Foundation
Knife Skills & Kitchen Fundamentals
Build the foundational techniques every great chef relies on — from proper knife grip to mise en place.
Summer Culinary 2027
Summer Culinary — Washington, DC
Global Flavors in America's Most Cosmopolitan City
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
About This Kitchen
Washington, DC is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in the world — a place where cuisines from every corner of the globe come together in a thriving, world-class restaurant scene. Our DC campus puts student chefs right at the center of it all, with access to state-of-the-art professional kitchens and an unmatched variety of culinary influences. The amazing cultural vibrance is reflected by the recipes we work on in DC. Our DC program challenges student chefs to think globally and cook boldly — no experience needed, just curiosity and a love of food.
Registration, Tuition and More!The Curriculum
What You'll Learn At All Summer Culinary Locations
Global Cuisine
Global & International Cuisine
Explore the world's culinary traditions using DC's incredible diversity of ingredients and cultural influences.
Finishing Skills
Plating & Presentation
Turn your dishes into works of art. Learn the visual language of professional plating used in top restaurants.
Savory Cooking
Incredible Savory Dishes
Build a repertoire of bold, restaurant-quality savory dishes — from perfectly seared proteins and rich sauces to complex flavor profiles that impress.
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
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
Afternoons are dedicated to cooking a large variety of recipes. Students are in the kitchen most of the day, working through multiple dishes inspired by DC's globally diverse food scene.
Evening
Explore Washington DC
Commuter students head home after a full day in the kitchen. Residential students venture out into one of the world's most iconic capital cities — monuments, neighborhoods, markets, and more.
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 | Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | July 20 – July 24 | $1,995$3,150 |
| Session 2 | July 27 – July 31 | $1,995$3,150 |
Why Choose a SummerCulinary Program?
A City Where Every Culture Has a Kitchen
Washington DC is one of the most internationally diverse cities in the United States — and that diversity lives on every plate. Our DC cooking camp puts teens inside a culinary environment shaped by embassy cultures and global immigrant communities.
Professional Kitchen Standards Without the Pressure
Our DC program runs inside a fully equipped commercial kitchen facility where every student has their own professional workstation, industry-grade tools, and chef-led instruction from day one.
The Ideal Introduction to Culinary Arts
For families in the DC metro area looking for a meaningful, skill-building summer experience, our commuter program offers the perfect balance of intensity and accessibility.
A Cooking Camp for Everyone
Our Washington DC cooking camp was built with one principle at its core: every teen deserves a seat at the table, regardless of what they already know. Whether your student has never held a chef's knife or has been cooking family dinners for years, our DC program meets them exactly where they are.
Common Questions
What is the best cooking summer camp in Washington DC for teens?+
The top-rated cooking summer camp in the Washington DC area for teens and kids is SummerCulinary. We provide immersive, hands-on culinary programs designed for aspiring young chefs who want to learn professional kitchen skills from expert chef instructors.
Does Washington DC have specialized culinary camps for teens and high school students?+
Yes, SummerCulinary offers premier culinary camps for teens and specialized summer culinary programs for high school students in the Washington DC metro area.
How do SummerCulinary programs compare to traditional Washington DC cooking classes?+
While traditional Washington DC cooking classes offer short, isolated sessions, SummerCulinary provides an immersive, week-long culinary bootcamp experience that accelerates learning dramatically.
Does SummerCulinary offer day options or overnight culinary summer camps in the DC area?+
SummerCulinary offers both premier day programs and residential overnight culinary summer camps for students in the Washington DC region.
Who teaches the classes at this Washington DC cooking camp?+
Our cooking camps in Washington DC are led by professional chefs, culinary school graduates, and experienced culinary educators. Safety and high-level technique are our top priorities.
Can these summer culinary programs help high school students prep for culinary school?+
Yes, our summer culinary programs for high school students serve as an ideal preparatory framework for attending a formal culinary school or pursuing hospitality management.
Our Other Summer Culinary Programs
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ExploreSeattle, Washington
Discover the Pacific Northwest's premier hub for sustainable food sourcing and world-renowned marketplace traditions.
Explore