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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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Sign up today for fun, hands-on cooking adventures! Kids will learn culinary skills, make new friends, and have fun creating delicious dishes. Spots are limited—reserve your child's place now!

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Rave Reviews for The Real Food Academy

proud to have a 4.9 star rating & 700+ reviews

  • Yana Melnyk

    Amazing place to spend time with friends and at last learn to cook 🧑‍🍳🥰
  • Olena Yolkina

    😍
  • Nicolette Jackson

    I recently booked a Budding Chef class for my son’s Five Nights at Freddy’s themed 5th birthday and it was a hit. Chef Mays was patient, friendly, and fun. She walked the kids through each step and made sure each kid had hands-on experience. It was also a great learning experience. Highly recommend it to any parent looking for something different for their little ones.
  • Lucie Spieler

    We made empanada, ceviche, French fries, and lomo saltado with Chec Toni. It was fun and delicious!
  • RJ de Varona

    Amazing experience!! Definitely recommend.
  • Cristina Interian

    Such a great experience! Well organized. All students are engaged and participating. The perfect length field trip for little ones. Thank you to The Real Food Academy!
  • Rachel T.

    Amazing time with our group hosted by chef Toni and Ray
  • Marisela De Leo

    (Translated by Google) My son went to Spring Camp last week, and he was fascinated, this Saturday he returns, he loved the way they taught him as well as the activities they did, and he repeated his knowledge the next day. Today Saturday he went and he is super excited, Thank you!!! (Original) Mi hijo fue la semana pasada del Spring Camp,y el quedó fascinado,este sábado vuelve,le encantó la manera en que lo enseñaron así como las actividades que realizaron,y el repitió al día siguiente sus conocimientos.Hoy sábado fue y está súper entusiasmado,Gracias!!!
  • Geoff Kahler

    What a great way to bring people together.
  • Nathan Kim

    We had a great experience during our team offsite! The food was delicious and the cooking instructions were very clear. What a blast!
  • Isania Zapete

    This is an amazing academy! My daughther has been a student here for almost a year and we have not once been disappointed. All the staff are so kind and patient. I would definitely recommend coming!
  • Valerie Creighton

    We did a hands-on cooking evening with a group of foodies and serious home cooks that were traveling together. Wonderful experience! No expertise required, they took excellent care of us in the beautiful space and we prepared and ate a delicious meal. I just can’t praise them highly enough!
  • Maria Robinson

    Chef Paolo was amazing! The food was spectacular!
  • Chelsey Rebelo

    My daughter really enjoy cooking camp during spring break! She was so sad to leave.. I will definitely be bringing her back in the future. Thank you!
  • Roxana Casanueva

    I recently attended the pizza-making class at The Real Food Academy, and it was an amazing experience! The class was fun, interactive, and perfect for all skill levels. The instructors were knowledgeable and made the process easy to follow, from kneading the dough to choosing fresh ingredients for toppings. The best part was getting to customize my own pizza and then enjoying the delicious results! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, making it a great activity for friends, couples, or even solo attendees. I also appreciated the focus on high-quality, wholesome ingredients. Overall, I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves pizza and wants to learn how to make it from scratch. A great way to spend an evening and pick up some new cooking skills!
  • Chris Cunningham

    PIZZA NIGHT WAS THE BEST!! Highly recommend
  • Sabrina Faroh

    We had so much fun at the pizza class thank you chef maria and chef paolo it was a great experience 10/10
  • Lauren Hunter

    Our friends took the pizza class as a triple date and had SO much fun. The instructors are so knowledgeable & friendly - they really walk you through the whole process & make it such a fun experience. We will definitely come back!!! Ps Our pizzas came out so so so yummy!
  • Christopher Vazquez

    Amazing pizza class! Definitely recommend!
  • Jenna Kuzawski

    SO FUN!!!!! Highly recommend this experience!!! Wonderful, clean atmosphere with incredible food!!!
  • Yana Melnyk

    Amazing place to spend time with friends and at last learn to cook 🧑‍🍳🥰
  • Olena Yolkina

