The Real Food Academy Orlando is Coming Soon!
A group of adults cooking in skillets, try one of our cooking classes in Orlando, FL.

Keep it Real

at Every Meal

  • Real Ingredients
  • Real Joy
  • Real Food
  • Real Connections
  • Real Skills
  • Real Food Academy
  • Real Ingredients
  • Real Joy
  • Real Food
  • Real Connections
  • Real Skills
  • Real Food Academy
The Real Food Academy Orlando Chef Maria.
The Real Food Academy Orlando logo white.
The Real Food Academy Orlando Arthur Cummins.

Real Food. Real Connections. Real Skills.

Real food that awakens more than just your taste buds

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Welcome to The Real Food Academy, where every whisk, chop, and stir is a step towards culinary delight. Established in 2008 by the renowned Head Chef Maria Cummins, our academy has become a culinary haven for all ages, offering cooking classes in Orlando, FL that cater to everyone from 5 years old to grown-up gourmets.

Beyond the joy of cooking, we illuminate the significance of gathering together. It's about fostering connections, understanding the impact of what we consume, and realizing that cooking is a holistic experience—nourishing not only the body but also the soul. At The Real Food Academy, we're on a mission to showcase how the act of preparing meals can be a source of joy, wellness, and a celebration of life itself!

At The Real Food Academy, we are pioneering a real food revolution by teaching people how to eat smarter and healthier. We transform cooking into an art form, infusing every dish with natural, unprocessed ingredients. Inspiring and involving communities in the pleasures of nourishing eating, we foster a movement towards healthier and more interconnected lifestyles. We strive to ignite a passion for nutritious, flavor-packed meals that nourish both the body and the soul. Join us at the heart of this revolution, where each class is a celebration of the pure, simple delights of real food.

At our core, our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to embrace healthier dietary choices through an array of fun and flavorful dishes. This commitment is driven by the pressing need to address rising health concerns in the United States through the promotion of mindful eating. Through our engaging, hands-on classes, we educate participants on how to incorporate fresh, real ingredients into their meals and create a well-rounded diet that promotes good health.

Dive into our world where kids simmer with excitement, teens unleash their inner chef, and adults rediscover the magic of cooking. Our academy is more than a place to learn recipes; it's a vibrant community celebrating diverse flavors and the joy of shared meals.

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A group of kids at The Real Food Academy Orlando's cooking camps.

100%

Hands-On

All our classes are 100% hands-on and, unlike other cooking schools, we are not limited to any one cuisine!

Dietary Accommodations

Real Flavor for Everyone

At The Real Food Academy Orlando, we take pride in crafting culinary experiences that are not only delectable but also safe for every palate. Our dedicated team understands the significance of dietary accommodations, and we go the extra mile to ensure that every participant can savor our creations without worry.

From gluten-free alternatives to nut-free options, we're well-versed in a wide range of allergies and dietary restrictions. Our kitchen is equipped with the latest tools and techniques to prevent cross-contamination, and our instructors are adept at adapting recipes to suit individual needs.

You can trust that at our academy, your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. Join us for a flavorful journey where allergies are never a barrier to delicious dining!

We offer a variety of dietary accommodations, including but not limited to:

Gluten Free
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Nut Free
Soy Free
Soy Free
Vegetarian
Vegetarian
Vegan
Vegan
The Real Food Academy Orlando offers inclusive and fun cooking camps.

Nurture Culinary Creativity

With Real Food Academy’s Camps and Events

The Real Food Academy Orlando serving dish icon.

Unveiling the Real Culinary Philosophy

At our cooking school in Orlando, Florida, we abide by a simple yet transformative mantra:

“We don’t change the dish, we change the ingredients!”

If a cooking school and functional medicine had a baby - it would be The Real Food Academy Orlando. This philosophy empowers our aspiring chefs, both young and adult, to cook what they love while incorporating healthy, all-natural substitutes. The result? Meals that are not only better for them but also taste better, creating a harmonious blend of health and flavor.

The Real Food Academy Orlando offers kids cooking parties, call us today!

Tailored Culinary Celebrations

We go beyond the classroom with our private cooking classes in Orlando, ideal for birthday parties, corporate events, or any gathering worth celebrating. Our professional chefs craft custom menus, turning your special occasions into unforgettable culinary experiences.

The Real Food Academy Orlando cooking classes are a great way to be connections.

Our Commitment

Whether you're a young chef just starting or an adult looking to refine your culinary skills, the Real Food Academy is committed to fostering a love for real, wholesome ingredients. Join us on this culinary journey where cooking becomes an art, and every meal is a celebration of taste, health, and the joy of good food.

