Junior Chef Academy
$680 + HST · Ages 8–13, up to 10 kids
Both Cookiddoo and Julianna Banana offer cooking experiences for Ottawa kids, and they serve different families. Cookiddoo is a kids-only cooking school for ages 4 to 15 with a full cooking curriculum across cuisines and techniques: children cook on their own with an instructor, at your home, at school or in Kanata. Julianna Banana focuses on baking in a parent-accompanied format, which makes it a shared family activity. Choosing between them comes down to what your family is actually looking for: independent skill-building for your child, or shared baking time together. As of 2026 both operate in the Ottawa area, and either can be the right choice for a given family.
Two Ottawa programs, two different goals
When parents research kids cooking classes in Ottawa, Cookiddoo and Julianna Banana are the two names that come up most often. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at who is in the kitchen. At Cookiddoo, children cook on their own with an instructor, in age-grouped classes (ages 4–15) that cover savoury dishes, baking, international cuisines and technique, and the class can come to your home or your child's school. At Julianna Banana, parent and child bake side by side — a guided family activity built around the craft of baking. Most families lean toward Cookiddoo when they want their child to build independent skills, and toward Julianna Banana when they want a shared experience. Knowing which of the two you are actually after makes the decision simple.
Quick comparison
| Cookiddoo | Julianna Banana | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Comes to your home, school or venue across Ottawa and Gatineau; based in Kanata | Ottawa area (check current location) |
| Ages served | 4–15 | Varies (check with provider) |
| Format | Children cook on their own with the instructor | Parent-accompanied |
| Focus | Full cooking curriculum — savoury + baking | Baking-focused |
| Class size | Up to 10 kids | Check with provider |
| Ownership | Women-owned | Check with provider |
| Birthday parties | Yes — at your home, $385 for 8 kids | Check with provider |
| Camps | Yes — summer and March Break | Check with provider |
| Schools and daycares | Workshops and after-school programs at your school | Check with provider |
| Pricing | Classes from $55 per child; private class at home $385 for 8 kids | Check with provider |
| Best for | Kids building culinary independence; parents who want the class to come to them | Families who want to bake together |
About Cookiddoo
Cookiddoo is a Kanata-based cooking school that works only with children. It was built around a clear premise: a real cooking class made for kids ages 4 to 15, taught by instructors who work only with children, with no compromise on the quality of instruction or ingredients. Its instructors bring the class to homes, schools, daycares and community centres across Ottawa and Gatineau.
Cookiddoo runs two-hour classes on rotating themes — savoury dishes, baking, international cuisines and seasonal cooking — as private classes at home and as open classes in Kanata. The Junior Chef Academy is the deepest level of the ladder: an 8-week evening course for ages 8 to 13 that builds culinary skill week by week. Cookiddoo also brings birthday parties to your home, runs after-school programs and workshops at schools, and holds summer and March Break camps.
Independence is the point of the format. Cookiddoo's view is that children build genuine confidence when they work on their own: they solve the problem themselves and experience the result as their own. By the end of a session, a child who has made a dish from scratch without help feels a specific kind of pride that carries forward.
As a women-owned business, Cookiddoo brings a particular approach to how children are taught and how classes are run. The maximum of 10 kids per instructor is enforced, so every child gets direct attention and hands-on access to the equipment. Families consistently rate the experience highly: Cookiddoo holds a 4.6★ rating on Google.
Contact: cookiddoo.com • info@cookiddoo.com • +1 613-710-0554 • 301-150 Katimavik Rd, Kanata, Ottawa, ON K2L 2N2
About Julianna Banana
Julianna Banana is an Ottawa-area baking program for kids that runs in a parent-accompanied model. Families attend together — the activity is a shared experience between adult and child.
The baking focus is genuine: the program leans into the craft of baking — decorating, assembling and producing finished baked goods. It is designed for families who enjoy the process of baking together and want a structured, guided environment in which to do it. The parent-present format makes it accessible for younger children who like a familiar adult nearby, and it appeals to families who see cooking as shared time.
For families who have fond memories of baking with a grandparent or parent and want to recreate that dynamic in a guided setting, Julianna Banana is built for exactly that.
Who should choose Cookiddoo?
Cookiddoo is the right choice if:
- Your child wants to cook independently. If your eight-year-old is telling you they want to learn to cook themselves, a class where they cook on their own lets them own the experience entirely.
- You want someone else to run the kitchen. For parents with several children, work schedules or a birthday to host, Cookiddoo brings the instructor, ingredients and tools, runs the class and cleans up. You come back to a child who made lunch.
- Your child is anywhere in the 4–15 range. Whether your child is 4 or 14, there is structured programming for them, so you are not re-shopping the moment they age out of a narrow window.
