Whisk Takers: Teen Competition Camp
Two Days. Four Challenges. Endless Flavor.
Get ready for a culinary camp like no other: where bold flavors, surprise twists, and epic team battles take center stage. In Whisk Takers, teens step into the heat of the kitchen for two unforgettable days of fast-paced, hands-on cooking competitions inspired by their favorite food shows.
Campers (ages 11–17) will join forces in small teams and take on a rotating lineup of creative culinary challenges. From precision warm-ups to full-blown showdowns, every session brings new surprises, new ingredients, and new opportunities to shine. With just three hours each day, they’ll jump straight into action — no downtime, just real cooking, real teamwork, and real fun.
Along the way, they’ll chop, taste, build, blend, and plate their way through a variety of themes — from over-the-top tacos to flavor-packed burgers and beyond. Mystery baskets? You bet. Peer judging and fan favorites? Absolutely. And every challenge is designed to help young chefs grow their kitchen confidence while having a blast.
What’s Included:
All tools, ingredients, and instruction
High-energy team competitions
Creative freedom with just the right level of structure
Supportive coaching and blind judging
And most importantly: plenty of fun!
Whether your teen’s a seasoned kitchen whiz or just learning the ropes, this camp is the perfect blend of challenge and creativity — all in a high-energy, supportive environment where culinary courage is rewarded.
Whisk Takers: Where daring dishes and big ideas rise to the top.
Spots are limited — claim yours before it sells out!
More about Whisk Takers
A Culinary Challenge Fueled by Mystery, Strategy & Teamwork
Ready to turn up the heat? Welcome to the Teen Culinary Showdown Camp: a high-energy, hands-on cooking competition where young chefs (ages 11–17) team up, battle it out in the kitchen, and bring bold flavors to life! This immersive two-day camp blends skill-building, teamwork, and creative culinary challenges into one unforgettable experience.
Over the course of two action-packed days, teens will take on four different culinary challenges inspired by real cooking competitions. From precision speed rounds like Mise en Place Mayhem and Taste Trials, to show stopping cook-offs like Patty Royale, Nacho Average Showdown, and Taco ‘Bout a Battle, teens will slice, sauté, and strategize their way to the top.
Each day is 3 hours long and features:
A short warm-up challenge focused on quick thinking, technique, or sensory skills
A longer team-based competition with mystery baskets, limited pantries, or themed ingredient stations
Real-time coaching from instructors and hands-on culinary learning
Blind judging by guest judges — plus competitors vote for the fan favorite!
And, of course, food!
Competitors will rotate through different themed stations, collaborate in small teams, and work with a wide variety of ingredients and kitchen tools. Whether it’s crafting the perfect burger, building epic nachos, or designing a terrific taco, this camp is designed to spark creativity and build confidence in the kitchen.
Kitchen Safety Reminder
Please come dressed for safety:
Wear closed-toe shoes
Long hair must be tied back
Pants or attire that fully covers your legs is required
Whisk Takers: Where Risky Recipes Win Big
Space is limited to ensure personalized instruction and plenty of hands-on time for each player. Whether your teen dreams of becoming a chef or just loves to cook, this camp is the perfect recipe for fun, friendship, and flavor!
Four Action Filled Camps to Choose From!
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Zest. Crunch. Competition. A Fiesta of Flavor Awaits.
The Salsa & Nacho Fiesta kicks off with bold flavors and even bolder teamwork. Over two action-packed days, teens will dive into spicy, snackable challenges that celebrate all things salsa, nachos, and tacos. From fast-paced flavor trials to a full-on nacho showdown, this camp blends culinary creativity with competitive fun. It’s a fiesta of taste, texture, and team triumphs — perfect for young chefs who love to dip, top, and crunch their way to victory.
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Stacks, Swirls, and Serious Flavor Battles
Buns or tortillas? This camp says… why not both? The Burger & Wrap Bonanza is a whirlwind of bold bites and handheld eats where teens build towering burgers, craft gourmet wraps, and compete in challenges that celebrate global flavors and local favorites. From juicy patties to flavor-packed folds, it’s all about balancing flavor and form while racing against the clock. This bonanza is all killer, no filler.
