Kenny Wayne Hayes goes RootDown!

In just 2 months, RootDown LA saw our newest Youth Leader at Jefferson High, Kenny Wayne Hayes, Jr., turn from being a shy observer at our after school club to become a FULL-ON skilled chef at our tasting events. Thanks to Warren, who's been leading RootDown's charge engage and train youth to build DEMAND for healthy food in South LA. In the pic: Kenny showed up last week proudly wearing his new chef hat which he won in Jennie Cook's latest Mystery Lunch Box cook-off.

We asked Kenny what he likes about RootDown LA, "I like cutting [nasty veggies of course] and I like to learn how to cook different food. I also like the other kids and were friends now."  Who cooks in Kenny's home?  "My Granny mostly. My mom doesn't like to cook but my granny makes some great nachos. I make Salsa at home now and sometimes cook too. We also asked Kenny, what could he teach others now, about healthy food and cooking? "That it tastes good and is fun." Has RootDown changed Kenny's mind about eating any new veggies?! "I try anything now...

RootDown at The Jefferson Family Fair

Each year, Jefferson High School hosts a day where folks from the entire Jefferson family of schools can come and enjoy great food, entertainment and activities.  This year, RootDown LA was on hand to provide fresh local produce and lots of VEGGIES!  snuck into our homemade salsa and spicy hummus & sauteed veggie wraps.   Our youth leaders, and new recruits to the RootDown Healthy Food Club showed up to volunteer their time to feed the people healthy whole foods.  The morning started off a bit slow, with a few guests stopping by for sliced apples and citrus.  By noon however, the tables were THRONGED with students and parents who couldn't get enough of the delicious, healthy and AFFORDABLE! food.  Thanks to Councilwoman, Jan Perry, for stopping by to say hello!  We're supporting her moratorium on fast food restaurants in South LA by building demand for healthy food!

Jennie Cook's Mystery Lunch Box Cook-off returns to Jefferson High School!

In just three two-hour sessions, LA Caterer and Restaurateur, and RootDown board member, Jennie Cook, gives high school kids (and their parents) the skills to devise their own recipes for a healthy gourmet VEGGIE meal.  Thursday, May 13th was the final-cook off for this latest round of culinary genius building.  After two sessions where students (and parents) got to practice new cooking techniques on various vegetables, they arrived for the third session to find a "mystery" vegetable around which they had to create a dish to impress a team of judges.  Jennie was impressed with the seriousness with which the participants approached the challenge.  As soon as they arrived in the final cook-off day, they quickly got to work to prepare dishes that ended up looking like they'd just come out of a professional kitchen.  The principal, several Jefferson High teachers, and our good friend from WECAN, Michel McLaughlin were on hand to taste the food.

A white bean pasta and spicy coleslaw dish took first place though all the teams were awarded prizes for the taste, presentation and overall creativity of their plates.   Let us know if you want us to bring the Mystery Lunch Box Cook off to your school or organization!