Learning about God's Blueprint for Nutritional Living
OJA middle school students gain invaluable real-world skills through our partnership with the Kitchen House, a nonprofit delivering immersive garden-to-kitchen experiences to deepen connections with food and each other. This collaboration allows students to engage in hands-on learning in gardening, cooking, and sustainable practices, fostering a deep understanding of nutrition and environmental stewardship. By participating in this program, OJA students develop practical skills, a passion for healthy living, and a connection to their community and the environment.
Decipher
Students follow a thoughtfully crafted menu, learning to plan and prepare balanced meals.
Discern
By following detailed instructions, students develop essential cooking techniques and kitchen safety skills.
Deliver
After preparing their dishes, students enjoy the food they make, gaining a sense of accomplishment and understanding the value of healthy eating.
A Brief History
In 2011, there was a meeting of the minds. From there, a unique community resource was born.
The collaboration began between community professionals and key educators to create a Nutritional Science Lab at Orlando Junior Academy, located across the street from what is now the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden. As the program blossomed, an Advisory Committee formed. This led to the creation of Edible Education Experience as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own leadership, facility and programming.
Through a 2013 capital campaign, OJA donated the property and, after a visit by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation pledged a $250,000 grant to build the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden. AdventHealth for Children, a nationally recognized pediatric hospital and care network, joined the campaign, donating $450,000 as part of its commitment to the belief that good nutrition is paramount to good health and that teaching our children about the importance of healthy eating will bring wholeness to the entire community. In 2014, Edible Education Experience, alongside Chef Lagasse and other community leaders, held a ceremonial ground-breaking. The design and permitting process commenced.
The Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden opened in April 2017. In 2025, Edible Education Experience became The Kitchen House.
The centrally located facility is a simple, yet beautiful, 3,500 sq. ft. kitchen house with four cooking stations that opens onto a veranda overlooking the garden that perfectly serves The Kitchen House’s goal to teach our community to grow, cook and enjoy a more plant-forward diet for personal and environmental health.