Marietta, GA
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
Chad Polikov was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism. Chad has lived in the Atlanta area since the late 1990s and is a proud husband and father who enjoys entertaining for friends and family. Chad loves cooking/BBQ, fine dining and attending live music concerts. Chad became the Owner and General Manager of the YCA Marietta location in 2017 and is honored to deliver the Young Chefs Academy experience to Atlanta, Cobb County and Cherokee County residents.
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.