But 'He's Been Making Omelets Since He Was 3 . . .'

The International Kitchen , Chicago, 800-945-8606, http://www.theinternationalkitchen.com/ . Owner: Karen Herbst.

Courses Cooking vacations in Italy, France and Spain, from weeklong to one-day class. Cost: $160 for a single class to $3,200 for a weeklong program.

Who's Signing Up Twelve years ago, when Herbst started her company, only adults were interested. "But in the last couple of years, parents want their children, even as young as 8 or 9, to take the classes, too. We had one 11-year-old girl in our Paris class who outshone all the adults with her skills."

What Parents Are Demanding English-speaking nannies to baby-sit for young children while parents (and older kids) learn to cook.

What Teens Are Making Ravioli with sage stuffing, southern Tuscan pici pasta with tomato sauce, vegetable and salmon terrine.

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C'est Si Bon Cooking School , Chapel Hill, N.C., 919-942-6550, http://www.cestsibon.net/ . Owners: Dorette and Richard Snover.

Courses Weeklong teen cooking camps in Chapel Hill, Tuscany and Provence. Cost: In Chapel Hill, $325 for basic teen camp, $525 for advanced; for a week in Provence or Tuscany, $1, 875.

Who's Signing Up Food-savvy teens. "Some are interested in a culinary career, some don't know a thing about cooking, but know a lot about dining out and Food Network, some cook very well. We had one boy from Madison [Wis.] who sold his baguettes at the farmers market."

What Parents Are Demanding "They really want their children to succeed. They get irate if their kids don't get into the advanced camp."

What Teens Are Making Focaccia with rosemary and dry chevre, Neapolitan rice croquettes, French camomile quiche. Even the teens in the basic camp make dishes such as Charleston she-crab soup and Provencal stuffed zucchini flowers.

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