Junior Fire Chef

Learn to cook on the wood fire – build your own burger- 2-hour class, including 30 minutes of eating time.

Under 12 will need a chaperone. The parent would also need to sign a safety waiver
Steel Pioneer Fire Cooking is the creation of award-winning UK chef David Hussey, now based in the scenic hills of Dade County, Georgia, just 25 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. With more than 30 years of culinary experience, Chef David creates immersive, hands-on cooking classes and elevated dining experiences centered around the timeless art of live-fire cooking.
Typically hosted in his custom-built indoor/outdoor teaching kitchen, Steel Pioneer is bringing the experience to Audubon Acres, making it possible for more communities to enjoy the excitement of cooking over an open flame.
Each class celebrates seasonality, sustainability, and community. Ingredients are carefully sourced from local farms and regional producers, ensuring every meal showcases the freshest flavors our area has to offer. Guests don’t just learn recipes; they gain practical cooking techniques, fire management skills, and a deeper appreciation for the connection between food, nature, and craftsmanship.

1. Welcome & Fire Safety (10 minutes)

2. Fire Builder Challenge (15 minutes)
Each child gets to:
Identify tinder, kindling, and fuel.
Add wood to the fire correctly.
Learn how to “feed” a fire without smothering it.

3. Cooking Skills (20 minutes)
Teach three simple skills while the fire settles:
How to safely hold tongs.
Turning food without stabbing it.
How to tell when food is cooked.
Why food browns (the “magic” of caramelization).

4. Fire Chef Meal (35 minutes)
Each child:
Seasons a burger.
Cooks it over the fire.
Toasts their bun.
Adds cheese.
Chooses toppings from a small topping station.

Serve with:
Chips
Caesar salad
Iced water

It’s familiar, satisfying, and gives every child the feeling of having cooked their own lunch.

5. Graduation (10 minutes)
Review what they learned.
Award a Junior Fire Chef certificate to each kid.
Group photo.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable