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The Real Food Academy Miami island chicken salad recipe.
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Island Chicken Salad

By Chef Maria Cummins

Course
salad
Cuisine
caribbean
Servings
8

Ingredients

  • 8 cups romaine lettuce, chopped or torn
  • 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted and sliced
  • 4 small cucumbers or 1 large one, sliced
  • 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, cut in halves (about 3 each pp)
  • 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 pound leftover chicken, skin removed, shredded
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine lettuce, mango, cucumber, onion, and chicken in a serving bowl. Reserve.
  2. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and drizzle over the salad. Toss to combine.

Chef Maria Cummins

Born in Venezuela, Maria Cummins discovered her deep-rooted passion for food from an early age. Her culinary journey led her to Lima, Peru, where she immersed herself in the rich secrets of Peruvian gastronomy during part of her childhood. In her early twenties, she embarked on a new chapter by coming to the United States and delving into the Hospitality Industry in Boston, Massachusetts.

Maria's culinary adventure continued as she relocated to San Diego, California, where she made her mark by opening the renowned El Tucan Restaurant. Her extensive travels and diverse experiences greatly influenced her innovative culinary style, shaping the unique approach she is celebrated for today.

During her time in San Diego, Chef Maria not only honed her culinary skills but also gained a profound understanding of the importance of nutrition, particularly through the use of organic and unprocessed ingredients.

Today, Maria Cummins is the proud owner, founder, and head chef of the Real Food Academy, a culinary haven nestled in the vibrant city of Miami. Here, both kids and adults come together every week to share the joy of connecting through the power of Real Food and Real Fun!

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Winter Camps - Enroll Now

Give your kids a winter break they'll never forget with our fun and interactive cooking camp! At The Real Food Academy's Cooking With Kids Winter Camp, each child will create delicious meals using whole ingredients through hands-on cooking experiences. It's the perfect way to inspire a lifelong love for cooking and healthy eating!

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The Real Food Academy Is Franchising

The Real Food Academy is now offering a fun & family-friendly franchise opportunity. We are expanding and inviting franchisees to join us on our culinary journey! Follow us on Instagram and Learn how you can #inspirelovethroughfood!

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Rave Reviews for The Real Food Academy

proud to have a 4.9 star rating & 700+ reviews

  • Cindy Rods

    Had staff party here and Chef Toni and the staff were amazing!! A great time with music, 4 course meal and just a fun time. A must do with your partner or friends.
  • Ms Romina

    very good service!! chef Tani y Carmen.We have a fun night cooking Love it
  • Edna Mora

    Very fun experience and my kids love it🤩
  • Karla Sánchez

    Best place for cooking classes and team building 💜
  • Rosa Castro

    Fantastic time at The Real Food Academy! Great chefs and food! 10000% recommend!
  • Deborah Lindenfeld

    Amazing experience! We hosted our annual team building event and everyone loved it. Chef Maria is the best.
  • Maria Becerra

    The food was delicious and the experience was so lovely. Will definitely be coming back!
  • R VIVAS

    Most fun ever! Ok maybe not ever, but lots of fun. Chef Toni and Tanya were great!
  • Jennifer Dunfield

    Excellent experience! Chef and sous chefs were so fun!
  • Daphna Barbeau

    Would highly recommend the team at RFA for an event! Price is totally comparable per head for kids birthday and was something new and interesting for our crew. The kids had a wonderful time! The team made everything SO easy and we could provide space and snacks for parents who wanted to hang. I’m just jealous I didn’t get to cook with the kids!
  • Astrid Mariel Bock

    We celebrated my daughter’s 6th birthday at The Real Food Academy. What a great experience. The party was a hit from start to finish. With about 15 kids in attendance, both boys and girls, they had an amazing time making their own pizzas and decorating cupcakes. It was such a fun, hands-on activity that kept everyone engaged and smiling. The food provided by The Real Food Academy for the parents was equally impressive — fresh, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared. Maria and her husband are amazing hosts. Their passion for what they do is evident in the way they run the academy and the genuine care they show to everyone. They guided us seamlessly throughout the party, ensuring everything ran smoothly and making us feel welcome and appreciated. The environment was perfect for both kids and parents. The kids were in a safe, exciting space, allowing parents to relax and enjoy each other’s company. I highly recommend The Real Food Academy for kids’ birthday parties or cooking classes. They truly deliver an unforgettable experience that kids will love and parents will appreciate.
  • Dorothy St

    Amazing experience !! Chef Toni and Carmen provided amazing customer service
  • Michael S

    Chef Toni @ Carmen - thumbs up!
  • Jen & Scott Both-to-be-Kimball

    Chef Toni and Carmen rocked. Great second event at Real Food and can’t wait for the next. Terrific for team events!
  • Katherine Yahav

    We had a very good time!
  • Pablo Jullian

    (Translated by Google) Great course!! We had a great time and learned a lot!! (Original) Buenísimo el curso!! Lo pasamos muy bien y aprendimos mucho!!
  • Pedro Vigil

    Very good experience for a company meeting. We had a wonderful time
  • Ignacia María Vizcaya

    Team Bulding. It was amazing
  • Yuliya Thorne

    My daughter absolutely loved the camp! Over the course of the few weeks she really stepped up her cooking game and now wants to cook most things at home. People working there are incredibly kind and attentive.
  • Marion Gallula

    My daughter just attended the Thanksgiving week camp and loved it so much, she can’t wait to go back for another camp. She is now cooking at home what she learned, I’m impressed.

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Real Food FAQs

No. All Payments and Deposits are non-refundable: When a payment or deposit is made, that day and time is no longer available to other customers on our calendar. For that reason, all payments and deposits are non-refundable.

In the case of a cooking class, the ingredients are shopped for and prepped in advance. Staff is also scheduled according to the number of people on the roster.

See our Wine and Beer list for your in-house kids party options. Optionally, you can bring your own wine or beer and page a corkage fee.

Corkage Fees

  • $15 per 750 ml bottle of wine
  • $30 per 1.5 L bottle of wine

Bring outside beer: $40 for beer (any quantity)

We love it when our customers decorate our place. That said, you have no idea how difficult it is to clean these types of things up. As far as noisemakers go......you will be glad you left them at home as well. So please do not bring any of those things.

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Adult cooking classes offered Every Thursday Night

Special Announcements

Winter Camps - Enroll Now

Give your kids a winter break they'll never forget with our fun and interactive cooking camp! At The Real Food Academy's Cooking With Kids Winter Camp, each child will create delicious meals using whole ingredients through hands-on cooking experiences. It's the perfect way to inspire a lifelong love for cooking and healthy eating!

Book Now

The Real Food Academy Is Franchising

The Real Food Academy is now offering a fun & family-friendly franchise opportunity. We are expanding and inviting franchisees to join us on our culinary journey! Follow us on Instagram and Learn how you can #inspirelovethroughfood!

Learn More