- You want a full cooking curriculum. Cookiddoo covers savoury cooking, international cuisines, technique and baking. If your child's interest is “I want to cook real food,” it is the more comprehensive fit.
- You are interested in camps, courses or school workshops. The weekly course, summer and March Break camps, workshops at school and parties at home mean the relationship can grow as your child's interest deepens.
Who should choose Julianna Banana?
Julianna Banana is the right choice if:
- You want to do this together. Some families don't want to drop off and leave — they want to be in the room, rolling dough alongside their child. If the point is shared family time, this format serves that goal directly.
- Your child is young and likes a parent nearby. For very young children who aren't yet ready for a drop-off environment, the parent-accompanied format removes that barrier — the child has the security of a familiar adult in a new setting.
- Baking is the specific interest. Not every child who likes food is drawn to savoury cooking. If your child specifically wants to bake — cakes, cookies, decorating — a baking focus matches that interest directly.
- You are looking for a family activity. If you are buying an experience that you and your child will enjoy doing together, a parent-accompanied baking class belongs in a different category from a children's cooking class. Each suits a different purchase.
Can you do both?
Yes — and for some Ottawa families, both fit into the picture.
A family might book Julianna Banana sessions when the goal is shared time together, and Cookiddoo master classes when the child wants to bring home a dish they made themselves. The two formats serve different moods and occasions.
Likewise, a family where one parent bakes with a younger child at Julianna Banana might enroll an older child in Cookiddoo's Junior Chef course. The two programs fill different slots in your life.
The short test: who do you want in the kitchen? If the answer is “my child, learning independently,” choose Cookiddoo. If it is “my child and me, together,” choose Julianna Banana. If it is “both, at different times,” do both.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cookiddoo more expensive than Julianna Banana?
Both sit in a similar per-session range for single classes, with camps and multi-session courses priced higher. Cookiddoo classes start from $55 per child, and a private class at your home is $385 for 8 children. The real difference between the two is format and experience.
Can my child do both?
Yes. Many Ottawa families use both: Cookiddoo for independent skill-building and Julianna Banana for parent-child baking sessions. The age ranges overlap, so a child can do both when the programs serve different goals.
Which is better for shy children?
Cookiddoo's small groups (up to 10 kids) work well for children who warm up slowly: they learn at their own pace, which many kids find freeing, and a first class at home among friends is the easiest possible start. Julianna Banana's parent-involvement model may reassure very young or anxious children.
Does Cookiddoo offer parent-and-child classes like Julianna Banana?
Cookiddoo classes are built around children cooking on their own. At a class in your home, parents are nearby and usually join the tasting at the end. If cooking side by side is the priority, Julianna Banana is the better fit.
Which is better for a cooking-themed birthday party?
Both offer birthday options. Cookiddoo brings the party to your home: two hours, $385 for 8 children (up to 10), with the instructor, ingredients, aprons and cleanup included — see our Ottawa cooking birthday party guide. For parties with a strong parent-participation element, compare both programs' current offerings directly.
Where does each one run?
Cookiddoo is based in Kanata, in west Ottawa, and comes to homes, schools and venues across Ottawa and Gatineau; its weekly course runs in Kanata. Julianna Banana operates in the central Ottawa area; check its current location before booking. For families in the east end or downtown, a class that travels to you takes the drive out of the decision.
Book a Cookiddoo session
If Cookiddoo sounds like the right fit for your family, the next step is straightforward. Tell us your child's age and the date you have in mind, and we will suggest a class at your home or the next group in Kanata. Weekend dates in the fall, around March Break and through the summer go first, so writing early gives you the most choice.
Book now:
- Website: cookiddoo.com
- Phone: +1 613-710-0554
- Email: info@cookiddoo.com
- Address: 301-150 Katimavik Rd, Kanata, Ottawa, ON K2L 2N2
A kids-only cooking school based in Kanata: ages 4 to 15, classes at your home, at school or in Kanata, up to 10 kids per instructor, women-owned, rated 4.6★ on Google.
Also on Cookiddoo: Kids Cooking Classes Ottawa — Complete Guide · Cooking Birthday Parties Ottawa · Kids Cooking FAQ
What Ottawa parents say
4.629 reviews on GoogleMy son attended several cooking classes at Cookiddoo, and he loved every one of them. He’s now a much more confident and capable helper in the kitchen, which has been amazing to see.
The instructors were incredibly engaging and patient with the kids. It is a wonderful, interactive way for children to learn new skills and build confidence in the kitchen.
My daughter attended one of their classes and made a delicious lasagna completely from scratch. I was truly impressed with what she accomplished.
Junior Chef Academy
$680 + HST · Ages 8–13, up to 10 kids