Midtown Supper Club teaches children culinary skills

SANDUSKY – As a child, Bradley Kraft woke up in the morning excited for his first meal of the day. But pouring a bowl of cereal seemed too simple. He often made something fresh, like scrambled eggs. Now Kraft is teaching children culinary skills during Midtown Supper Club in Sandusky. Kraft, who is the food service director for Sandusky City Schools, instructs the beginners class of Midtown Supper Club at Halo Live on Wayne Street. The program is offered through the Sandusky Recreation Department. Young chefs learn basic culinary skills like cooking, baking, knife skills, safety, sanitation and clean up, Kraft said. Bralyn Denney, 11, cracks an egg into a bowl during Midtown Supper Club at Halo Live in Sandusky on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Register photo/ERIN CALDWELL During one class, the chefs-in-training worked together and followed their recipes to make two flavors of cupcakes: chocolate and lemon blueberry. As the cupcakes baked in the oven, Kraft asked the question, "What are three leavening agents?" A student quickly answered: "Baking powder, baking soda and yeast." "They understand and they're learning," Kraft said. "I always ask the same questions over and over just to get that perpetual thing in their head." Kraft said people called him crazy for letting his students use a chef's knife, however, Kraft taught them the safe way to use it. They cut apples and ate them for a snack during a previous class. "What I think I love most is teaching the kids how to do it," Kraft said. "Teaching the kids the knowledge you have is inspirational." An advanced class of Midtown Supper Club takes place at Lea's Kitchen on East Market Street. The class consists of chefs-in-training who participated in the pilot program last year. Both classes will come together for a fundraising dinner at Halo Live on March 4. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Sandusky Recreation youth scholarship program. Instructor Bradley Kraft checks to see if the cupcakes are done during Midtown Supper Club at Halo Live in Sandusky on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Register photo/ERIN CALDWELL During the Ohio Parks & Recreation Association's annual conference and trade show at the Kalahari Convention Center last week, the Sandusky Recreation Department and representatives of Midtown Supper Club accepted their 2019 Best of the Best Award of Excellence for a Recreation Program in Ohio. Sandusky youth program supervisor Tondra Frisby said the training chefs are able to work alongside professional caterers and chefs to nurture and enhance their interest in the culinary arts. "It encourages teamwork, promotes social interaction without screens and makes for fun while learning a life skill," Frisby said. Instructor Bradley Kraft helps a chef in training measure cocoa for chocolate cupcakes during Midtown Supper Club at Halo Live in Sandusky on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Register photo/ERIN CALDWELL