Foundational Skill Building
Knife Skills & Kitchen Fundamentals
Master the foundational techniques every great chef relies on — from proper knife grip to mise en place.
Most Popular Location
Summer Culinary 2027
Culinary Summer Programs for High School Students: New York City
World-Class Kitchens Across The United States
Premiere culinary arts, cooking and baking camp for students ages 12 – 17Cook and bake in premium commercial kitchens from 10am to 6pmLearn from trained, experienced Professional Chef InstructorsLight-hearted competition on the last day · 100's of recipes made from scratchSleepaway and commuter options available at all locations
Pro Kitchens
Pro Chefs
Our Kitchen: NEW YORK CITY
Institute of Culinary Education — New York City
225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281Get Directions
About This Kitchen
New York City is the undisputed culinary capital of the world — home to more Michelin-starred restaurants than almost any other city on the planet. Our NYC campus puts student chefs right in the middle of it all, with access to state-of-the-art professional kitchens and an unmatched food culture just outside the door. Our kitchen is in the Institute of Culinary Education in Brookfield Place, directly across the street from the Oculus and Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. The Oculus is a major transit hub, with subway, PATH, and other trains arriving nearby. The Institute of Culinary Education is fabulous, sunny, bright, fresh, and fully equipped. It is the best kitchen in NYC, with no comparison, and it is right in the heart of all the action. Spend time in seasoned, 100% amazing full commercial teaching kitchens equipped with all the equipment we could use or want. This is a major step up into what professional culinary instruction is all about. Savory and pastry each have their own kitchen, and the third kitchen is used by everyone. It is where we cook, hold morning meetings, share lunch and dinner, and host the Chopped competition on Fridays. This communal space seats 100 chef instructors, students, chef assistants, student chefs-in-training, the executive head chef, and the health director throughout the day. Whether you're a first-time cook or a seasoned home chef, our NYC culinary arts program will challenge and inspire you — and no experience is needed to apply.
Registration, Tuition and More!The Curriculum
What You'll Learn At All Summer Culinary Locations
Savory Cooking
Incredible Savory Dishes
Build a repertoire of bold, restaurant-quality savory dishes — from seared proteins and rich sauces to complex flavor profiles that impress.
Finishing Skills
Plating & Presentation
Turn your dishes into works of art. Learn the visual language of professional plating used in top restaurants.
Pastry Arts
Baking & Pastry Techniques
From croissants to soufflés, explore the precision and creativity of the pastry kitchen.
Leadership
Leading in the Kitchen & Beyond
Great chefs lead. Students learn to communicate clearly, take initiative, support their teammates, and own their station — skills that transfer directly to school, work, and life.
Life & Future Forward
Building Your Culinary Future
Whether you want to attend culinary school, open a restaurant, or simply cook with confidence for the rest of your life — we help you see what is possible and take the first real steps toward it.
Sleepaway Program
Our residential students live in Loyola-Marymount College, up off the beach, in very clean safe part of LA. Get The Full College Experience Now
Residential students don't just learn to cook — they live it. Sharing a dorm room, exploring the city with new friends, and building real independence. It's the summer they'll talk about for years.
Dorm Life & Roommates
Students are paired with a roommate and live together on a supervised campus floor — a genuine taste of college life. Friendships forged here tend to last well beyond the summer.
Evening City or Beach Excursions
After kitchen hours, residential students explore the city with staff — iconic food markets, neighborhoods, and hidden gems that commuter students simply don't get to experience.
Independence & Growth
Managing your own schedule, navigating a new city, and living with peers builds real confidence. Parents consistently tell us it's the first time their teen truly stepped into their own.
"The residential program is the complete package — professional kitchen training by day, the city by night, and a roommate who becomes a best friend."
The Summer Culinary Experience
“My favorite thing that I made while making it was the ravioli but my favorite thing that I ate that I made was the Thai basil chicken.”
“It was amazing, trying so much new and fresh food, and being able to contribute to the meal.”
“I loved how we are in a professional kitchen and we have so much freedom.”
“Baking and contributing to an absolutely delicious meal that I had a part in.”
“(The chef instructors) were so good; they were able to explain the steps really well and were always happy to help if we had a question — they were just amazing.”
A Day in the Life AT EACH LOCATION
Daily Schedule: In Kitchen 10am - 6pm
Morning
Chef Demo & Hands-On Technique
The chef demonstrates a skill live — from knife work to rolling sushi — and students follow right along. This is where the real skills are built, one technique at a time.
