I’m sorry, Decked Out Show House, but you didn’t stand a chance. Not against my kids. Yeah, that Christopher Peacock kitchen was hot stuff, and those KitchenAid appliances made me drool, but mostly I liked the little desk in the front room where people paid their admission fee. Everyone in the design field (and many a design enthusiast) knows about the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Decorator Show House: they flock to see the upper East side townhouse transformed by top designers whose work sets trends that get picked up all over the world. (Well, not all over. I’m pretty sure in the Bronx, where my kids come from, these designs are not commonly found in homes.) 
Back to the desk in front. The money collected there is a major part of the funding for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club (and has been since 1973). The Club House keeps my kids away from really bad influences on the street after school. The money helps buy supplies like folding tables and dish soap for the Club House so we can have a cooking class. (I have to add, also, that many of the supplies for our cooking class were donated with no strings attached by my big-hearted friends at Anolon and Oxo. And the Copper River salmon fishermen in Alaska generously donated fresh and canned salmon several times, too.) And this year, there was something extra special for these incredible kids: we held our graduation class in the Show House and, in recognition of their hard work and dedication, each student got his or her chef coat. 
The kids look sharp! Just behind me is Amber, and next to her is Eddy. They both grew up going to Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club and both now work there. They have been my assistants since Day 1, and both have learned to cook along side the kids — while simultaneously functioning as my additional eyeballs and arms (and master first-aide kit fetchers).
We’ve been holding class on folding tables, so it was pretty cool to actually work on stable, comfortable-height counter tops. Before this last class, we worked in a room by ourselves, appreciating the fruits of our labor after the last dish is washed—so it was very cool to actually prepare hors d’oeuvres to serve to guests.
Check out all the photos at the end of this post. We were fortunate enough to have a photographer and videographers there, thanks to House Beautiful, another sponsor of the Show House. I loved all the photos so much, I wasn’t a very good editor. So there are lots of them: photos that show off the kids’ great techniques, their attention to detail, their incredible smiles…
What really made me bust with pride—bust so hard I wore a stupid grin on my face for most of the three hours we were there—was that these kids stayed focused and composed: they are chef rock stars in the making. Look at them! This was our last class. No, this was supposed to be our last class. We said goodbye and some of them asked me, “Does this mean you won’t be teaching us anymore?” And I said yes, but I am fairly certain they heard the “No!” I meant to say.
Help me out here, if you don’t mind. Should I start next school year with new kids, so that more kids can learn a little bit about healthful eating, cooking, manners (yes, we cover those, too) and how to take care of themselves? I really don’t want to give these kids—my kids– up. I want to teach them as much as they want to learn…To feed them knowledge until they are all full up.
Maybe schoolteachers feel this way– but then how do they say goodbye, year after year, and move on to a whole new set of kids? So should I do that—start all over teaching the basics to a new set of kids? Or should I keep going with these kids—my kids—who I can hardly even write about without my chest swelling and my eyes welling? I mean, just look at them:
I am really looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks (and why): should I continue with these same kids, who want to learn more, or give new kids a chance to learn the basics?
Does it help if I say “both”? I’m not very far away. I can help!
You are so sweet, but you are far…
Oh, my goodness gracious me. Made me cry, Ms. Perry. In the good way. The lump in throat gratitude OMG precious remember-this-feeling way. I love love love this. Okay, first, my opinion? Keep on with these kids. Just…do that if you can. Maybe someone/someones could step up and do a beginning program for the newbies, and then they could be moving along and they can come to you with knowledge when these jewels move on to….high school. Not that the other way is wrong. This is a good either way decision. Now, let me say that I personally adore the Boys and Girls Club period. I adore this particularly named Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club because my father, James Patrick McDermott, born on East 53rd St in 1920 to Nellie and John both of whom immigrated from Ireland and met working on an estate on Long Island, went to the Kips Bay Boys Club as a kid, and spoke of it with gratitude and pride and joy through out his life (1920-2009). There weren’t Girls there then, and I imagine the location and much has changed, (no culinary back in the day), but the fact that this institution was a good place full of good people eager to support good kids doing good things — that is clearly still the same. Bless every one of you and thank you for this heart warming post.
Nancie, that is just the coolest story! I LOVE knowing your father grew up in the Kips Bay club!( And I want to point out that I probably always knew on some level there was New York in you).
There is something about the people who grow up going to the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club…the Executive Director, Daniel Quintero, and the director, Harold Maldonado, used the club house as kids, then made a career out of giving back. As I mentioned in my post, my two assistants both grew up in the club. It is an incredible place, and I don’t think anyone who grows up in it forgets– even when they get rich and famous like JLo, and even when they don’t. Certainly much has changed since your father’s day: there are girls! And you’re right, there wasn’t a culinary program back then either. In fact, I don’t know that there was ever one before I started it last year– although I don’t know that for sure.
