A Night with Growing Chefs!

The atmosphere is electric, anticipation sparked with last minute bustle. The squeak and shuffle of volunteers’ shoes echo off the cinder-block walls of the Nicholas Wilson Public School gym. They ferry ingredients – rhubarb, ciabatta, curry powder – across the well-worn linoleum floors, putting the finishing touches on activity stations erected throughout the gym. Overseeing the action is Chef Noelle, ticking items off her mental checklist with the calm confidence of a conductor tuning her orchestra.

Growing Chefs! Ontario is hosting a family activity night at Nicholas Wilson and this is, in the words of Growing Chefs! founder Andrew Fleet, “the calm before the storm.” The family activity nights are just one of the numerous projects Growing Chefs! runs to build a healthier London through food literacy programming. Children’s day camps, cooking classes, and hospitality skill building programs are all run from their downtown headquarters.

It’s because of this that the K-8 students at Nicholas Wilson are particularly excited. Every one of them has already met the Growing Chefs! team twice through School Food Education Project visits. They’ve had the chance to cook in their classrooms. Now, they get to show off what they’ve learned to their parents.

The gym doors open and it begins. The quiet of preparation is shattered by shrill giggles, shrieks of delight, and warm parental chatter. Chef Andrew organizes the crowd into a big circle and lays out the structure of the evening: grade levels will split into groups. Each group will prepare a unique food item. Everything is brought together for a buffet-style picnic.

There is a gracious acknowledgement of the event sponsors, the Western Fair and City of London whose support made the night possible. A father himself, he finishes by addressing the parents.

“Fractions, measurement, art – it's all part of the learning that happens with kids in the kitchen! There are challenges cooking with children, but I think that tonight, you’ll be surprised by the magic of it.”

There’s a rush to the stations and the action starts immediately. At one table, the youngest group quickly forms Team Mustard and Team Mayonnaise. They work in parallel to spread toppings for apple-cheddar sandwiches. Everywhere there’s an enthusiasm for the task at hand that channels the students’ boundless energy. Parents are at their best too, giving gentle guidance and asking questions to spur deeper learning. The magic Chef Andrew alluded to starts to reveal itself moment by moment. One stands out.

In the corner of the gym is the Art Activities station, a rectangular array of blue gym mats where students can colour a ‘Thank You!’ banner or try their hand at intricate napkin folding. Eight students are lying on their stomachs, colouring fervently when Chef Becca approaches.

“Does anyone want to help me clean up? You get to spray things down and wipe and everything!”

To a chorus of “I want to!”, “Yeah, me!”, and “Me, too!”, all eight students jump to their feet and crowd around Chef Becca, jubilant. The nearby parents, jaws agape, looked to one another as if seeking affirmation that what they just witnessed was real.  

As the night comes together, it’s clear that Growing Chefs! has struck a chord, both with its mission and execution. One-hundred hungry mouths are lined up at the buffet and all of them are smiling. The food is wonderful: towers of sandwiches, salads with handmade dressings, and cucumber infused water. Desert is the highlight. Courtesy of Chef Marisa and the Grade 7/8’s, it’s hot rhubarb filling topped with whipped cream and served in ice cream cones.

As a volunteer, working with Growing Chefs! is rewarding. You’re trusted with autonomy, so you end the night knowing your contribution mattered. If there’s any uncertainty, a member of the Growing Chefs! team is always there to provide guidance. More than anything, though, the experience is made by the kids. Their chaotic energy is invigorating. Their excitement is impossibly contagious.

If you’d like to be more involved in the community or are just looking for a fun afternoon, give Growing Chefs! a try. You’ll leave with a full stomach and a warm heart.

To learn more about Growing Chefs! Ontario and all they do, check them out at http://growingchefsontario.ca.