Young Chefs Cooking & Baking Club celebrates 20 Years
Organisers of the Young Chefs Cooking & Baking Club are highlighting two decades of nurturing talent in Jamaica’s future chefs as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of the programme.
Founded by Chef Latoya Panton, the programme was created to equip children with practical cooking skills while nurturing qualities that would serve them long after leaving the kitchen.
Over 2,000 young chefs later, Panton says that vision has grown into one of Jamaica’s most respected culinary programmes for young people.
“We wanted children to become more independent, develop healthy eating habits, learn teamwork and gain confidence through hands-on experiences in the kitchen,” said Panton. “Twenty years later, I can confidently say those goals have grown beyond what I first imagined. We’ve inspired thousands of children, introduced them to new foods and techniques, and created an environment where learning extends far beyond recipes. Today, Young Chefs is about building confidence, creativity, responsibility and a lifelong appreciation for food.”
As the programme’s impact grew, so did the support of partners. For more than a decade, CB Foods has supported Young Chefs through its portfolio of brands, including CB Chicken, Copperwood Pork, Caribbean Passion Smoked Meats and Bad Dawg, helping provide quality Jamaican ingredients and memorable experiences for aspiring young chefs.
” Cooking shapes so much more than what’s on the plate. It builds confidence, sparks creativity and creates moments that bring people together. If we want to change the way Jamaicans eat tomorrow, we have to start with our children today,” said Assistant Brand Manager at CB Foods Samantha Fisher.
For Panton, however, the true measure of the programme’s success isn’t found in the number of children who have participated, but in the lives that continue to be shaped long after the classes have ended.
“One of the most rewarding moments is when former students return years later to tell me they still cook for their families, have pursued careers in the culinary arts or simply developed a lifelong love for cooking because of what they learned at Young Chefs,” she said. “Knowing we’ve helped build confidence, life skills and lasting memories is the greatest reward of all.”
The organisers say that lasting impact is what has made the partnership between CB Foods and Young Chefs so meaningful. United by a shared belief in the power of cooking to educate, empower and bring people together, both organisations remain committed to giving more young Jamaicans the opportunity to develop skills that will serve them for life.
“CB Foods has been much more than a sponsor. They’ve consistently believed in what we’re trying to achieve and have supported our mission of educating and inspiring young people through cooking,” said Panton.
“Their support has helped us create meaningful experiences for our campers, and it’s encouraging to partner with a company that shares our commitment to education, quality and community development.”
Fisher added that the partnership continues to reinforce CB Foods’ belief that cooking has the power to create lasting change beyond the kitchen.
“This partnership has shown us the incredible impact food can have beyond the kitchen. Good Food Made to Share has always been about more than sharing a meal—it’s about sharing knowledge, experiences and opportunities. Watching children discover a love for cooking while growing in confidence reminds us why partnerships like this matter.”
As Young Chefs Cooking Club celebrates 20 years of transforming young lives through cooking, CB Foods says it proudly looks ahead to continuing the shared journey—helping even more children discover the confidence, creativity and life skills that begin in the kitchen. Because when a child learns to cook, they’re not just preparing a meal—they’re preparing for life.