The Real Food Academy Orlando head chef Maria.

Maria Cummins

A Culinary Visionary

Founded over a decade ago, The Real Food Academy continues to thrive under the visionary leadership of Head Chef Maria Cummins and her husband. Their culinary mission extends beyond conventional boundaries, offering a diverse catalog of cooking camps and classes at our Miami cooking school. From Saturday kids' cooking classes to Mommy and Me sessions, after-school programs, and professional culinary courses for adults, there's a culinary adventure for everyone.

Dish by Dish, Skill by Skill

Here are a few of the things you'll learn at the Real Food Academy:

The Real Food Academy Orlando - International Cookery

International Cookery

In every lesson, we will travel around the world and prepare traditional dishes utilizing healthy ingredients (the ones that are good for you!) We will be offering lessons on breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, and dinner preparation.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - How to Mise en Place

How to Mise en Place

Organize your meal preparation ahead of time. This way you'll have more time to enjoy with family and friends and less time worrying about the actual cooking part of a meal.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - Portion Control

Portion Control

Don't go hungry, just eat what’s right for you! You will not go hungry or suffer from energy depletion if you eat the right foods. We will teach you how to identify and choose the right ingredients, portions and how to combine different types of food for your benefit.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - Knife Skills & Cooking Techniques

Knife Skills & Cooking Techniques

Master the art of professionals and cook anything the healthy way! For example, learning how to cut properly can make the difference between seeing kitchen work as a chore and a joy.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - Choosing Disease-Preventing Foods

Choosing Disease-Preventing Foods

Learn the power of nutrient-rich herbs, spices, vegetables, low sugar fruits, non-processed meats and many more foods that are rich in antioxidants, resveratol, vitamins and minerals essential in healthy eating.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - International Cookery

International Cookery

In every lesson, we will travel around the world and prepare traditional dishes utilizing healthy ingredients (the ones that are good for you!) We will be offering lessons on breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, and dinner preparation.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - How to Mise en Place

How to Mise en Place

Organize your meal preparation ahead of time. This way you'll have more time to enjoy with family and friends and less time worrying about the actual cooking part of a meal.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - Portion Control

Portion Control

Don't go hungry, just eat what’s right for you! You will not go hungry or suffer from energy depletion if you eat the right foods. We will teach you how to identify and choose the right ingredients, portions and how to combine different types of food for your benefit.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - Knife Skills & Cooking Techniques

Knife Skills & Cooking Techniques

Master the art of professionals and cook anything the healthy way! For example, learning how to cut properly can make the difference between seeing kitchen work as a chore and a joy.

The Real Food Academy Orlando - Choosing Disease-Preventing Foods

Choosing Disease-Preventing Foods

Learn the power of nutrient-rich herbs, spices, vegetables, low sugar fruits, non-processed meats and many more foods that are rich in antioxidants, resveratol, vitamins and minerals essential in healthy eating.

Real Food FAQs

At The Real Food Academy, we teach how to cook using real ingredients. We believe that all kinds of meals, snacks, and desserts should be enjoyed, and that what often makes certain foods feel “unhealthy” is the processed ingredients used to make them.

By using better oils, natural sweeteners, and thoughtfully sourced ingredients, our customers learn to make food that’s familiar, satisfying, and smarter for their bodies and lifestyles.

Because our staffing, ingredient purchases, and overall preparations are planned based on the number of registered participants, all payments and deposits are non-refundable.

The Real Food Academy offers in-house wine and beer options for adults at all events, including when accompanying kids’ parties. For a full selection, please visit our Wine and Beer list page.

The Real Food Academy can accommodate a wide range of dietary needs and allergies, including:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan

Please let us know your needs in advance so we can plan accordingly and adjust our recipes if needed.

We love when guests personalize and decorate our space. However, items like glitter, confetti, slime, stickers, and noisemakers can be very difficult to clean and may disrupt the experience.

For this reason, we kindly ask that you do not bring these items.

The Real Food Academy Orlando reviews plate icon.

