explore classes!
winter session schedule
Feb 6-Mar 14
Lion’s Den at Riverside Lions Senior Estates
188 Worthington Ave
Winnipeg, MB
mini chef
ages 3-6
In this fun, hands-on course, young chefs explore food with the help of a caregiver. The focus is on discovering a wide variety of fruits and vegetables while learning simple, age-appropriate cooking skills like measuring, mixing, and basic knife skills.
Winter 2026
Dates: Saturdays, Feb 7-Mar 14
Time: 10am-12pm, 1:30pm-3:30pm
6-week session
$289 + cost of food ($10/class)
saturdays 10am-12pm
saturdays 1:30-3:30pm
drop-in classes
$55 + cost of food ($10/class)
registration opens jan 5, 2026
p’tit chef
3 à 6 ans
Dans ce cours pratique et ludique, les jeunes chefs explorent la cuisine avec l'aide d'un accompagnateur. L'accent est mis sur la découverte d'une grande variété de fruits et légumes tout en apprenant des techniques culinaires simples et adaptées à leur âge, telles que mesurer, mélanger et manier un couteau.
Ce cours est offert uniquement en français et s'adresse aux personnes parlant couramment cette langue.
Hiver 2026
Dates: Dimanches, 8 Fév-15 Mars
Horaire: 10h à 12h
programme de 6 semaines
289 $ + coût des aliments (10 $ par cours)
cours à la carte
55 $ + coût des aliments (10 $ par cours)
les inscriptions ouvrent le 5 janvier
junior chef
ages 7-12
For the aspiring young cook, this course emphasizes developing independence and confidence in the kitchen. Children are actively encouraged to experiment with different cooking techniques and ingredients, encouraging culinary creativity.
Winter 2026
Dates: Fridays, Feb 6-Mar 13
Time: 5pm-7pm
6-week session
$299 + cost of food ($15/session)
drop-in classes
$55 + cost of food ($10/session)
registration opens jan 5
junior chef lvl 2
ages 9-12
Description: Designed as a follow-up to our Junior Chef program, this class is designed to expand your child’s culinary skills. Participants will learn more advanced recipes and techniques such as pan-frying, searing and making pan sauces.
Prerequisite: Completion of the Junior Chef 6-week program or instructor approval.
Winter 2026
Dates: Sundays, Feb 7-Mar 15
Time: 1:30-3:30 pm
6-week session
$299 + cost of food ($15/session)
FAQs
general questions
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Our classes are held at the Lion’s Den at Riverside Lions Estates, located at 188 Worthington Ave in St Vital. The kitchen is not staffed outside of class times and we do not currently have a physical location.
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During each class, the children will prepare and eat a well-rounded, balanced meal. Each meal will contain at least 1 carb, 1 protein and 2-3 vegetables.
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We can accommodate most allergies, but we do so on a case-by-case basis. Please see our Food Allergy Policy and Procedure for more detail.
Please note that we are currently working out of a shared space that is used for events outside of our control. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that any of our products are 100% safe to consume for people with severe allergies. However, we take extensive precautions to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. -
If you are gluten-free, please contact us at hello@lilchefinstitute.com to book a class.
Many of our recipes involve the use of flour, and so there is an additional risk of cross-contamination for people with gluten intolerances/severe allergies such as Celiac’s disease. However, this does not mean that you won’t be able to participate - we would just like to ensure we can take the time to accommodate your unique dietary needs.
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Yes we can, depending on your child’s unique accommodation requirements. Our staff is trained to support a variety of needs, ranging from dyslexia/ADHD to mobility needs. We also have access to a team of occupational therapists who can assist us with any additional necessary accommodations.
If your child requires 1:1 assistance, please contact us at hello@lilchefinstitute.com.
Our kitchen space is wheelchair accessible.
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Yes! In fact, getting your children involved in the process of making the food is a great way to expose them to foods they may not eat otherwise. We often find that our students will try things in class that they wouldn’t try at home! We always offer a variety of foods, so your child should usually have something to eat.
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During the registration process, you will be asked to indicate if your child has any medical conditions that require medication. If you have indicated that your child requires medication (such as an Epipen or Asthma inhaler), the instructor will ensure that your child's medication is on their person, or your child will not be allowed to participate in the program.
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We allow you to cancel/reschedule a class up to 7 days before the class start date. Please contact us at hello@lilchefinstitute.com to do so.
We do not allow cancellations outside of this 7-day window. It may be possible to reschedule a class depending on availability, and this is handled on a case-by-case basis.
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We don’t enforce a strict age cutoff, since each child is different. However, we find that children who are over the age of 3 tend to do better in our classes.
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A trusted adult is expected to accompany each child enrolled in the class, and this person is expected to also participate.
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This depends on each child’s temperament and maturity level. Some children are independent enough to require minimum supervision from a parent, and some need more 1:1 help. We typically find that younger children (3-4) require 1:1 help from a caregiver whereas older children (5-6) are usually more independent.
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We love it when baby siblings tag along! However, please be mindful of the fact you are still expected to help your child with the lesson.
mini chef programs (ages 3-6)
junior chef programs (ages 7-12)
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We don’t enforce a strict age cutoff, since each child is different. However, your child will be expected to be able to follow instructions and be able to read a recipe independently.
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While we love having grown-ups in our classes, we find that children do better when their parents or other caregivers aren’t around. If you are interested in seeing what your children are up to, feel free to arrive early and observe the last 10-15 minutes of class!