LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Lima Senior High School culinary program is helping individuals with disabilities build confidence in the kitchen through a hands-on outreach class focused on teaching basic cooking skills.
It was like a scene from Food Channel as Lima Senior culinary students stood side by side with clients of the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities, preparing a variety of dishes. Participants had the chance to make chicken salad, flatbread pizzas and chicken quesadillas — giving them an opportunity to follow recipes and practice cooking techniques they don’t often use.
Jonathan Honaker said he enjoyed “Learning how to cut with the knife and how to cook.”
Kelly Priest was enthusiastic about the experience. “What are you learning? how to cook. I love to cook. What did you make today? Pizza and salad.”
For the Lima Senior students, the event was a chance to teach and share skills. “It's interesting to see what they already know, and kind of extending the knowledge on what to do and certain meals, just some a little something to help. It's always fun to know how to cook,” said senior culinary student Ja’kearius Talbert.
Fellow student Phoenix Matthews added, “I will say that everyone did great. Everyone did amazing, and I think that it is helping them learn to be on their own a little bit more.”
The new cooks were able to take home the meals they created to enjoy later. This is the second year the Lima Senior culinary program has partnered with the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities for the class. Last year, participants learned to make lasagna.
