Back to top

The MCPL Culinary Center Is Now Open!

Culinary Center Staff

May 23, 2023

Mid-Continent Public Library has officially opened the doors to its much-anticipated Culinary Center, located inside the Library’s Green Hills location. The innovative new Center features a teaching kitchen for food and nutrition-focused classes for the public, as well as commercial kitchen space for local startup food businesses.

The Culinary Center will begin offering classes to the public in June on a variety of topics and catered to foodies of all ages. All programs are free to attend, but registration is required. From technique-focused programs like Food Preservation Basics, Beginning Culinary Knife Skills, and Outdoor Cooking 101, to recipe-centered classes like Make Your Own Chili Powder and Rubs, Healthy Caribbean Cooking, and Flour Power: A Kid’s History of the Tortilla, the Culinary Center will offer cooks of all interests and skill levels a chance to gain hands-on knowledge about food preparation, nutrition, and foodways (eating habits and culinary practices of people, regions, or historical periods). 

The other half of the Culinary Center’s service, commercial kitchen space for local startup food businesses, is also now available. For a minimal rental fee, businesses can use the four commercial kitchen spaces, including two incubator kitchens, a shared equipment kitchen, and a prep kitchen. Each comes equipped with a variety of features—range tops, convection ovens, conventional ovens, freezers, coolers, etc. Scholarships to cover kitchen rental fees are also available to those who qualify.

The MCPL Culinary Center is a unique resource for the Kansas City northland, which was part of the inspiration for the facility.

More information about the MCPL Culinary Center and its services can be found at mymcpl.org/Culinary. To inquire about renting commercial kitchen space, and to learn more about available scholarships, email culinary@mymcpl.org

culinarycenter-logo600.jpg

More About Mid-Continent Public Library’s Culinary Center

The MCPL Culinary Center is a destination and resource for anyone interested in learning about food and culinary entrepreneurship. Led by Director Xander Winkel, the Culinary Center team offers customers a combined 60+ years of culinary and food business experience. Winkel, who has a background in nonprofit management and small business development, is joined by Kitchen Manager Taylor Smith, a registered dietitian whose expertise includes federal food regulations and one-on-one dietary counseling, and Program Manager Charles Tibbs, a former executive chef with experience managing a range of food operations, from small startups to stadiums with over 100 kitchen staff. Connect with the Culinary Center on Facebook.
 

View All Blogs

Read Similar Blogs:
Culinary
MCPL News

Events You May Also Like

Baking with Fruit (Zoom)

Thu, Jul 13 2023
7:00pm - 8:00pm Central
Virtual Event
Learn how to bake just-sweet-enough treats in which fruit has a starring role. Enjoy a demonstration and tips on how to showcase fruit and combine flavors in breakfast, snack, and dessert recipes.

Blogs You May Also Like

Library to Resume Book Drop Returns, Launch Curbside Service
Read More

Library to Resume Book Drop Returns, Launch Curbside Service

On Monday, May 11, Mid-Continent Public Library branches will begin accepting returns of p
Library to Close for “Thanksgiving Break” in Response to Outbreak
Read More

Library to Close for “Thanksgiving Break” in Response to Outbreak

In response to recent staffing challenges related to COVID-19, all Mid-Continent Public Library location
From the Director: Women’s History Month
Read More

From the Director: Women’s History Month

Many of you will not be surprised to learn that I was reading
From the Acting Director: State Proposal on Public Libraries
Read More

From the Acting Director: State Proposal on Public Libraries

Earlier this week, the Missouri Secretary of State announced a new rule that, if enacted, would establish new certificatio

Was this page helpful? Yes No