Saudi- Amal Fakeihteaching your kids how to cook

(MENAFN- Arab News) 've all heard the sayings that 'the key to a man's heart is through his stomach' or 'a good cook makes a good marriage' and as children we've all had the small kitchen toy set with the oven baking up some cookies or brownies.

This age-old trend has now been given a new boost with the establishment of Young Chefs Academy whose cofounder Chef Amal Fakeih is out to teach kids all about food healthy meals their goodness and how easy it is to prepare them. The academy is already drawing excited mothers eager to enrol their children under the care of Amal Fakeih an aspiring chef and 26-year-old graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu academy in London. Chef Amal has always had a distinct taste in food trying out different cuisines and finding ways to implement it in her cooking. Adding to her passion for food she is helping to teach children what she knows spreading the knowledge of healthy eating along the way.

Arab News got in touch with the young ambitious chef and heard her story.

How did you become a chef and what prompted you to choose such a career path

I have always loved food and admired who was behind the scenes in the kitchen whether it was my mother grandmothers or the cook. I always liked to try new ingredients and recipes and improvise them to give a personal touch.

I went to London after high school for my B.A. degree in visual communications which was what my sister was studying at the time and the closest thing to what I wanted then. I used to pass by Cordon Bleu London everyday and it just intrigued me to enroll and find out what it was like to be a chef knowing that not many Saudis chose to become culinary chefs at the time.

How was your career molded to what it is today

I've always loved food whether its sweet or savory like anyone else but as a child I used to notice the little add-ons in food which makes it taste really good and the little things that change the dish completely. At 18 years of age I enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu with Allah's blessing and my family's support.

I found my passion and realized that was truly what I loved to do. I was in love with the idea of becoming a chef and the journey started from there. I used to go to classes every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. five days a week and once I finished my day I would pass by a grocery store and buy ingredients to make what I had just learned.

After a lot of hard work I became the youngest of four graduates from 20 candidates to get the grand diploma in French cuisine and pastries.

After graduating and returning to Jeddah were there any obstacles that surfaced If so how did you handle and beat them

I came back very young and ambitious and filled with excitement expecting that everyone will be as thrilled as my family and I were. However in 2007 no one was accepting to the idea of being a chef in Saudi Arabia let alone being a female chef.

Knowing that our community wasn't ready yet I traveled again but this time to Washington DC and took courses in different cuisines (Latin Italian Asian Caribbean American and African). In 2011 I returned and decided to open up a culinary school for adults and started writing a curriculum.

Is it hard to work as a female Saudi chef in a dominant male profession in the Kingdom

Being a female chef anywhere in the world isn't easy so I was expecting it to be even more here in Saudi Arabia but It didn't scare meit actually challenged and motivated me to be even better.

After graduating and establishing the Young Chefs Academy was it always something you wanted to do from the word 'go'

My two passions in life are children and food. I always wanted to open an academy for culinary arts but to be honest I had adults in mind.

The inspiration behind the Young Chefs Academy was my sister Dalal Fakeih now the manager of YCA and we are now Co-Owners. She saw this franchise in the States while on a visit with her family and took her daughter for a class there. We then brainstormed about bringing in the YCA franchise to the Kingdom and when we've gained enough experience we can introduce an academy for adults.

How excited were the residents of Jeddah when you opened the doors to your establishment

At first people did not understand the concept but slowly they started to realize that it's more than just cooking. Their children are learning discipline and team work while cooking learning real French techniques and skills. The idea become more appealing to them and thank god our young chefs are enjoying their time. It is 'Edutainment' and kids leave happy educated and full.

What motivated you and your partners to bring in the YCA here

My sister Dalal is the brains behind the success of YCA Jeddah. Dalal is basically my number one motivator and inspiration throughout my education. She also loves cooking and has very artistic taste.

In what way were you able to integrate what you were taught in Cordon Bleu and the classes you teach

Cordon Bleu is with me in everything I do in the kitchen. That knowledge has helped me to make YCA where young chefs learn real culinary arts skills and techniques as would grownups at culinary schools. From knife skills to sauce making to fresh bread dough and pastas and many more interesting skills.

You emphasize a lot on health in your meals. How did kids respond to it knowing that they are very picky when it comes to food

I have realized that kids love what they achieve like anyone would. For example at YCA we have 'chicken nuggets' but it's a healthy and a very tasty version with half the calories usually found in fast food restaurants. At first kids didn't like the name 'healthy food' but slowly came to understand that healthy can still be extremely delicious.

When dealing with children that have a hard time learning a certain trait you're trying to teach how do you deal with them and grab their attention back

Keeping them busy all the time and creating more work to do. Kids love working with their hands and once their hands are busy nothing can distract them.

What do you think makes parents and children sign up their kids in your classes What do you think drives them

I think it's the experience that their kids go through from knowing what goes in their food everyday to learning about different recipes to learning how to use their hands and be independent. Learning to work in a new atmosphere gives that sense of independence.

And how do you contribute to that

By letting the kids do it all and to always take their suggestions on what to make in the weeks later even if it's not what it should be. We try to make it work and to let them be creative. Even if it turns out wrong it's still a learning experience that will only make them better. There is never one way to cook or bake.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time

Hopefully we will become mothers and open an academy for adults as well and teach them professional culinary recipes skills and techniques. I'd love to have a Young Chefs Academy in RiyadhAlkhobar and Dammam as well as more branches in Jeddah itself. Without the support and help of my wonderful family and the YCA team I wouldn't be in the position I am in today. They are the real success behind my near success.

Email: [emailprotected]

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