Little Chefs Learn To Have Fun Creating Favorite Treats

Starting July 18, The Baking Coach, Lisa Basini will be running a Baking Boot Camp For Kids at the .

For an entire week, children will have the opportunity to learn how to make a variety of fun, expressive edible treats including heart healthy focaccia bread, pancakes, fondant cake and home-made ice cream.

“Our classes are creative, self expressive and hands on,” said Basini.

This past winter, Mrs. Basini hosted an event titled Snowy Days, where her younger students made snowball cupcakes and igloo icing. Her most popular class is the Fondant Workshop, where children learn to make both the cake and fondant from scratch.

“Children are so open minded and want to just have fun. We want to show them that it’s alright to take chances,” said Basini.  “It’s not about the final product, but being happy with what you make.”

 The Baking Coach’s year round programs are not just for children.

 A graduate of the Culinary School in Syosset, Basini took her childhood love of cooking and in 2005, turned it into a successful business. The Baking Coach, made up of 12 chefs, has both an off campus and in house catering permit that allows them to give classes from Manhattan to Montauk.

Every Saturday, they give additional classes at their new Huntington location on Broadway Greenlawn Road. Classes consist of 24 students, most of which are equally divided between men and women. For those eager, yet health conscious bakers, The Baking Coach also addresses how to incorporate healthier ingredients in favorite, classic recopies. One such ingredient is agave nectar, a liquid sugar with a low glycemic index that is available at most local grocery stores and even Costco.

 “A great benefit is that people can learn with their own equipment,” said Basini. “The best place to learn cooking is in the home.”

 In addition to their cooking classes, The Baking Coach is also available to do catering for a number of different events including fundraisers, corporate events and private parties. Basini prepares the food herself for catered events where the guest list is under 100 people.

 “Everything is always freshly made,” said Mrs. Basini.

Upcoming programs this summer include a Baking Bootcamp in June and an Ice Cream workshop in July. In addition to their children’s workshop, Mrs. Basini is in the works of creating an early evening adult program at the and a cookbook.

The Baking Boot Camp for Kids will take place on the second floor at theMonday through Friday July 18 - 22 from 10:30 a.m. until Noon. Registration is limited. Sign up before July 16. Registration costs $70 for Port Jefferson Residents and $75 for Non Residents.

For additional information, visit the official website www.thebakingcoach.com