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When the Filling Matters Most
Stuff It! Teen Culinary Throwdown is all about going deep — into dough, into flavor, and into fierce competition. Teens will take on challenges that center around stuffed and sealed favorites like empanadas, calzones, and ravioli. With every fold, pinch, and crimp, they’ll learn the art of packing flavor and precision into every bite. Stuff it right, and your team could rise to the top. This is the throwdown where what’s inside counts most.
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Melt It. Stretch It. Crown the Cheese King or Queen.
Things get melty in Cheesy Champs — and that’s exactly how we like it. From gooey grilled sandwiches to saucy mac masterpieces, this camp is a dream for dairy lovers and cheese chasers. With challenges that test their ability to balance textures and flavors, teens will battle it out for cheese supremacy across two days of creamy, crunchy, golden-brown greatness. Will your team cheese the day?
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Culinary Experiences are interactive cooking competitions designed for people who love to watch cooking competition shows, and have always wanted to try it for themselves.
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These experiences are designed for:
Friends and family gatherings
Visitors to Sonoma County
Locals looking for a group activity
Corporate or team-building groups
Wine club groups and special interest groups
No professional cooking experience required!
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Most experiences are designed for adults. There are three options to consider in designing your experience:
Adults over 18 only;
Mixed group of adults over 18 and teens aged 11-18;
Teen groups aged 11-18 only
We will work together to design the perfect experience for your group, regardless of age!
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No. Experiences are designed to be approachable and enjoyable for all skill levels. A little experience in the kitchen is helpful, but your group will work in teams, so you will likely have at least a few people with experience.
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Locations vary based on your group’s needs.
Small groups (6-12) can often use a standard size kitchen, either at your own home, or a rental property for visitors
Large groups (12-16), or those in need of a larger space, can use the Cooking for a Crowd kitchen
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Group sizes vary depending on the experience, but most events are designed for medium-sized groups. Since the experiences are competition based, the minimum group size is six people. Teams will be divided into groups of three or four, depending on group size. The maximum size is 16 people.
If you are interested in a larger experience, we can work together to provide it. (Our biggest group has been 50 people!)
If your group is smaller than six, contact us, and we can try to schedule two smaller groups together. The nature of the competition requires at least six people.
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Pricing includes:
All food & ingredients
At least two hosts, or more, depending on group size
Setup & cleanup related to the experience
Any additional costs (such as wine purchases or venue fees if needed) will be clearly stated and agreed upon in advance
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Pricing varies by experience and group size. Most experiences start at a per-person rate, with add on item pricing available upon request. Current pricing will always be listed on the experiences page.
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Yes! All experiences are private experiences!
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No. We are not licensed to provide alcoholic beverages, and you will be using knives!
Depending on location of the experience, you may be able to offer your own drinks following the competition, while you eat and judge each other.
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Yes, many dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice, including vegetarian and gluten-free. Please share any restrictions when booking.
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Most experiences require nothing beyond comfortable clothing and a willingness to participate. Any specific requirements will be communicated in advance. If you have long hair, bring something to tie it back.
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We recommend booking at least 2–4 weeks in advance, especially for weekends and peak travel seasons.
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Cancellation policies will be clearly outlined at the time of your booking. Because food needs to be purchased in advance, experiences must be cancelled at least three days prior to the event, and may incur a cancellation penalty.
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Tipping is never required but is always appreciated if you feel the experience exceeded expectations.
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Experiences can be booked directly through our website. Fill out the contact form, and we will get back to you to determine group size, date & time, and help you choose the best combination of experiences to suit your group.
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Experiences are hosted by Cooking for a Crowd. Depending on the size of your group, you will have at least two people hosting. They will lead all activities, setup and cleanup related to the experience, and make sure you and your group have the best time possible!
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If you’re unsure which experience fits your group, reach out — we’re happy to help you choose or create something that works.
Frequently asked questions
Schedule an experience
If you're interested in booking an experience with us, complete the form with a few details about your needs. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.