Our Story
Schoolhouse Kitchen + Studio was founded by Cheryl Knecht, whose passion for food, education, and community inspired her to create a space where people can cook, learn, and connect.
In 2015, she co-founded Sugar Beet Food Co-op in Oak Park, IL, to support local farmers and provide greater access to organic food. This experience fueled her desire to build Schoolhouse Kitchen + Studio, a welcoming community cooking school.
Cheryl’s impact on Chicago’s food scene has earned her the Golden Beet Award and a spot on New City Chicago’s "Big Heat" list three times. With an incredible team of educators, she expanded Schoolhouse to Portage Park in 2023 and Wicker Park soon after, continuing her mission to bring people together through the joy of cooking.
Our Mission
We are on a mission to offer awesome community cooking classes that spark a lifelong love for cooking and baking.
For youth and families, Schoolhouse is a unique space for everyone to learn about food together!
Who we are
Since 2012, Schoolhouse kitchen + studio has been inspiring people to grow, eat and share and learn about good food.
We love cooking with kids and their families! There is so much to learn in each recipe. Culture, economics, food systems, math, science and art! We believe that a kitchen classroom is a fun and relaxing environment to explore.
Cheryl Knecht founded Schoolhouse Kitchen in 2017, inspired by the joy of cooking with her own kids.
During the global pandemic, she met Sarah Edgar, and the two quickly bonded while baking endless batches of pizza dough and cinnamon rolls to share with their community.
