Young Chefs Cooking & Baking Club celebrates 20 Years

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Organisers of the Young Chefs Cooking & Baking Club are highlighting two decades of nurturing talent in Jamaica’s future chefs as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of the programme. Founded by Chef Latoya Panton, the programme was created to equip children with practical cooking skills while nurturing qualities that would serve them long after leaving the kitchen. Over 2,000 young chefs later, Panton says that vision has grown into one of Jamaica’s most respected culinary programmes for young people.

"We wanted children to become more independent, develop healthy eating habits, learn teamwork and gain confidence through hands-on experiences in the kitchen," said Panton. "Twenty years later, I can confidently say those goals have grown beyond what I first imagined. We've inspired thousands of children, introduced them to new foods and techniques, and created an environment where learning extends far beyond recipes.

Today, Young Chefs is about building confidence, creativity, responsibility and a lifelong appreciation for food." As the programme's impact grew, so did the support of partners. For more than a decade, CB Foods has supported Young Chefs through its portfolio of brands, including CB Chicken, Copperwood Pork, Caribbean Passion Smoked Meats and Bad Dawg, helping provide quality Jamaican ingredients and memorable experiences for aspiring young chefs. " Cooking shapes so much more than what's on the plate.

It builds confidence, sparks creativity and creates moments that bring people together. If we want to change the way Jamaicans eat tomorrow, we have to start with our children today," said Assistant Brand Manager at CB Foods Samantha Fisher. For Panton, however, the true measure of the programme's success isn't found in the number of children who have participated, but in the lives that continue to be shaped long after the classes have ended.

"One of the most rewarding moments is when former students return years later to tell me they still cook for their families, have pursued careers in the culinary arts or simply developed a lifelong love for cooking because of what they learned at Young Chefs," she said. "Knowing we've helped build confidence, life skills and lasting memories is the greatest reward of all." The organisers say that lasting impact is what has made the partnership between CB Foods and Young Chefs so meaningful.…