Sid and Nancy Cooking Academy

Sid and Nancy Cooking Academy in Bournemouth is a subscription cooking club for kids aged 4-14. Nicola Edelstein started the company in 2020, putting her qualification in Food, Science & Technology to good use. Having previously worked as a New Product Development Manager for some of the biggest names in kids’ food, she has oodles of experience of developing food for children, and understanding their needs, likes and dislikes. That and the fact she is mum to Sid, 7, and Nancy, 5. Nicola says:

I want every child to have the opportunity to discover the joy and wonder of cooking.

Nicola kindly sent us a recipe box to try out (me and my trusty kitchen helper - Archie, 5). It fit through our letterbox and contained three recipes to feed a family of four. The wipe-clean recipe cards were easy to follow but not too basic. Each card features key kitchen skills and information about a hero ingredient. Nicola has used her expertise to add handy tips such as how to scale up recipes and freeze some for another day.

The attention to detail is fantastic, with cute stickers, a pen to make notes on the wipeable cards, an embroidered ‘award’ patch to iron onto your child’s apron and a selection of cards with bonkers food facts, jokes and conversation starters to enjoy at mealtimes. Archie loved all these extras. There is also a different creative kitchen activity themed around each box. Archie loved the ‘characters’ of Sid and Nancy, especially “that messy little Nancy.”

I think there is too much emphasis on baking when it comes to cooking with kids, and it needn’t be so. I was delighted with the range and breadth of the recipes on offer, from hearty soups and stews to pies and puddings.

Archie and I had great fun making dhal and a gooey custard cake for pudding. In fact, the dhal was such a success that we’ve made it quite a few times since. I think it’s so important to get your kids in the kitchen. Cooking is a good activity to do together, they are learning skills for life, and you are getting dinner made. I find that they will eat anything when they have cooked it themselves, so what better way to broaden your family’s tastes and your cooking repertoire?

I can’t recommend Sid and Nancy Cooking Academy enough, and a subscription would make a fantastic gift. You can buy as a one-off, or get a subscription for three months, six months or annual membership.