitchen.

  • Each cooking class will highlight a part of Mount Desert Island’s history or local stories, blending cooking with storytelling. Maybe a classic “Maine Lobster Roll” while learning about local lobster history, Blueberry crumble and what makes Maine’s delicious blueberries flourish here. There is a story behind each dish, whether it’s my “Grandma’s Pork” or a happy accident introducing new flavors inventing a new dish!

  • kids will learn to make an elegant, yacht-ready dish focused on beautiful plating, precision, and technique. Culminating in a mini competition to be judged by a local “guest” chef.

The Crew

Chef Natalie, the Mother of Dragons, and her pint-sized protégés, Colwyn (the Wadadli Dragon) and Brenin (the Cubano Dragon). Together, they’re on a mission to make cooking and food fun for everyone! With their wild imaginations, endless energy, and love for fresh, flavorful ingredients, the Dragons will show you how to turn every meal into an adventure. Whether it’s creating finger foods fit for a feast or grilling up magic over a campfire, they believe food is about joy, laughter, and a whole lot of tasty fun. Dive into their story here and get ready to cook, play, and savor!