Charlotte Restaurant Launches Free Cooking Classes for Kids Through New Nonprofit
At Cuzzo’s Cuisine in Charlotte, a new nonprofit called Culinary Connections is teaching kids ages 10-15 how to cook, completely free. Through hands-on classes, kids learn kitchen basics while getting educated about healthy eating.
The idea for this program came when Chef Andarrio Johnson gave out free meals to neighborhood kids during COVID-19. Working with Anglee Brown, he put together lessons covering kitchen basics, safety rules, and how to properly use cooking tools.
“I just want to show them how to cook and eat healthy and try to prepare their own meals so they don’t have to depend on their parents. So maybe when they get older, they already know a life skill,” Andarrio Johnson, owner of Cuzzo’s Cuisine, said to spectrumlocalnews.com.
Kids learn important skills like checking food temperatures and measuring ingredients correctly. The classes begin with simple, fun recipes like fluffy cinnamon pancakes to keep young cooks interested while they build confidence in the kitchen.
Safety comes first. Kids learn the right way to use knives, keep their workspace clean, and handle food safely. These basic skills help them whether they’re making snacks at home or wanting to work in restaurants someday.
Research shows that kids who cook tend to eat more fruits and vegetables. Teaching children to make healthy meals helps fight childhood obesity by teaching them good food habits early.
For Chef Johnson, this work is personal. Since he never got cooking lessons as a kid, he wants to make sure today’s children get the kitchen training he wished he had.
They’re now working on plans for an in-depth cooking camp. This next phase would help young cooks who want to work in restaurants or start their food businesses.
The program builds on what Cuzzo’s already does for the community. What began as free lunches for local kids during the pandemic has grown into today’s Culinary Connections.
Kids don’t just learn recipes. They see what it’s really like to work with food. Getting hands-on experience in a real restaurant kitchen shows them what the industry is actually about.
Since it’s free, any family can join in. This gives Charlotte kids access to cooking education they might not get otherwise.