    😍
  • Nicolette Jackson

    I recently booked a Budding Chef class for my son’s Five Nights at Freddy’s themed 5th birthday and it was a hit. Chef Mays was patient, friendly, and fun. She walked the kids through each step and made sure each kid had hands-on experience. It was also a great learning experience. Highly recommend it to any parent looking for something different for their little ones.
  • Lucie Spieler

    We made empanada, ceviche, French fries, and lomo saltado with Chec Toni. It was fun and delicious!
  • RJ de Varona

    Amazing experience!! Definitely recommend.
  • Cristina Interian

    Such a great experience! Well organized. All students are engaged and participating. The perfect length field trip for little ones. Thank you to The Real Food Academy!
  • Rachel T.

    Amazing time with our group hosted by chef Toni and Ray
  • Marisela De Leo

    (Translated by Google) My son went to Spring Camp last week, and he was fascinated, this Saturday he returns, he loved the way they taught him as well as the activities they did, and he repeated his knowledge the next day. Today Saturday he went and he is super excited, Thank you!!! (Original) Mi hijo fue la semana pasada del Spring Camp,y el quedó fascinado,este sábado vuelve,le encantó la manera en que lo enseñaron así como las actividades que realizaron,y el repitió al día siguiente sus conocimientos.Hoy sábado fue y está súper entusiasmado,Gracias!!!
  • Geoff Kahler

    What a great way to bring people together.
  • Nathan Kim

    We had a great experience during our team offsite! The food was delicious and the cooking instructions were very clear. What a blast!
  • Isania Zapete

    This is an amazing academy! My daughther has been a student here for almost a year and we have not once been disappointed. All the staff are so kind and patient. I would definitely recommend coming!
  • Valerie Creighton

    We did a hands-on cooking evening with a group of foodies and serious home cooks that were traveling together. Wonderful experience! No expertise required, they took excellent care of us in the beautiful space and we prepared and ate a delicious meal. I just can’t praise them highly enough!
  • Maria Robinson

    Chef Paolo was amazing! The food was spectacular!
  • Chelsey Rebelo

    My daughter really enjoy cooking camp during spring break! She was so sad to leave.. I will definitely be bringing her back in the future. Thank you!
  • Roxana Casanueva

    I recently attended the pizza-making class at The Real Food Academy, and it was an amazing experience! The class was fun, interactive, and perfect for all skill levels. The instructors were knowledgeable and made the process easy to follow, from kneading the dough to choosing fresh ingredients for toppings. The best part was getting to customize my own pizza and then enjoying the delicious results! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, making it a great activity for friends, couples, or even solo attendees. I also appreciated the focus on high-quality, wholesome ingredients. Overall, I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves pizza and wants to learn how to make it from scratch. A great way to spend an evening and pick up some new cooking skills!
  • Chris Cunningham

    PIZZA NIGHT WAS THE BEST!! Highly recommend
  • Sabrina Faroh

    We had so much fun at the pizza class thank you chef maria and chef paolo it was a great experience 10/10
  • Lauren Hunter

    Our friends took the pizza class as a triple date and had SO much fun. The instructors are so knowledgeable & friendly - they really walk you through the whole process & make it such a fun experience. We will definitely come back!!! Ps Our pizzas came out so so so yummy!
  • Christopher Vazquez

    Amazing pizza class! Definitely recommend!
  • Jenna Kuzawski

    SO FUN!!!!! Highly recommend this experience!!! Wonderful, clean atmosphere with incredible food!!!

Real Food Blog

An image of The Real Food Academy's winter salad recipe - perfect for the holidays in Miami, FL

5 Must-Try Healthy Holiday Recipes from The Real Food Academy Miami

Are you looking for delicious and nutritious meals to serve this holiday season? The Real Food Academy team has put together a list of 5 recipes that you can follow step-by-step or use as inspiration for your own holiday creations!

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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Special Announcements

Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

Sign up today for fun, hands-on cooking adventures! Kids will learn culinary skills, make new friends, and have fun creating delicious dishes. Spots are limited—reserve your child's place now!