Afternoon
Recipe Sessions
After lunch, the students spend the afternoon working through recipes, making everything from scratch. They make appetizers, entrees, desserts and more. Each group is doing different recipes, so at the end of the day the chef instructors sample everything and give their thoughts (in preparation for the competition on Fridays) and then the students eat the food they all made, just like in a formal French Culinary program.
Evening
Residential Students: Explore Your City
Go to curated destinations accompanied by staff. Students can pick and choose destinations within reason, and we will do our best to get there on our "Rogue Squads" evenings. Often the evening excursions seek out alternative foods, best pizza slice, and that sort of fun, friendship-building that naturally occurs in this sort of environment.
“My favorite part was going on the ferry to the shopping mall because we had free rein and the ferry was awesome!”
“I liked the Broadway show because it was a unique New York experience and rogue squad because we got to choose.”
“I loved getting coffee on the way to the kitchens and the dorms every day.”
“I loved how everyone would be together in the dorms hanging out and eating food after we baked all day!”
2027 Schedule
Tuition & Dates
⭐⭐
Limited-Time Offer
Early-Bird Pricing Available Now
Save up to $500 · Offer ends January 4th, 2027
Early-Bird Price(ends Jan 4, 2027)
Standard Price (after Jan 4)
| Session | Dates | Residential | Commuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | June 21 – June 27 | $4,495$4,995 | $2,895$3,150 |
| Session 2 | June 28 – July 4 | $4,495$4,995 | $2,895$3,150 |
| Session 3 | July 5 – July 11 | $4,495$4,995 | $2,895$3,150 |
| Session 4 | July 12 – July 18 | $4,495$4,995 | $2,895$3,150 |
| Session 5 | July 19 – July 25 | $4,495$4,995 | $2,895$3,150 |
| Session 6 | July 26 – Aug 1 | $4,495$4,995 | $2,895$3,150 |
“It was genuinely one of the best weeks of my entire life!! I learned so much from the chefs and the entire environment was super inspiring and amazing.”
“Every year without fail, the people I meet and the dishes I make become a part of me and my week in New York becomes one of my favorite memories.”
“You'll make great food and meet great people!”
“You will never regret choosing Summer Culinary.”
Why Choose a SummerCulinary Program?
True Commercial Kitchen Immersion
Our summer culinary programs bypass basic recreational camp setups. We place teens directly at professional kitchen stations inside world-class training facilities, working with industrial equipment and technical recipe packets.
Designed Specifically for Teen Chefs
We cater exclusively to mature teens and high schoolers ages 12–17. This eliminates the "youth day camp" dynamic entirely, fostering an environment of high accountability, teamwork, and serious skill building.
Beyond the Classroom Experience
SummerCulinary integrates deep technical kitchen instruction with an incredible culinary lifestyle — focused daytime studio sessions with curated evening food excursions exploring iconic food landmarks.
A Cooking Camp for Everyone
Whether your teenager is stepping into a professional kitchen for the first time or refining advanced culinary ambitions, they have a dedicated place at our stations. Our NYC program welcomes all skill levels.
Common Questions
Who is this summer culinary camp designed for?+
Our summer culinary programs are engineered for teenagers of all skill levels — from absolute beginners entering a professional kitchen for the first time to advanced home cooks ready for competitive culinary platforms.
What age groups are allowed to attend?+
Our summer culinary programs cater exclusively to mature teens and high school students ages 12–17. By capping enrollment strictly within this secondary school age bracket, we completely eliminate the traditional "youth day camp" dynamic.
Is this a residential sleepaway camp or a daily commuter program?+
SummerCulinary offers both fully supervised residential sleepaway tracks and daily commuter formats. Residential students move into secure campus housing and enjoy curated evening cultural and food excursions throughout the city.
Can teens with food allergies or dietary restrictions participate?+
Yes, we safely accommodate students with a wide range of severe food allergies and dietary restrictions. Our culinary staff works closely with families prior to arrival to review medical needs and modify ingredient sets at individual stations.
Does this program prepare students for a professional culinary arts school?+
Yes, our advanced kitchen curriculum provides an exceptional technical foundation for high school students preparing for elite culinary arts schools. High schoolers master professional station management, recipe scaling, and precise culinary mechanics.
Do students need to bring their own knives or kitchen uniforms?+
No. All high school students are outfitted with standard kitchen gear upon arrival. All premium ingredients, technical recipe packets, safety equipment, and aprons are fully provided by the campus.
Our Other Summer Culinary Programs
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Farm-to-table capital of America — cook in the Bay Area with access to SFSU's professional kitchens and one of the most ingredient-obsessed food cultures in the world.
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