6 Resources That Can Help You And Your Family Learn To Cook
Being able to cook is not only a useful and satisfying skill, but a necessary one: at some point in your life, you won't be able to rely on frozen meals or dishes made by other people. The resources included here, ranging from cooking schools and food traveling services to kids' nutrition programs, are designed to get people of all ages well versed in the culinary arts. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
6 Cooking Education Resources
| Name | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| Traveling Spoon | Connects travelers with local, vetted hosts to share the joy of a homemade meal in their home and learn about their cultural and culinary traditions |
| Lola's Cocina | Provides instructions, classes, and workshops for preparing classic Mexican dishes |
| Green Plate Special | Engages fourth through eighth-grade youth through after-school and in-school programs, spring break and summer camps, and evening cooking classes |
| Chef Alyssa's Kitchen | Provides a weekend brunch service, plus hands-on classes that teach cooks at every age how to make seasonal, flavorful meals at home |
| The Seasoned Chef | Educates and inspires by providing great food, tuition, and camaraderie through public cooking classes for the home and recreational cook, as well as a range of customized interactive events for private and corporate groups |
| Food Literacy Center | Teaches children in low-income elementary schools cooking, nutrition, gardening, and active play to improve our health, environment, and economy |
The Mission of Green Plate Special
Cookbooks Full Of Delicious Recipes
Behind The Seasoned Chef Cooking School
In Depth
Learning to cook can be a fun and satisfying activity in its own right, as well as a way to encounter other cultures or find a deeper connection with one's own heritage. It can also be a gateway to better health, helping learners take charge of personal nutrition. In no particular order, here are five companies and organizations providing culinary learning opportunities.
Starting off our list at #1 is Traveling Spoon, a company helping people experience authentic meals from cultures around the world. The company pairs travelers with local hosts, in destination countries from Italy to Thailand, for traditional and home-prepared dining experiences. Many of the hosts offer instruction in regional culinary styles, such as Shanghai Dim Sum or Mumbai-style Gujarati Thali.
Along with family-style meals and in-person lessons, Traveling Spoon enables host-guided tours of markets and shops, combining a cultural experience with an opportunity to learn about the ingredients behind local cuisine. The company also offers online cooking classes for those who want to learn at home, with experienced chefs providing instruction on preparing dishes like traditional Italian pasta, Lebanese mezze, or Argentinian empanadas.
The company also offers online cooking classes for those who want to learn at home, with experienced chefs providing instruction on preparing dishes like traditional Italian pasta, Lebanese mezze, or Argentinian empanadas.
Following up at #2 is Lola's Cocina, created by scholar and nonprofit administrator Dolores Wiarco Dweck, to preserve and share her family's traditional Mexican recipes. She provides instructions for classic dishes like chiles rellenos and beef barbacoa, as well as innovative meals like hibiscus tostadas and cactus ceviche. Other recipes explain how to prepare staple meal components such as Spanish rice, tomatillo salsa, and guacamole.
In addition to recipes, Lola's Cocina offers classes and workshops on preparing authentic Mexican fare, from tamales to traditional Dia de los Muertos meals. The project includes a guide to traveling in the Oaxaca region, with recommendations of eateries and venues for cooking instruction. Other resources include Tres del Mes, providing monthly highlights of Mexican food culture, and Lola's Mercadito, a shop for kitchen goods and other gifts.
#3 in our roundup is Green Plate Special, which works to educate and inspire young people through gardening, cooking, and shared food experiences. Based around a garden and kitchen in Rainier Valley, Seattle, this nonprofit offers both school-based and extracurricular opportunities for students to learn about growing and preparing food. GPS's classes also develop art and writing skills, and teach concepts of environmental stewardship.
GPS's classes also develop art and writing skills, and teach concepts of environmental stewardship.
GPS programs include summer camps where kids learn about sustainable growing, cultural exploration, and kitchen skills, as well as youth internships focused on food and social justice. The organization also offers opportunities for parents and guardians to participate, like the Bread & Butter Family Day, exploring the history and science of grains and dairy. GPS's blog shares recipes, ecological facts, and tips for gardening and home food preparation.
At #4 we have Chef Alyssa's Kitchen, a venue for dining and culinary education located in the South End of Charlotte, North Carolina. Alongside a weekend brunch service, and a selection of Family Table Meals for pickup or delivery, this eatery offers a variety of hands-on cooking classes. Instructional options range from introductory courses for beginners, to specialized workshops covering subjects like butchery technique or regional cuisines.
The private event options at Chef Alyssa's Kitchen include team-building challenges and group Tapas Tastings, in addition to more traditional classes. The company hosts educational summer camps and lessons for children and teens, as well as parent and child options for all ages; virtual classes are available for online learners. Chef Alyssa's Kitchen also sells all-natural condiments and provides office catering services.
Chef Alyssa's Kitchen also sells all-natural condiments and provides office catering services.
Coming in at #5 is The Seasoned Chef, a culinary school created by classically trained Chef Dan Witherspoon. This program offers training in kitchen basics such as knife skills, as well as specialty topics like sushi or savory baking. Other options include couples classes for date nights, instruction in beer and wine pairing, or learning to make pasta from scratch.
The Seasoned Chef hosts the Young Chef series of classes and summer camps for youths; like the school's adult courses, these range from introductory lessons focused on core skills to specialty topics such as regional cuisines. Online classes are also available for those looking for distance learning options, and the company's blog provides recipes, nutrition information, and tips for improving kitchen prowess.
Concluding our overview at #6 is Food Literacy Center, a Sacramento, California nonprofit that works to educate children in low-income areas about nutrition and wellness. The program brings classes into schools throughout the area, teaching students about plant science, healthy eating, and cooking with fruits and vegetables. Participants learn skills like reading nutrition labels and portioning balanced meals.
Participants learn skills like reading nutrition labels and portioning balanced meals.
Food Literacy Center shares lesson plans and resources from its FEAST Curriculum, and its Food Literacy Academy trains volunteers as healthy eating educators for local communities. The Center also provides kid-friendly recipes, stories from students, and meal preparation tips. And programs such as the Kids Holiday Farmers Market, which gives children fruits and vegetables to take home over breaks, offer nutritional assistance to low-income families.