And that, Nancie, is part of my big dilemma. I feel like this is something I should grow for the club: I am only in one location teaching one class. David is urging me (as have some others) to write up a curriculum so the class can be a greater influence for more of the kids. Perhaps it is selfish of me to want to stick with these kids when so many others could benefit by learning how to nourish themselves and others. Check one for the “new kids” column…
i just love this piece and the photos are wonderful. I think you have a difficult decision to make but i am sure its a win for the children you work with next year and for you,
First, let me say what you are doing is remarkable and life-changing for these boys and girls. You are opening their world and feeding their minds with ideas and dreams they would never imagine without the experience and love you are giving them.
What will this group be doing next year without your guidance and attention?
Can they work independently or can they assist in teaching a new group the life lessons you have taught them? I think if their skills can be utilized in working with younger groups that would be wonderful and would give them self confidence and personal satisfaction.
Why don’t you find a group of adult volunteers to help you make this program grow so you can include old and new students and not have to make this difficult decision…..
Barbara– The idea of using these kids as mentors appeals to me a lot. It first occurred to me when one girl asked if she could be my assistant next year. But I think there is an interim step needed…not all of them are at the point where they can supervise younger children using knives and fire. It is a lot of responsibility. And I don’t think I can safely have many more kids to be watching over at once. But still, I think you are on to something, and maybe if I get creative I can figure out something along these lines…yes, something where I can have my cake and eat it too!
Kudos to you Marge, this is such a wonderful thing that you have done for these children.
I am sure this has had a tremendous impact on them already.
I think that you should try to do both ( not sure where you will find the time). Teach a new class of students and maybe for the kids that just graduated you can start a program sponsored by some of the big resturants in the city or through the food channel shows that have kitchens for deminstration purposes, they might give you access to use their kitchens.
Our firm was honored to be involved with the showhouse for the second time this year, it’s such a worthwhile organization!
BTW- I love getting your newletters and recipes!
Thank you, Robin. It never fails to amaze me when I find these unexpected connections with people.
It is great to hear your firm is part of this prestigious design event– and is doing such important good work by participating.
I love love love seeing them in their chef’s coats. And with those great, confident smiles.
It was a really special day. It was really neat how into cooking the kids are. Learning skills like that at an early age will certainly serve them well. You’re a great teacher Marge!
Aw, thanks, Sean. It was a blast! And thanks so much for donating those tools to the program– they will be put to good use!
I have taken formal knife skills classes, and am devoted to proper cooking methods, i.e, safety, cleanliness and passion for food and its’ benefits. If I can be of any help to you I will be there. In truth, I would get much more than I could give. Just let me know and I’ll be there.
I definitely get more than I give! So Roger, if you are serious, let me know and maybe you can watch one day and get a feel for it and see what you think…
Marge
This is such a great post to share! What a joy it must be working with these kids. You are giving them something that will be a positive force in their lives for many years to come.
If you are having a hard time deciding on taking on a new group or continuing with this one I would suggest doing both! If you don’t mind sharing the kids a bit there are many talented chefs/cooks out there that would jump at the chance to be part of this fun project. Heck, I’d come to NYC if invited just to be part of a session and I live in Baltimore. I think if you invited a guest chef once in a while to expose the kids to a different part of a cooking education whether it be growing your own garden/canning or healthy eating you and the kids would benefit greatly.
I love doing a similar project here in Baltimore with two groups of kids and we are coming up on our third cooking class July 3rd. This stuff is so rewarding!
What ever you decide I’m sure you and the kids will love it.
Oh, Kurt, I wish I could do both, but it just isn’t realistic. Over the summer I will try to write up a curriculum so that maybe I have some support, or teachers who could lead other classes. It gets really difficult because I travel a good bit for business, and maybe I could at least find people who would work with me when I am there, sub for me when I am not, and maybe get to the point where they run classes on their own. Selfishly, I wish I could teach all the classes, because I love doing it…but then there are annoying things to tend to– like earning money to pay the bills. 🙂
Wonderful post, and thank you for giving so much space to those beautiful pictures. What a mitzvah you’re doing here! (I”m not Jewish, and I hope that’s the right use of that word.) In any case, your mother would be proud.
I agree with the poster who suggested you continue on with this group and see if somehow a new teacher can’t be recruited for the next group coming along. How did you get started with this group? Could a new teacher be found in the same way?
Congratulation on the wonderful success your kids are experiencing.
Hi Marge– I had a similar experience earlier this year at the Boys and Girls Club in Green Bay, WI where I live. I helped coordinate a cooking club for 2 months, called LIVE in the Kitchen. We did not have a formal class of students, so each week, it was a different group. It was hard to feel like I was making a difference (aka: one location, teaching one class). I really wonder if this is something that the Boys and Girls Club of America can help with. I wonder if it would be possible to create a curriculum that can be used across the country and feel like we are making a greater influence. Not sure how to go about making it happen, but perhaps someone out there has some ideas.
Selena–
It has been my goal for a while to write up a curriculum… I am hoping over the summer to get the time to do just that. I will keep you posted, and certainly send it to you if it could be of some use in your program. Are you planning on resuming in the fall?
i just love this piece and the photos are wonderful. I think you have a difficult decision to make but i am sure its a win for the children you work with next year and for you,