one of the tables beside his sister, Emelia McMurray, 7, for her first class and his fifth. The teacher, Stefanie Prokopiou, asks the students to walk down the steps and circle up around the island countertop at the front of the room. Thomas already knows the drill and leads the way. In front of them, the kids have parchment paper, rolling pins, cookie cutters and a bowl filled with a mixture of applesauce and cinnamon, so they can make ornaments in different shapes: gingerbread men, candy canes or as Bella Corral, 11, did – an elaborate Santa Claus. “How many should I do?” asks Emilia. “As many as you can,” advises Thomas. Thomas is very methodical, says his mom, Rebecca McMurray. Thomas often helps her in the kitchen or takes on dishes of his own. The Sunday after class, he made pizzelle all by himself. Olivia Jooste and Maddie Phillips use rolling pins and parchment paper “The confidence cooking gives him to be able to to flatten out their cinnamon and applesauce dough. start it, finish it himself and have a great product is fantastic.” says Rebecca. “[The class] sounded like it would be the perfect fit for him, and he’d get to be with other kids.” Emilia chats away with cousins Maddie Phillips, 10, and Olivia Jooste, 9, about Taylor Swift, school and what they’re doing tomorrow while Thomas and Bella do their own thing at the gingerbread station. SOUTHERN SEASON GIVES CHILDREN And while it’s a chance for the kids to learn how to THE CHANCE TO GAIN CULINARY cook, craft and socialize, they also have the chance to EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS be silly when their parents aren’t around. After Emilia finishes laying out her design for ANY ADULTS MIGHT NOT KNOW her macaroni snowflake on parchment paper, she walks over to the what pizzelle (traditional Italian waffle refreshment corner to fill a clear plastic goblet with grape juice. cookies) are let alone know how to “Hey Thomas, I’m definitely old enough to drink wine,” Emilia says make them. But Thomas McMurray, 10, with a mischievous smile and a few giggles. “And swallow ice whole!” does. And a big reason why is because of “She’s an old soul, but she’s a comic relief,” Rebecca laughs when told Southern Season’s cooking classes. of Emily’s joke. “She thought the goblets reminded her of wine glasses.” On some Saturday mornings, the large specialty grocery store offers And while the kids are giddy, they’re not running around or acting courses that give kids the opportunity to get comfortable in the kitchen. amiss. They’re very focused on the creations in front of them while The second-floor classroom at the back of the store has long black constantly saying “please” and “thank you” when they need something. tables filled with all sorts of crafts and food. On the first Saturday in Bari Hobbs, the cooking school manager, says that’s her favorite part December, four teachers stand ready to instruct six kids. Thomas sits at of the class – getting to interact with the kids. “You know, you ask them,
Kids in the Kitchen
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chapelhillmagazine.com January/February 2019