At the Mobile Kitchen Project, we bring everything but the kitchen sink, literally! This past school year, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve over 250 students each week across the Chicago area through our hands-on culinary classes and family dinner events.

When we launched in 2023, we weren’t sure what to expect—just a handful of classes? A few schools? Fast forward to today, and MKP is now running more than 20 classes every week, with schools eagerly signing up and partners asking us to expand.

Our mission is simple and powerful: to bring the joy of cooking and food literacy directly into schools and communities. With kid-tested recipes and practical culinary skills, our programming is designed to inspire a lifetime of confidence in the kitchen. While also helping kids explore the deep connections between food, culture, and the environment.

Led by our team of enthusiastic instructors, students chop, sauté, season, and taste their way through fun, meaningful lessons that build more than just kitchen know-how. From learning to follow a recipe to sharing a meal with classmates and family, these experiences foster independence, creativity, and connection.

Behind the scenes, a lot of care goes into making every class a success: thoughtful planning, gathering ingredients, prepping materials, and showing up with energy and intention. It’s all worth it to create memorable and enriching experiences that stick with our students long after the last bite.

While the impact of this work can be hard to measure, we see it in the spark of excitement when a student tries something new, the pride in plating a homemade dish, and the joy of learning through food. These are the seeds we’re planting—ones we trust will grow into a deeper appreciation for nourishment, community, and self-confidence.

As we look ahead to our summer programming, we’re proud of what we’ve built and deeply grateful to all the schools, families, and partners who make this work possible.

Interested in bringing MKP to your school or organization?
Let’s cook up something great together! Get your school or organization involved.