Chef Mi & Kids

🌟 Mini Chef Spotlight: Zariah 🌟

Today, I want to shine a light on one of our amazing older mini chefs, Zariah!

For the past four years, Zariah has been a part of the Chef Mi & Kids family, and watching her grow has been such a privilege. Between dance practices, tutoring sessions, and everything else on her busy schedule, she still shows up to the kitchen focused, determined, and ready to learn.

What makes Zariah truly special is the way she leads by example. As one of our older chefs, she has naturally stepped into a mentor role, helping our younger students feel welcomed, encouraged, and supported. Whether she’s demonstrating a technique, answering questions, or simply offering a helping hand, she embodies the kindness and leadership we hope to inspire in all of our students.

Zariah, thank you for your dedication, your positive attitude, and for being such an incredible role model. We are so proud of the young lady you are becoming and can’t wait to see all the amazing things your future holds! ❤️👩🏽‍🍳

🦋 Young Chef Spotlight: Aaliyah 🦋

Today, I want to shine a light on one of our amazing mini chefs, Aaliyah!

For the past four years, Aaliyah has been part of the Chef Mi & Kids family, and watching her grow has truly been a blessing. When she first joined us, she was a quiet, shy introvert who often stayed in the background. But with each class, each recipe, and each year, she became a little more confident.

Today, that quiet little chef has blossomed into a beautiful butterfly.

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been watching Aaliyah step into a mentor role for our younger chefs. She leads with kindness, patience, and a gentle spirit that makes others feel comfortable and supported. She is proof that leadership doesn’t always have to be loud—it can be found in consistency, compassion, and setting a positive example.

Aaliyah, I am so proud of the young lady you are becoming. Thank you for growing with us, believing in yourself, and showing our younger chefs what confidence looks like. It has been an honor to watch your transformation over the last four years.

Keep spreading your wings—we can’t wait to see where they take you. 💜👩🏽‍🍳

BIG UPDATE!!! 🎉👩🏽‍🍳👨🏽‍🍳

Chef Mi & Kids has officially been selected as a FINALIST to pitch in the M&T Bank Small Business Accelerator Program!!!

Out of so many amazing businesses, we are beyond honored to be chosen to take the stage and share our story, our mission, and the impact our mini chefs are making every single day.

Next week… we pitch for the WIN. 💥

This moment is bigger than us — it’s for every child who has stepped into our kitchen, every family that has trusted us, and every supporter who has believed in what we’re building.

We’re ready. We’re excited. And we’re bringing Chef Mi & Kids to the next level.

Let’s go!!! 🚀

Last night our mini chefs took on Beef & Broccoli and absolutely crushed it! 🥦🥩👩🏽‍🍳👨🏽‍🍳

As we wrapped up class, I couldn’t help but realize how bittersweet this time of year always feels. It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming everyone into the kitchen, and now we’re preparing to say goodbye to another amazing group of young chefs.

Over the past six weeks, I’ve watched these kids grow in confidence, try new foods, learn new skills, help one another, and create memories that go far beyond cooking. Every semester reminds me why Chef Mi & Kids exists in the first place.

While I’m sad to see this session come to summer break, I’m so excited to celebrate everything our chefs have accomplished.

🎉 NEXT WEEK IS OUR GRADUATION PIZZA PARTY! 🎉

We’ll be celebrating all of our chefs, their hard work, and another successful semester together. I truly couldn’t be more proud of these kids and the growth they continue to show week after week.

Schools out and summer begins, one more celebration, and a whole lot of pizza! 🍕❤️

🌟 Mini Chef Spotlight: AV 🌟

Today we’re celebrating one of our amazing mini chefs, AV!

When AV first joined Chef Mi & Kids, she was a shy young girl who mostly kept to herself. As an online learner through CCAC, she was excited to connect with other kids her age, and little by little, she began finding her place in our kitchen family.

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of watching her grow into an incredible pr***en filled with confidence, charisma, and personality. The quiet girl we first met has blossomed into someone who isn’t afraid to laugh, engage with others, and let her unique personality shine.

One of my favorite things about AV is seeing how comfortable she has become in her own skin. She has grown not only as a chef, but as a young lady, and it’s been amazing to witness her transformation firsthand.

At Chef Mi & Kids, we always hope to create a space where children feel safe enough to be themselves, and AV is a beautiful example of what can happen when kids are given that opportunity. Her growth, confidence, and bright spirit are a reminder of why this program means so much.

AV, thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. We are so proud of the young lady you are becoming and can’t wait to see all the incredible things your future holds. Keep shining, because your light is impossible to miss. 💜👩🏽‍🍳✨

🌟 Young Chef Spotlight: Kamryn 🌟

Today we’re shining a light on one of our incredible mini chefs, Kamryn!

For the past year, Kamryn and her little sister have been part of the Chef Mi & Kids family, and what a blessing it has been to watch them grow.

At just 13 years old, Kamryn is already an entrepreneur, student leader, athlete, and role model. She has owned her own business since the age of 8 and is a proud member of the National Junior Honor Society.

Whether she’s playing soccer, volleyball, practicing Aikido, cooking, baking, crocheting, or painting portraits, Kamryn brings passion and dedication to everything she does.

But what truly makes Kamryn special is her heart. She is ALWAYS willing to help others and has become such an amazing mentor to our younger chefs. Whether it’s helping with a recipe, encouraging a student who is struggling, or simply making someone feel included, she leads with kindness, patience, and confidence.

As an instructor, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing older students step up and invest in the younger ones, and Kamryn does that so naturally. She sets an incredible example of what leadership looks like and helps make our kitchen a welcoming place for everyone.

Kamryn, thank you for being such a positive influence on our program. We are so proud of the young lady you are becoming and grateful to have you as part of our Chef Mi & Kids family. 💜👩🏽‍🍳

A Week of Celebrating Our Class Helpers

This week, I want to take some time to shine a light on a very special group of mini chefs—our older class helpers.

While they may come to class to learn new recipes, they’ve also become so much more. They help welcome new students, encourage younger chefs, answer questions, demonstrate techniques, and lend a hand whenever it’s needed.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of watching many of these students grow from nervous first-time chefs into confident young leaders. Their patience, kindness, and willingness to help others are what make Chef Mi & Kids so special.

Throughout this week, I’ll be highlighting some of these incredible young people who have stepped up as mentors and role models in our kitchen. Each one has their own story, and each one has played a part in helping our program become the family it is today.

To our older chefs: thank you for leading by example, supporting your peers, and showing our younger students what growth, dedication, and leadership look like. I am so proud of each and every one of you. ❤️👩🏽‍🍳🌟

Stay tuned as we celebrate these amazing young leaders all week long!

How are we already heading into Week 6 of Chef Mi & Kids?! 🤯👩🏽‍🍳👨🏽‍🍳

It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming everyone back into the kitchen, and now we’re preparing for another delicious week together!

This Tuesday, our mini chefs will be making Chicken Quesadillas 🌮✨

Over the past few weeks, these kids have chopped, stirred, sautéed, learned new skills, tried new foods, and most importantly, grown in confidence. Watching them become more comfortable in the kitchen and willing to step outside their comfort zones has been one of the greatest rewards.

Every week I am reminded that we are doing so much more than teaching recipes—we are building independence, patience, teamwork, and life skills that will last long after the cooking is done.

I can’t wait to see what our chefs create this week as we head into Week 6 together. Thank you to all of our families, volunteers, and supporters who continue to make this program possible. ❤️

See you in the kitchen! 👩🏽‍🍳🧑🏽‍🍳🔥