Rave Reviews for The Real Food Academy

proud to have a 5.0 star rating & 1000+ reviews

  • Jonathan Anderson

    Arthur Cummins is one of my favorite people in franchising. He and Maria have really built an amazing franchise model. I'm excited to see the nationwide growth over the next few years!
  • Schualita Chong

    We had our daughter's 5th birthday party here and it was such a success. Huge hit with both the kids and parents. The venue was great and they took care of everything! The party went so smoothly - everything is organized, well thought out and the owners and chef were so accomodating with all of our needs/requests. Highly recommend.
  • HILSA MUSALI

    We celebrated my son’s 9th birthday at The Real Food Academy, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish! The kids had so much fun cooking their own pasta and decorating cupcakes. It was such a creative and interactive activity, and they felt like real little chefs in the kitchen. We also hired the magician they recommended, and he was a huge success! The kids were completely entertained and laughing the whole time. We actually live in Coconut Creek, so many of our guests drove almost an hour to attend the party, and everyone agreed it was absolutely worth the drive. The kids had a fantastic time, and the parents were very impressed with the experience. The staff was organized, friendly, and made everything run smoothly. It was truly a unique and memorable birthday celebration. I would highly recommend The Real Food Academy to anyone looking for a fun and different party idea for kids!
  • Miami Sales Gallery

    What a great family experience! We hosted a big event and the food was delicious! It was great making food together. Must do in Miami.
  • Nick Welch

    Amazing!!!
  • Neil Dallas

    What a great experience! The people were wonderful and the food divine! Highly recommend!
  • Michelle Lynn

    Excellent instruction, great staff delicious food. We has SO MUCH FUN!! Thank you!
  • Aaron Pierre

    Chef Toni and her crew were amazing. We were a large group and they handled us well and allowed us to have a seamless experience. I look forward to doing this again in the future
  • Alex Ponce

    A most wonderful team building activity!! It was a fun experience making my own pizza and pasta 🍝
  • Dayron Hernandez

    Wow, what an amazing experience food was excellent!
  • Hunter Badillo

    Chef Toni was great! Great cooking experience , I highly recommend. We made fresh pizza , pasta , and salad. Great time
  • Maria Bulla

    Chef Tony was awesome! Great class
  • William Bodden

    Attended pasta night w Chef Paolo and we loved it ! Had a great time , learned new recipes that are delicious and healthy.
  • Grethel Bodden

    Amazing experience with Paolo! Not only was it delicious and fun but also health conscious when it came to the ingredients. Look forward to coming back for more classes.
  • Nicki Obeidzinski

    Such a fun group event!
  • Zuzana Tuso

    Nice for team building. Chef Toni was great!
  • Jorge Porto

    Amazing experience!
  • Iris Brautigam

    Amazing experience! We celebrated our daughter’s 10th birthday with a small group of friends and family. I felt ease and comfort knowing I didn’t have to do much and they handled everything from the moment we arrived. The kids, and even the parents, had a blast! Everyone loved this idea and how interactive it was for the kids. I’m so happy we chose Real Food Academy! 10/10
  • Nicolas Jubera

    Amazing sushi class — truly exceeded expectations. I learned so much, from knife skills to proper rice preparation and rolling techniques. Super hands-on, fun, and incredibly well organized. Huge thanks to Chef Toni, who was absolutely amazing — patient, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience both educational and entertaining. Highly recommend to anyone who loves sushi and wants to really understand the craft behind it. 🍣👏
  • Marina Goitia

    I loved the experience. I highly recommend it.
A group of adults in chefs hat participating in The Real Food Academy's cooking classes in Orlando, FL.

Cooking Classes in Orlando, FL

Food, Fun, and Connection

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Imagine a birthday party where laughter intertwines with the aroma of freshly baked cakes or an evening class where adults find solace in the sizzle of a pan. Our parties are not just events; they're a festival of food and fun, tailored to make every milestone unforgettable.

Cooking camps at The Real Food Academy are where culinary dreams take flight. More than a day camp, they're a playground for the imagination, where kids mix, mingle, and master the art of healthy eating and joyful cooking.

And for the corporate world? We bring a twist to team building. Swap the boardroom for our kitchen, where colleagues connect over chopping boards and share victories with a sprinkle of salt and a dash of laughter.

Each visit to The Real Food Academy is an opportunity to find your rhythm in the kitchen dance, creating delicious memories at every step. Whether you're taking your first steps in culinary arts, looking to improve your diet with simple healthy dishes, or a seasoned cook looking to add some spice to your skills, our doors are open to all.

Fresh made appetizers at The Real Food Academy Orlando's, FL cooking classes.
Fresh hummis and carrots made in one of The Real Food Academy's cooking classes in Orlando, FL.
Fresh cheese and grape platter at The Real Food Academy Orlando's, FL cooking class.

The Real Food Revolution

Orlando Cooking Classes

Join us on a flavorful adventure at our cooking classes in Orlando, FL, where The Real Food Academy transcends the ordinary cooking experience. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned chef, experience firsthand why The Real Food Academy is a place where every meal is an artful creation, every gathering a celebration of community, and every recipe a testament to healthy living. Join a class today!