The most important thing about blogging is that it enables you to reach out and connect with people. So when Edelman PR invited me to the Quaker Oats sponsored blogger event at the Washburne Culinary Institute for Common Threads, I was thrilled to go. I knew connecting with the other bloggers as well as the kids, chefs and volunteers would be the perfect way to kick off BlogHer09.
Common Threads
Common Threads is a non-profit, Chicago based organization whose mission is to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking. Kids can enroll in the Common Threads Summer Camp, which teaches 8- to 11-year-olds about world cuisine and kitchen skills.
When talking to Chef Josh, I learned that most of the kids are in the free and reduced lunch program at school and are able to attend the camp at low or no cost, though there are kids whose parents pay full tuition as well.
Meeting everyone
Sarah from Sarah and the Good Squad, Devra from Parentopia, Melanie from ModermMami and Vanessa from Chef Druck and I met up with Jessica from Edelman in the lobby of the Sheraton and got to know each other better as our van took us through Chicago to the Washburne Culinary Institute. Sarah gave me one of her infamous church keys – still one of my favorite pieces of swag from BlogHer09.
We quickly put on our aprons and white chef hats, and met Chef Josh and the camp volunteers. Then we joined the campers in a big kid version of circle time where they danced and we all stretched. The kids aren’t just learning about nutrition, they also learn that moving your body is important, too. (Plus, I bet it helps get rid of the wiggles, before they enter the kitchen.)
Cooking with the kids
The bloggers were broken up in to two teams and we joined the kids in the huge, professional teaching kitchen, where we all lined up to wash our hands. Then we broke up into smaller groups to start cooking. Chef Josh quickly went over what we’d be cooking that day – several Caribbean flavored dishes. He and the kids talked about Caribbean food and spices, and he demonstrated how to properly cut up a papaya.
Then we started cooking. My group helped make Avocado and Papaya Salad, Sweet Potato Pone, and cut up some fruit for a Caribbean Crisp. The kids cut up fruit and veggies with knives as big as their arms, which freaked me out until I saw their excellent knife skills – much better than mine! The kids were on task, hard workers, and had the patience to cut lots of fruit and vegetables into tiny pieces.
No goofing around here – these kids were all business. I was very impressed with their culinary knowledge, too. They obviously loved being in the kitchen and learning about other cultures and healthy food. Still, they were relaxed enough to chat with us and let us help and guide them. I shared how I thought that mangoes smell like puke, which amused the kids who agreed that I was right. And the seeds? Ewwwwww!
Top Chef in the kitchen and time to eat
Common Threads supporter and Top Chef Chicago winner Stephanie Izard stopped by the summer camp to visit with us and the kids. (That’s her with Devra.) I had met Stephanie at the Quaker Oats blogger event. She’s personable, smart and very down to earth, and we chatted for a bit before I got back to the kids.
Before we knew it, it was time to clean up and get plates and utensils out to sample our culinary creations. Of course, everything was yummy and full of flavor. Knowing that I had parties planned that evening, but no dinner, I chowed down on the Jerk Chicken, the Sweet Potato Pone (two servings – I LOVE sweet potatoes), the Avocado and Mango Salad, the Vegetable Mango Stir Fry served on soba noodles, and the Caribbean Crisp. Yum!
Chef Josh quizzed the kids on how many servings of whole grains they should eat every day (5-10. which seems right for growing kiddos) as we cleaned up. Then he led the kids in the Common Threads creed:
Today we learned how people in another country live and what they eat!
Today we tasted healthy foods and practiced eating well to keep us strong.
People all over the world – and even in this room – are different!
But we all have things in common:
We can work together, share together, learn together, cook together, and then…
Together we can EAT!
I’ll be sharing recipes from the Common Threads blogger event in upcoming blog posts as well as some other healthy recipes I got at BlogHer09. Stay tuned!
Meet my next Blogher09 sponsor
Can Do Kids Nutrition Bars
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the friend request on FoodBuzz. I was so pleased to check your site and find one of my old friends, Common Threads, featured! I worked at the church in Chicago where it had its beginnings – what a program! Pleased to see it doing so well these days.
Liza, it’s an amazing program and one I wish was started in other cities.