The Flavor Lab: Herbs, Spices & Seasoning
Monday, January 4, 2027 | 12:00PM - 3:00PM (Each Monday for Six Weeks - 12:00PM - 3:00PM)
$899.00 per station - Suitable for Dynamic Duos for Students from the Same Home
A Six-Week Cooking Series for Independent Young Cooks (Ages 11 and Up)
In this fun, fully hands-on six-week cooking course at the Florida Academy of Baking, teens will discover the secrets behind delicious food and learn how to confidently season, taste, and adjust dishes to suit their own preferences.
From experimenting with herbs and spices to creating signature sauces, marinades, and seasoning blends, students will explore how sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors work together — and how a little heat can completely transform a dish.
Each week builds on the skills learned in previous classes, combining practical cooking and baking techniques with exciting flavor experiments. Students won't just follow recipes; they'll learn how to substitute ingredients, balance flavors, and make dishes their own.
Week 1 – The Five Tastes: Building Flavor Foundations - Homemade Seasoned Chicken Tenders, Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges & Three Dipping Sauces. Discover the five basic tastes and learn how salt, acidity, sweetness, and seasonings can transform everyday ingredients. Students will practice knife skills, prepare their own chicken tenders and potato wedges, and experiment with different dipping sauces.
Week 2 – Fresh vs. Dried: The Wonderful World of Herbs - Herb-Marinated Chicken, Rosemary Focaccia & Homemade Herb Butter. Explore the aromas and flavors of fresh and dried herbs, discover which ingredients they complement, and learn when to use each. Students will also develop their breadmaking skills as they prepare focaccia from scratch.
Week 3 – Spice It Up! Toasting, Grinding & Blending - Chicken or Vegetable Kebabs, Spiced Rice, Tzatziki & Homemade Flatbreads. Travel through the exciting world of spices! Learn how to toast and grind whole spices, combine flavors, and control heat. Students will experiment with cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, chili, and more while preparing a delicious meal.
Week 4 – Sauce Boss: The Secret to Great Cooking - Pasta with a Tomato, Creamy Garlic or Herb-Based Sauces. Discover how a great sauce can completely transform a meal! Students will learn to build flavor using aromatics, herbs, spices, and seasonings while exploring different sauce-making techniques. They'll discover how to balance acidity, sweetness, salt, and richness.
Week 5 – Layering Flavor: Marinades, Rubs & Roasting - Oven-Roasted Chicken, Seasoned Roasted Vegetables & Homemade Dinner Rolls. Put those seasoning skills to work! Students will explore the differences between marinades and dry rubs, discover how roasting develops flavor, and learn to coordinate several dishes so everything is ready at the same time.
Week 6 – The Ultimate Steak Challenge! - Perfectly Cooked Steak with Student-Selected Side Dishes. It's time to put six weeks of learning to the test! Students will select their preferred seasonings, prepare and cook their own steak to their desired doneness, and choose and prepare accompanying side dishes. They'll use their knowledge of herbs, spices, seasoning, cooking methods, and flavor balance to create a complete meal that reflects their individual tastes.
Throughout the course, students will develop essential kitchen skills, including:
Knife skills, kitchen safety, and food hygiene
Identifying and using fresh herbs and dried spices
Creating homemade spice blends, sauces, marinades, and rubs
Learning how to substitute ingredients to suit individual preferences
Cooking proteins safely and using temperature to determine doneness
Planning, organizing, and timing multiple dishes
Tasting, adjusting, and troubleshooting recipes
Our goal is simple: to teach teens how to think like cooks, not just follow recipes.
By the end of six weeks, students will have the confidence to open the refrigerator, select ingredients, choose seasonings, and create delicious meals that suit their own tastes.
They'll understand not just what to add to a dish, but why — giving them practical cooking skills they'll use for years to come.
All ingredients, aprons, equipment for in-class use, packaging, and recipes are provided. Students will enjoy or take home the delicious food they prepare, along with recipes and techniques to practice at home.
No previous cooking experience necessary — just an appetite for learning!
Spaces are limited — book your teen's place in The Flavor Lab today and let their culinary confidence grow!
We provide all ingredients, supplies, and tools required for use during each class. Best of all you get to take home whatever tasty treats you make - we provide all boxes/packaging too!
Please wear comfortable shoes (stools will be provided) and have long hair tied back. For the comfort of all our students and staff, we ask that you refrain from wearing strong perfume or cologne. You may wish to bring a cardigan or sweater as the kitchen is kept at 68F.