century city mall Archives

CAMP Opens West Coast Flagship in Century City

Published May 6, 2022

By Nina Harada

CAMP is now open at the Westfield Century City mall. PHOTOS COURTESY CAMP

Sometimes I dread going to the store with my daughter, even if we’re shopping for her, because she wants to explore and touch everything. I love her curious nature; I hate constantly telling her “no.” The family experience company CAMP combines the needs of both parents and kids in their immersive store, now open at Westfield Century City, by creating a giant “yes” zone.

On April 23 CAMP opened its West Coast flagship with its signature theme, Base Camp, an immersive summer camp-themed experience. Every few months a new theme is introduced, which takes over the 7,000 square foot space. Families first enter the “canteen” where carefully curated shelves are stocked with toys, books and gifts for kids and adults, including CAMP’s signature clothing line featuring their L.A. exclusive capsule collection. Adults can browse beer brewing kits, BBQ accessories, cookbooks, wine glasses and more. Kids can explore toys, stuffed animals, puzzles and books while they make their way to the back of the store where a magic door opens if they say the magic word.

The speak-easy style door reveals a magical, interactive and immersive space that is part toy store and part activity destination. A life-size RV lets kids pretend they’re on a camping trip, with fully equipped play kitchen, secret passageway and picnic table. A Barbie-themed Disco Cabin features glitter walls that change color while kids show off their dance moves. Activity stations include a splatter room where you can create your own masterpiece, a spin art & slime station and a create & paint station. CAMP also hosts monthly events in their “Campitheater,” like live entertainment, bubbles parties and more. This separate theater room is also bookable for private events like birthday parties.

CAMP is located on the second floor at Westfield Century City.

Q&A: Little Kitchen Academy

Published September 1, 2021

Nina Harada

At some point in our parenting, we’ve probably wondered how we can get our kids to eat more vegetables. Our kids’ tastes change, they want to practice their autonomy, or they don’t like the texture. Whatever the reason, getting our children to want to eat nutritious food can be a challenge for some families. Felicity Curin, the founder and president of Little Kitchen Academy and mother of three, wondered the same thing. Combining her restaurant experience, Montessori training and passion for nutrition she created Little Kitchen Academy, which has locations in Canada, the U.S. and plans to expand around the globe. Their latest location, and the first Little Kitchen Academy in the States, is right here in Los Angeles. Little Kitchen Academy in Century City opened Aug. 16 with the help of Iron Chef Cat Cora, Little Kitchen Academy’s Official Ambassador, Honorary Head of Recipe Development and Advisory Board Member. The Century City location offers Montessori-inspired cooking classes for ages 3 – 18, where young chefs learn seasonal recipes, how to use kitchen equipment, composting and more.

We were fortunate to chat with both Felicty Curin and Cat Cora about inspiring families to cook, getting kids to explore different foods and finding joy in the kitchen.

Iron Chef Cat Cora

Little Kitchen Academy’s Official Ambassador, Honorary Head of Recipe Development, and Advisory Board Member

Chef Cat Cora is Little Kitchen’s Official Ambassador, Iron Chef, author, restauranteur and mother of six. PHOTO COURTESY LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY

What made you decide to join Little Kitchen Academy?

When I first met Brian and Felicity Curin and learned about Little Kitchen Academy, I immediately knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of. I could tell that Little Kitchen Academy was a special concept that would provide so many children with the opportunity to learn practical life skills through cooking. When I experienced a class and saw how empowered and independent the students were in the kitchen, I was certain that we had to share this incredible gift with as many children as possible. I am so excited to have the first U.S. Little Kitchen Academy at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles so children in my backyard can experience the joy of Little Kitchen Academy for themselves!

Are your kids involved in cooking and preparing meals at home?

Family is very important to me, so I love involving my kids in the kitchen at home whenever I can! Some of my boys are more interested in cooking than others and love trying new recipes or just making meals with me. I think it’s important that our children learn practical life skills like cooking to build their independence, so I try to engage my kids in preparing meals with me as often as possible.

What inspired you to take pursue the culinary path?

Food was always a big part of my family life growing up so some of the inspiration came from those big family dinners. I also was inspired by being around people in the restaurant business, as my grandfather owned cafes and my godfather ran restaurants in Mississippi. From a pretty young age I knew I wanted to pursue the culinary path. When I was 15, I even drafted a business plan to start a restaurant. Then, when I met Julia Child, my path became so clear, and I was inspired to enroll at the Culinary Institute of America.

What is your favorite way to spend the weekend with your family in SoCal? Any special spots or restaurants?

A BBQ and swimming in the backyard. Going to Runyon Canyon for a hike. Walking Melrose. Going to different farmers markets. Playing basketball. Going to Venice skate park and the beach. Going to a movie. Some of our family regular spots are Pizzana, Sugarfish, Nate ‘n Als, Birrieria Tlaquepaque, La Provence Patisserie & Café, Da Pasquale, Soho House, Beverly Hills Juice Club, and Croft Ally. For dessert, we love B Sweet, Sweet Lady Jane, and The Bigg Chill.

Little Kitchen Academy is now open in the Westfield Century City mall.

Felicity Curin

Founder and President of Little Kitchen Academy

What is the best way to introduce young kids to the joy of eating different kinds of foods and to the joy of cooking?

The best way to encourage children to try different foods is by finding ways to spark their curiosity! Children are curious by nature and they want to try new things. Our job is to find ways to empower them to take that risk and try a new food. A big part of that is engaging them in the process of cooking. When children clean some fresh mushrooms or broccoli, they often will take a bite out of them as they go because children are curious. It’s also important to remember they don’t have to like the foods they try. Even as adults there are certain foods we don’t like and that’s okay. I would suggest encouraging them to understand and express why they don’t like something. Maybe they find roasted zucchini to be too mushy, but they love spiralized zucchini with garlic and cheese! When we create that safe, empowering space for our children to take a risk and to express themselves, they are much more likely to try new foods and to enjoy cooking.

