In early August, our FLX Unity Center Enrichment Camp participants traded in breaking boards and sail boats for aprons and mixing bowls with the kick-off of Culinary Camp.

The week started off with a field trip to New York Kitchen, where kids learned basic culinary skills, proper kitchen etiquette, and the importance of working safely and cooperatively in the kitchen. “Members had the opportunity to put their new skills into action by preparing coleslaw, baked chicken, and a delicious apple tart—all from scratch!” said Allauna Overstreet-Gibson.

Cooking Without a Kitchen

Back at the youth center, the culinary fun continued. “Although we don’t have a traditional kitchen, that certainly didn’t stop our culinary creativity,” Overstreet-Gibson said. Members learned to follow a recipe and made breakfast burritos and individual no-bake cheesecakes, preparing enough to share with EPIC Zone members later that evening for snack.

Members also explored Mexican cuisine, learning about different flavors and ingredients while making fresh pico de gallo from scratch to top their tostadas. “It was a fun and tasty way to introduce members to another culture through food,” she added. 

The Cook-Off!

“To finish out the week, we hosted our very own Mini Junior Chef Competition! Members were challenged to select their own ingredients from the pantry, create and write a recipe with step-by-step instructions, and then prepare their dish using only the ingredients and directions they had written down. This activity challenged members to practice planning, organization, creativity, problem-solving, and attention to detail,” Overstreet-Gibson explained.

Once the dishes were complete, the members became the judges, evaluating one another’s creations on taste, presentation, creativity, and overall execution. The week wrapped up with a mini award ceremony, celebrating everyone’s hard work and the unique dishes they’d dreamed up on their own.

“It was a week filled with learning, teamwork, creativity, confidence-building, and, of course, plenty of delicious food!”