Community Classroom Kitchen - Community Classroom Project

Community Classroom Kitchen Initiative

Using Kitchen Skills to Teach Culinary Lessons & Lessons for Life

Community Classroom Kitchen (CCK) brings life skills into the kitchen and kitchen skills into life and is tapping into South Florida’s top culinary talent for programming, expertise and collective creativity.

CCK is committed to gathering families and neighbors together around a healthy dinner table, and that starts with training a culinary workforce that is passionate and equipped for health and success. Inspiring young adults to become food entrepreneurs is what we do. By connecting chefs and culinary experts with those who are eager to learn, we are able to co-create the future of the vital industry.

Culinary Classes

Space of Mind and Community Classroom share a campus in downtown Delray Beach. A portion of the proceeds from select Space of Mind programs & classes support the Community Classroom Project, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing stress through creativity.

Make It and Take It: Buche de Noel

Dec 15th – Adults

Get ready to shine this holiday season with a Buche de Noel that’s as fabulous as you are! In this hands-on class, we’ll whip up this stunning French yule log cake from scratch—because why settle for ordinary when you can be extraordinary? You’ll conquer the perfect sponge, whip up a luscious filling, and learn to decorate your creation like a holiday baking superstar. Ditch those store-bought impostors—this year, you’ll be the star of the dessert table with your homemade masterpiece!

Latkes with a Twist: Celebrating Hanukkah, One Crispy Bite at a Time!

Dec 18th – Adults

On the menu: Potato Latkes, Parsnip Latkes, Pear Applesauce. Join us for a holiday cooking class where latkes get a glamorous upgrade just in time for Hanukkah! We’ll be crisping up perfect Potato Latkes and velvety Parsnip Latkes, paired with a dreamy Pear Applesauce that’ll have you rethinking traditional toppings. Whether you’re celebrating the Festival of Lights or simply love a good fry, this class will leave you feeling like the latke king or queen of the season. Grab your aprons and get ready to sizzle up some Hanukkah magic!

Dumpling Masterclass: Roll, Fill, and Feast

Dec 20th – Adults

On the menu: Shrimp and Pork Siu Mai, Soy Sesame Dipping Sauce, Mushroom Potstickers, Ginger Dipping Sauce, Chicken Bao Buns. Dive into the delicious world of dumplings in this hands-on cooking class that’s sure to spice up your culinary skills! Get ready to unleash your creativity as you learn to craft a variety of mouthwatering dim sum, each bursting with flavor and personality. From delicate siu mai to irresistible potstickers and fluffy bao buns, you’ll master essential techniques for folding, steaming, and pan-frying. But that’s not all—discover the secrets to perfecting dipping sauces that will elevate your creations to head chef status.

Sugar Rush: Holiday Cookies for your Cookie Exchange

Dec 21st – Adults

On the menu: White Chocolate Cranberry, Triple Chocolate, Gingerbread Cookie Bars. Get ready to jingle and mingle during this hands-on cookie-making extravaganza! We’ll whip up three festive treats that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance: one with a tart burst and creamy sweetness, another that’s pure chocolate bliss, and a spiced bar cookie that screams cozy seasonal vibes. Bring your holiday spirit as we mix, bake, and decorate our way to cookie greatness.

View Full SOM Calendar

All CCK programming connects participants from varied socio-economic backgrounds, neighborhoods, and cultures, allowing everyone to learn – and be nourished – together.

CCK Programs include:

• Cooking classes, workshops and parties

• Dinners & events

• Full production set for production of food-related media

• Front and back-of-the-house workforce training for teens and young adults

• Lending library for students and chefs

• Commissary and test kitchen for chefs and young food entrepreneurs

• One-For-One Meal Box Project

• Culinary Industry Think Tank for professionals

Expanding access to culinary education

CCK is fueled by a passionate group of chefs, culinary instructors, food entrepreneurs, educators, mental health providers and community leaders who are coming together to provide industry-changing programming that will expand access to culinary education.

Launched via lockdown

The Community Classroom Kitchen was launched during Covid-19’s lockdown when Founder, Ali Kaufman, and Founding Chef, Blake Malatesta, sought to solve a local food crisis and donated one meal box to a family in need for each meal box sold.

CCK is currently building a commercial teaching kitchen and an entrepreneurial test kitchen on the Space of Mind downtown Delray Beach campus. CCK will be open for full cooking classes, workshops, parties and events in Fall 2024.