What advice do you have for busy families who feel like they don’t have time to cook?

There are so many great, easy, quick meals you can make from scratch. I think it’s important to remember that meals don’t have to be fancy or take three hours to prepare to be delicious and healthy. I would suggest that if you feel short on time, try engaging your children in the process. We had a student who learned to make an egg sandwich in one of our classes at our location in Vancouver, Canada. A few weeks later, as her mom was rushing around feeling like she wouldn’t have enough time to make dinner, the child chimed in and said, “Don’t worry mom, I can make dinner,” and prepared the egg sandwich for them. It was such a beautiful moment and such a great reminder that our children are often more capable than we think.

Little Kitchen Academy to Open in L.A.

Published April 6, 2021

By Elena Epstein

Little Kitchen Academy is opening at the Century City Mall. PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY

Little Kitchen Academy, the first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages 3 through teen, will open its inaugural U.S. location at Westfield Century City this summer.

Little Kitchen Academy is the realization of a long-held dream of Montessori-trained culinary expert and visionary, Felicity Curin who co-founded the organization with her husband, global brand and franchise expert and entrepreneur Brian Curin (Cold Stone Creamery, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Flip Flop Shops), and social impact investor and entrepreneur Praveen Varshney. Founded to provide a safe, inspiring and empowering space for students to develop and refine their senses and acquire both important practical life skills and confidence, the L.A. location will serve as the flagship training facility for the brand which will be expanding globally.

“We are delighted to bring this “from scratch” concept to the United States and to the Los Angeles community,” said Brian Curin, CEO and Co-Founder of Little Kitchen Academy. “Our Montessori-inspired approach empowers students to learn the practical life skills needed to succeed not just in the kitchen, but in school, and in life.”

Adds Felicity Curin, President, COO and Co-Founder of Little Kitchen Academy, “It has been remarkably gratifying to help foster and witness the growth and self-confidence of our students at every age level, and we are excited to share this transformational journey to independence and discovery with families in Los Angeles and beyond.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY

Due to open its doors on the two-year anniversary of the launch of the first Little Kitchen Academy in Vancouver, BC, the 1,505-square-foot Westfield Century City location will feature the same modern, innovative, signature LKA design, complete with a hand washing center, 10 individual cooking stations (a.k.a. Little Kitchens) that are physically distanced appropriately. Each Little Kitchen will be equipped with its own oven, induction cooktop, sink, cleaning and sanitizing supplies, prep table, mixer and all the equipment and utensils needed to make the “from scratch” creations including vegetable peelers, rolling pins, measuring spoons, and colanders, which are meticulously kept, cleaned, and commercially sanitized between each class.

Learning begins as soon as students enter the “for student chefs only” environment, where they are acquainted with and practice proper hand washing. Each instructor and student dons an LKA chef coat by ChefWorks and a fitted pair of BIRKENSTOCK chef shoes (two of several global brand partners) to begin their personalized cooking journey.

The new location will feature items from each of the Little Kitchen Academy strategic partnerships, ensuring the ability to offer an authentic, sustainable experience. These include the ChopValue community table composed of 33,000+ recycled chopsticks where students will enjoy their creations at the close of every lesson once current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted (until that time, students will dine safely at their individual workstations), Emeco chairs made of recycled plastic bottles, and an eye-catching living food wall powered by AeroGarden, for students to grow and harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs for use in their creations. Additional global brand partners include Welcome Industries, which provides educational cooking tools, including measuring cups shaped like fractions to make cooking and learning math engaging and fun, and Brand Ambassador Iron Chef Cat Cora, a world-renowned chef, best-selling author, restaurateur, philanthropist and mother of six.

“As a Los Angeles native, chef and mother, I’m thrilled to welcome Little Kitchen Academy to Southern California where local families and children can experience joy, love, and learning in the kitchen,” says Iron Chef Cat Cora, Advisory Board Member, Honorary Head of Recipe Development, and Brand Ambassador of Little Kitchen Academy. “I believe passionately in Little Kitchen Academy’s mission and have had the rewarding experience of witnessing first-hand the growth of children as they harness their natural sense of wonder and curiosity on the road to self-reliance.”

LKA’s Montessori-inspired environment is organized to support the growth and development of each child. Instructors show the students how to safely use tools, but step back to closely observe the independent work, only stepping in when safety is a concern. This approach enables students to learn at their own pace while they acquire practical life skills that foster independence, confidence, and socialization. LKA further empowers students to make better food choices, to apply age-appropriate math and science skills in real-world settings, and embrace practices such as recycling, composting, and the concept of philanthropy in order to make positive, socially conscious contributions to the world through its recently announced global philanthropic initiative “How Can I Help,” which empowers students to learn about giving back and making a difference by putting the choice in their hands to support one of four notable causes.

Sessions of three-hour classes run year-round, are organized by age group for up to 10 students per session (ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, and 13+ years old) and are overseen by three instructors per class. The curriculum focuses on seasonal, locally grown and organic produce and ingredients, and students enjoy the fruits of their labor for a “scratch to consumption” experience.

In May 2020, Little Kitchen Academy announced its plans to open more than 400 global locations by 2025 and is currently seeking like-minded multi-unit franchisees and development partners based exclusively in AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MS, NC, OR, TX, WA, WI. Internationally, LKA is focused on expanding further into Canada, as well as Australia, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, MENA region, Singapore, Spain, and the U.K.

Iron Chef Cat Cora

Felicity Curin

L.A. Parent