Event Recap: The A+ Dinner by Chefs in the Classroom

At Humo Kelowna on October 25, young cooks joined professional chefs to help prepare a dinner that would support food education for more children across the Okanagan.

The occasion was Chefs in the Classroom’s second annual A+ Dinner, which welcomed around 50 guests for an evening of food, fundraising and a firsthand look at the program’s work. Children who had completed the program returned to the kitchen, putting their learning into practice alongside the chefs.

Among them was Chef Luke, back for his second year. For him, working in a small group with other children was part of what made the experience special.

“It’s a really, really fun experience,” he said.

His enthusiasm reflected the purpose behind the gathering: giving children the opportunity to discover where food comes from, learn to prepare it and build confidence in their own abilities.

Chefs in the Classroom is an entirely volunteer-run initiative of the Okanagan Chefs Association, working with Grade 3 students across the region. Each spring, chefs, gardeners, nutritionists and community volunteers bring seven weeks of hands-on food education into schools.

The goal is to help children become more confident around food and establish healthy habits early. The lessons are intended to travel beyond school, giving students skills they can share at home and continue developing as they grow. For president Jenny Rodgers, that investment in children can help build stronger families and a stronger community.

“This gives us an opportunity to show off what we can do, the skills and the incredible level of talent that our chefs bring to our program,” Rodgers said of the dinner.

Seven chefs contributed to the evening: Bernard Casavant, Terry Port, Zachary Chan, Brett Thompson, Kai Karoll, James Hanna and Emma Bevan. Welcome canapés and sparkling wine led into a five-course meal, with wine pairings from Lightning Rock. The menu ranged from liquid brie spheres with quince preserve to scallop with delicata squash and Okanagan pear, raviolo with wild mushrooms, and a quince-and-apple dessert.

The collaboration reflected the culinary community’s longstanding connection to the cause. Casavant recalled that the Okanagan Chefs Association launched the program during his presidency, with the aim of helping children learn about good food and what is grown in the Okanagan.

The evening also featured a silent auction, with items generously donated by Lightning Rock, TWP Fitness, Taste of the Okanagan, Good Food and Love, Quails’ Gate, Kelowna Rockets, Fraiche Inc., Derrick’s Steakhouse and STIHL. Their contributions supported the fundraiser and the hands-on food education it helps make possible for local children.

The dinner also created time for the people behind the program to connect, learn about one another’s contributions and recognize the volunteers, sponsors and supporters whose generosity sustains the work.

That support is particularly important for an organization run entirely by volunteers. The money raised provides the materials that turn lessons into practical experiences for children.

“Every dollar goes back to the kids,” Rodgers said, pointing to the food, gardening tools and seeds used in the program.

Kiwanis is the organization’s biggest financial supporter, and Wendy Falkowski, Chefs in the Classroom’s treasurer and a Kiwanis representative, explained that its annual sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to children and youth.

“We chose this particular program as one of our special programs to sponsor every year,” Falkowski said.

The dinner brought that network of support into the same room, giving guests an opportunity to meet the chefs and volunteers, hear about the work and see young participants taking another step in their learning.

Luke’s enthusiasm captured what those opportunities can mean to a child.

“It has been great coming here for two years now doing and cooking the food,” he said.

For anyone who missed this year’s A+ Dinner, the next invitation is worth watching for. It offers a chance to enjoy the Okanagan’s culinary talent while becoming part of the community helping children find their own confidence in the kitchen.

To learn more, volunteer or enquire about supporting the program, contact Chefs in the Classroom at info@chefsintheclassroom.com or visit chefsintheclassroom.com.

Photography by Wax Pencil Imagery