No Products in the Cart
Recently, I had the opportunity to take part in a very special cooking workshop at De Cartoon Buurthuis, where I worked as an assistant chef alongside head chef Angela Van Der Meer. Together with the children, we explored the rich flavors of Surinamese cuisine in a warm, inclusive, and creative environment.
For me, this workshop was about much more than cooking. It was about helping children discover their abilities, build confidence, and express their creativity — all through food.
During the workshop, I guided the children through basic kitchen preparation skills, such as:
Chopping onions safely
Preparing vegetables
Understanding ingredients
Learning about hygiene and organization before cooking
These may seem like small tasks, but for a child, successfully completing them is a powerful experience. Holding a knife correctly, preparing ingredients independently, and contributing to a shared meal all help build a strong sense of “I can do this.”
Creativity doesn’t only belong in an art studio — it lives in the kitchen too.
The children were encouraged to:
Taste and reflect on flavors
Think about presentation
Ask questions like “What could we add to make this even better?”
Just like in art, recipes served as a guide — but imagination, curiosity, and experimentation were at the heart of the process.
Cooking workshops like this help children develop:
Responsibility
Teamwork
Fine motor skills
Confidence and creativity
Being part of this experience reaffirmed my passion for working with children in hands-on, creative environments — whether through art or cooking. Spaces where children can create, explore, and grow are where true learning happens.
