Sarasota, FL
About Us
At Young Chefs® Academy, our mission is to make a positive lasting impact on children and families through teaching the joy and value of cooking in a welcoming environment that encourages discovery and creativity.
Rated 4.7 on Google (1,359 Reviews)
Franchise Owner
Dennis O’Sullivan is the owner of Young Chefs Academy, Sarasota. A native of Chicago, Dennis and his family (Kate and their 5 year old son, Jack) moved to Sarasota in 2021 with the goal of providing a more small-town, active lifestyle for themselves. As a child Dennis learned how to cook by watching his mom, who was from Kentucky, cook various southern-inspired dishes that he now shares with his son. Dennis adds “my mom was a great cook and to this day some of my favorite meals are the ones she used to make; I still have many of those recipes in her own handwriting that I am able to now share with Jack.”
Prior to Young Chefs Academy Dennis spent most of his career in the field of television advertising. In his spare time, Dennis is an avid golfer, movie fan, and loves to read about history, especially the American Revolution. He is part of the PTO and Southside Foundation for the Arts at his son’s school and is a Reading Partners volunteer. Dennis adds, “we are so excited to bring the joy and value of cooking to the children and families in our new community. Young Chefs is a very special place where children of all ages can feel welcome and inspired with each recipe.”
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO, Julie Burleson, established Young Chefs® Academy in 2003 with the vision of cultivating/serving children’s strong interest in the culinary arts. It has grown with locations throughout the US to be a welcoming environment that provides a “real” setting so that the students can take what they learn at YCA™ to their own homes.
“The kitchen is the pulse of the home… where we learn about life and each other,” says Burleson. “Young Chefs Academy nourishes those values and gives kids an innovative environment to learn and thrive. In this busy world, what could be better?”
Over the years our franchisees have been showcased across some of the largest networks, which is a testament to our values and community activities.