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Former Mi Luna Chef Opening Cooking School in Downtown Olympia

If you’re in Olympia and have kids, or just care about local education and entrepreneurship, this is a story worth watching.

A new concept called Le Petit School of Cooking is set to open this summer in downtown Olympia, led by former Mi Luna Cuban Café executive chef Miriam-Xiomara Padilla.

The school will be located inside The Malt House apartment building on Legion Way SE, bringing a hands-on learning space into the city’s core.

👩‍🍳 From Restaurant Kitchen to Classroom

Padilla is a familiar name in Olympia’s food scene.

Many locals know her from her time as executive chef at Mi Luna Cuban Café, but she recently stepped away from that role to focus fully on her next chapter, teaching.

Over the past several years, she’s been leading cooking classes for children at the Bayview School of Cooking, where demand steadily grew.

At one point, waitlists reached 30 kids, signaling something bigger:

👉 There was real demand for hands-on cooking education for younger age groups.

🧒 A Focus on Kids Ages 5–15

Le Petit School of Cooking is designed primarily for children ages 5 to 15, with a focus that goes beyond just learning recipes.

Padilla emphasizes:

• Confidence-building

• Independence

• Social and emotional growth

Her approach is centered on learning through action, giving kids the opportunity to actively cook, experiment, and build real-life skills in a supportive environment.

🍳 A Personal Mission

For Padilla, the project is also personal.

She’s shared that growing up, she didn’t have access to extracurricular programs like this — and sees cooking as both a life skill and a creative outlet.

Through her classes, she’s already seen firsthand how kids develop:

• Stronger self-confidence

• Greater independence

• A sense of pride in what they create

Le Petit is an extension of that mission, just on a larger scale.

🌞 Summer Camps & Classes Already Planned

The school is already preparing for its first round of programming.

According to the website:

• Summer camps are priced around $230

• Individual classes range from $40–$55

Programs will focus on hands-on cooking experiences, giving kids practical skills they can take home.

📍 Why It Matters for Olympia

This is more than just a new business, it’s a new type of offering for the community.

Le Petit School of Cooking represents:

• A chef transitioning into education and mentorship

• A growing demand for skill-based youth programs

• Continued activation of downtown commercial spaces

As Olympia grows, spaces like this help round out the community, offering not just places to eat, but places to learn and connect.

🌱 A Different Kind of Local Business

In a city known for its creative and community-driven culture, Le Petit fits right in.

It’s a business built around:

• Education

• Experience

• Long-term impact

And it’s another example of how local entrepreneurs are creating something meaningful right here in the South Sound.

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