Kidding Around

Many clients have asked why I don't have more kids cooking classes, especially during the school year. The answer lies in one of the fundamental values of Essen: I have young, school-aged children and want to be around while they grow up. To bring Essen to other kids would require me to be working primarily when my kids were home - after school, evenings and weekends.

However, so much of what we learn from each other through Essen has do with what we're passing along to future generations. The balance that I've decided on for now is to connect with kids for a couple of weeks in the summer with Essen Kinder Kids Cooking Camp. Also, look for Essen Kinder Classes during the '08-'09 school year on select school holidays. Lastly, Essen's community service, year round, is devoted to educating kids in a hands-on format how to make good food choices and ways they can bring that experience and learning home.

Over the next couple of months, I'll be "cooking for energy" with the upper grades at The New School of Lancaster as a kickoff to their "Go For The Greens" week, hosting a mini cooking class at the Lancaster Jewish Community Center in conjunction with their Purim Carnival (think of a combination Halloween/Mardi Gras celebration) and working with the Junior League at the Boys & Girls Club. While the location, the client age and the audience may vary, the message is the same - good food simply prepared keeps people together. Try some today.