Yes, Chef! Culinary Programs: Camps + Master Classes
Designed to provide educational opportunities for exceptional Chicago high school students from under-resourced communities, who are eager to expand their exposure to the culinary world while having fun along the way.
Yes, Chef! Culinary Camps
Sat., Mar. 7, 2026
11am – 3pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL
Love to bake? Join us as we guide you through a variety of sweet and savory recipes that will have you sifting and stirring like a pro. Our esteemed culinary instructors will provide you with valuable culinary and life skills in a fun and engaging environment. Plus, you’ll meet and connect with fellow students from across Chicago + take home an equipment kit to keep practicing long after camp is over. Performance prizes will be awarded, including a top prize for standout achievement.
Sat., May 16, 2026
11am – 3pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL
SPACE IS LIMITED. APPLY BY APRIL 26TH!
Ciao tutti! The Foundation for Culinary Arts is thrilled to host its fourth Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp: Fresh Pasta-Making! In this one-day bootcamp led by The Chopping Block’s esteemed culinary instructors, campers will learn how to make fresh pasta and complementary sauces, while exploring the history of pasta, regional pasta traditions, the difference between types of flours, and more. Camp includes enjoying your homemade pasta onsite, plus portions to take home to share with your family. To ensure campers can continue practicing at home, every participant will leave with an essential pasta-making equipment kit.
Aug. 4 – 8, 2025
10am – 4pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL
APPLY BY JULY 5, 2026
Our popular week-long camp (now in its 10th year!) will be held at The Chopping Block in Lincoln Square. Each day campers prepare a meal to enjoy together and another to bring home to their families. Performance prizes will be awarded daily, and an overall top prize of an iPad will be presented at the end of the week. The final day culminates in a graduation mystery competition luncheon, where a family member is invited to watch these young chefs in action. Campers also leave with an essential kitchen equipment kit so they can continue their culinary journey at home.
Sun., Nov. 15, 2026
11am – 3pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
The Foundation for Culinary Arts’ Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp is hosting the fourth annual demonstration-style Thanksgiving dinner community cooking class for high school students from under-resourced Chicago communities. Preference will be given to prior approved Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp students. Instructors will demonstrate how to brine, spatchcock, roast, and carve a turkey, as well as prepare delicious sides to complete the holiday meal. Students will leave with a frozen turkey and a Mariano’s gift card to purchase additional ingredients to complete their Thanksgiving dinner at home.
Sun., Dec. 6, 2026
11am – 3pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
Join us for our sixth annual Holiday Baking Boot Camp! ’Tis the season for showing loved ones how much they mean to you — and what better way than sharing holiday treats baked by you? You will learn invaluable baking fundamentals from our esteemed instructor, bond with students from other schools, and end the day with a buffet of baked goods, plus an essential baking equipment kit to continue using their new skills beyond the holiday season. Performance prizes will also be awarded.
More On Our Camps
Camp days will be spent bonding with students from other schools while learning valuable career and life skills taught by esteemed culinary instructors. And to ensure that all of our students can keep practicing at home, each student will leave with a Cooking Kit at the end of the day they can use to cook with their families!
Students currently enrolled in Chicago Public High School, or other approved schools, whose family income falls within the definition of economically disadvantaged as defined by CPS, may apply online.
COST: There is zero cost to accepted students or their families.
Yes, Chef! Master Class Series
To broaden access while maintaining the high-quality, hands-on learning that defines our programs, F4CA is launching the Yes, Chef! Master Class Series in 2026 — an evolution of Yes, Chef! Designed to bring students closer to the many pathways within the culinary world.
The Yes, Chef! Master Class Series connects Chicago high school students with chefs and hospitality leaders through immersive culinary experiences in professional environments.
Building on the success of our Yes, Chef! Culinary Camps, the Master Class Series connects Chicago high school students with chefs, hospitality leaders, creatives and industry professionals through immersive learning experiences in real-world environments.
From professional kitchens and bakeries to food media studios and hospitality spaces, students gain exposure not only to culinary technique, but to the broader ecosystem that shapes how food is created, experienced and shared.
Each 2-3 hour session is designed as an intimate, engaging educational experience that may include a live culinary demonstration, skills-based instruction, industry conversation, or behind-the-scenes access to working professionals and spaces.
The series introduces students to a wider range of career possibilities – from chef and restaurateur to food writer, stylist, producer, photographer, entrepreneur and beyond.
- Learning experiences hosted by chefs, hospitality leaders and culinary creatives
- Sessions held in bakeries, restaurants, commissary kitchens and other professional environments
- Exposure to both culinary and culinary-adjacent careers
- Small-group access to working professionals in real-world settings
- Expands program reach by ~50%
- Maintains intimate, hands-on instruction
- Adds direct mentorship from industry professionals
- Introduces students to professional equipment and kitchen workflow
- Builds confidence navigating culinary spaces
Students move beyond the classroom into real industry environments — strengthening skills, career awareness, and confidence while preserving the close mentorship that makes Yes, Chef! successful.
Pilot Year Master Classes 2026
Wed. July 1, 2026
11am – 3pm
Piccolo Sogno
464 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL
Step beyond the familiar and into the broader language of Italian cooking with Chef Tony Priolo. In this live demonstration, students explore the techniques, ingredients, and regional traditions that define Italy far beyond pasta—from seasonal vegetables to seafood and refined plating. Hosted in a professional kitchen, the class offers both inspiration and a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of a working chef.
Led by Chef Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno, students will explore:
- Foundational Italian cooking techniques
- Flavor balance, regional diversity and culinary traditions
- Precision and execution in classic dishes
Wed. Aug. 19, 2026
6pm – 8pm
Roll Cut Studios
320 N. Damon Ave., Chicago, IL
Today, food is experienced as much through storytelling as it is at the table. In this behind-the-scenes panel experience, students will meet the creative professionals who shape how food is written about, photographed, styled, produced, and shared.
From editorial storytelling to visual production, students will gain insight into the broader food media ecosystem and discover culinary-adjacent careers that blend creativity, communication, and culture.
Panel may include:
- Food writers
- Producers
- Photographers
- Food Stylists
- Content creators / digital storytellers
How Can I Get Involved?
Sponsor a meal kit | Sponsor a camper | Buy Equipment from our Amazon Wish List
Donate | Volunteer | Partner
Each level of sponsorship comes with unique promotional opportunities including press coverage, inclusion in F4CA-generated marketing materials, corporate branding opportunities, and more. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Executive Director Catherine De Orio at info@f4ca.org.
Program Application
Students currently enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, whose family income falls within the definition of economically disadvantaged as defined by CPS, may apply for a scholarship to attend the Yes, Chef! Culinary Programs by clicking the button below. Applicants and their parent/guardian will then be interviewed by a selection committee member to determine eligibility.
Our Partners
