A message from Chef Bobo, Executive Chef and Director of Food Service at The Calhoun School in New York City.
Have you ever noticed how people tend to gather in the kitchen whenever there is a party? It’s because the kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. There is something magical about a kitchen filled with delicious aromas, laughter and music. It is where the rituals of family are centered. So when you are ready to prepare your dinner turn on the music, throw on some aprons and get cooking with the whole family! Doing it all together--- whether it’s peeling, chopping, stirring, cooking, serving and even cleaning – makes it teaches kids early in their lives the importance of preparing food at home, together as a family.
Food is like language. If you learn about it and understand it while young it’s just easier and more natural to do.
Don’t be afraid to introduce your kids to unfamiliar flavors. Sometimes the unfamiliar promotes a sense of adventure and intrigue for kids. My mantra is “food should be fresh, all natural, have bold flavors, balance and variety and be made from scratch”. Kids will like healthy food if it tastes good. Some parents think that cooking will take longer if kids are involved. It may be, but isn’t it worth it? I strongly believe that when a family cooks together the food is made with love. And putting love in food is the most important ingredient – and the healthiest!
To me, simple doesn’t mean boring. It can be creative and profoundly satisfying. You don’t need exotic, hard-to-find ingredients. Once you understand the basic cooking principles that they teach, you’ll find that they can be used to make other dishes using the same techniques.
Have fun! Make dinner a party at your place and invite the whole family to prepare it! There’s no need for a special occasion. Don’t forget that the fun in cleaning up afterwards is also in doing it all together. So enjoy and Bon Appetit!
We are proud to have Chef Bobo as a member of the National Advisory Board for Spoons Across America and thank him for allowing us to share one of his recipes (see recipe section on right).
***** We need your help to implement our programs next year. Please consider donating to the Spoons Pennies to Programs Campaign so we can provide more cooking, tasting, and healthy eating programs for children in New York City. Our programs also give students the opportunity to explore a range of tastes and flavors, cook with their friends and families and explore the farmers market.
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