CAMP COCOA WEEK-LONG SUMMER COOKING CAMPS FOR TEENS 15 TO 18, PROVIDING SWEET TRAINING FOR NOVICES IN THE ART OF DESSERT PREPARATION – INCUDING A SPECIAL CUPCAKE COMPETITION

Cocoa Lab offers a new teen summer camp experience this year, as the first-ever Camp Cocoa presents two week-long dessert-preparation day-camps for young culinarians ages 15 to 18. No cooking experience is required. 

Camp Cocoa day-camp weeks will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte over the following summer 2012 sessions: July 16 through 20 and August 6 through 10. Class content will be unlike that offered at any other teen camp, as students learn to master the following sweet dessert arts over five consecutive days of learning, cooking and tasting. Each day’s classes extend from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Camp Cocoa-Monday

• Equipment, Safety, Sanitation, Kitchen and Product/Ingredient Orientation 
• Baking Formulas and Calculations 
• Introduction to Doughs and Batters 
• Pie Dough 
• Pie Fillings 
• Whole Pies / Turnovers

Camp Cocoa-Tuesday

• Cupcake and Cake Batters: Chocolate, Carrot, Vanilla 
• Icings and Cake Fillings: Vanilla-Scented Raspberry Jam, Buttercream, Cream Cheese Icing 
• Cupcake / Cake Building and Decorating: Chocolate 
• Cupcake Competition

Camp Cocoa-Wednesday

• Breakfast Doughs and Batters: Muffins, Buttermilk Biscuits, Doughnuts 
• Other Doughs and Batters: Pizza, Parker House, Pizza Fingers, Garlic Sticks with Cheese

Camp Cocoa-Thursday

• Cookies, Cookies, Cookies: Oatmeal, Thumbprint, French Macarons, Chocolate Chip 
• Chocolate – White, Milk, Dark: Truffles, Fondue

Camp Cocoa-Friday

• Ice Cream and Frozen Treats: Ice Cream Bases, Sorbet, Yogurt Pops, Home-Made Waffle Cones 
• Custards: Lemon Curd, Puddings

Each week of chef-led classes is priced at $550 per person, is limited to eight students between the ages of 15 and 18, and provides daily lunch and a chef’s apron to keep as a memento of Camp Cocoa. A highlight of every class will be the tasting of students’ daily dessert creations, and each student will also be presented with treats to take home after each day’s session. No cooking training is required to attend Camp Cocoa, and no overnight hotel stay is included or required. 

Camp reservations may be made at 704-547-2244. Because space is limited, early enrollment is strongly recommended.