APRIL 7, 2011 -- Things are heating up in the kitchens of ABC Chefs Cooking Academy. The new culinary center for kids will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April 16.

Located in Chesterfield Mall, ABC Chefs offers kids cooking classes, birthday parties, camps and even parent night out options.

The academy's director and owner Faronda Davis said she opened the school following the demand by area parents for a permanent cooking facility for kids.  Davis has spent the past 10 years bringing cooking programs to children at various locations in West County, including the YMCA and schools in Parkway School District.

"Kids need this facility that they can call home," Davis said. In her new 4,000-square-foot space, Davis can accomodate chefs ages 4 and up.

Davis has created a warm environment, complete with blues and jazz music playing in the background. "I don't know what it is about that music, but these kids start cooking up a storm," Davis said chuckling. Multiple preparation and cooking stations are set up in the former Olga's Kitchen dining room. Young chefs can prepare simple, fun, dishes at these stations, which each feature a convection oven and mini stovetop. Older chefs will have access to the academy's commercial kitchen, Davis said.

With 200 kids already enrolled in upcoming classes, Davis said her students are always excited to walk in the door because they never what they'll cook that day. Kids receive their recipes at the beginning of each class and they work together to gather their ingredients -- everything is cooked from scratch, Davis said -- get the appropriate utensils and dishes, find their ingredients and begin preparing their recipes. At the end of each class, the cooks set the table, serve each other and eat. Davis also makes a point to teach kids the cultural components of the foods their eating.

"If there's something that I'm making, and it's from Italy, I will get the background on it -- where this food came from, what it's about -- and we'll talk about the cultural component of the food," she said.

Got a picky eater? Have no fear, Davis said. "Kids are so picky, and once they are here in class, they are so intrigued and interested in what the ingredients are in the food," she said. "I am honestly shocked at how well kids respond to eating new things."

ABC Chefs Cooking Academy is located at 231B Chesterfield Mall (second level between Macy's and William Sonoma), Chesterfield, Mo., 63017. You can reach the school by calling 636-675-2614. Enrollment is now open for spring and summer programs.

Photo: Testing out her new kitchen space prior to opening, Faronda Davis whips up some chocolate chip cookies from scratch.

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