Food-based events are a cornerstone of ministry for people of all ages, especially hungry young adults. Nothing brings people together quite like eating! One fun option: a cooking class. Many younger people are looking to hone their kitchen skills, and a group class offers a fun, low-stakes way to learn.
Want to host a class that keeps them coming back for more? Here’s how.
Plan Thoroughly
Much like a delicious menu, a well-organized cooking class requires careful planning. Start sketching out details a few weeks (or even months) in advance. Do you have the budget to hire a professional? How much will you charge participants? How many people can you accommodate? Early on, brainstorm with any staff or volunteers who can help with planning.
Choose the Right Space
If your church has a spacious community kitchen, fantastic! You’ve got a great location for a cooking class. If not, though, all’s not lost. You can still host a cooking class by scouting out a local teaching kitchen. Many universities and culinary schools rent out large kitchen spaces.
Ensure Food Safety
Amidst the fun of making a communal meal, don’t forget about food safety. Foodborne illness is not the memory you want young adults to take away from a cooking class. Establish some ground rules for everyone in the class to follow. These include:
· Keeping separate cutting boards for produce and meats
· Frequent handwashing
· Tying back loose hair
· Judging doneness of meat by using a thermometer
· Keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot
Make It Accessible
Hand-rolling sushi or flambéing cherries jubilee are fancy culinary tricks, but a young adult ministry might not be the right time for learning high-level culinary skills. Talk to your cooking instructor about choosing recipes and techniques that aren’t too complicated. This way, a class will be accessible (and not intimidating) for attendees.
Provide Time to Enjoy
Perhaps the best part of a cooking class is enjoying the fruits of your labor. At the end of class, be sure to provide time for young adults to get together to savor the dish they’ve made together, rather than rushing to clean up. Deeper conversations and stronger community may happen more over a tabletop than at the stovetop.
