From Knife Skills to Banquets: Culinary Arts Program Concludes at Michlelet Chana
This spring, the kitchen at Michlelet Chana was alive with sizzling pans, vibrant colors, and the unmistakable energy of students learning, laughing, and creating. Over the course of 10 weeks, a group of post-seminary students participated in an immersive Culinary Arts Program led by acclaimed chef and food writer Naomi Ross.
Chef Naomi—author of The Giving Table and contributor to Fleishigs Magazine, OU Jewish Action, Kosher.com, and Aish.com—brought her trademark warmth and expertise to the classroom. Each Tuesday, students gathered for hands-on sessions that introduced them to essential culinary techniques and elevated home cooking skills.
The course began with the basics: how to safely and efficiently use a chef’s knife, various cutting styles, and kitchen organization. As the weeks progressed, students expanded their repertoire with homemade pasta, flaky pastries, beautifully plated salads, and an assortment of proteins and appetizers. With each class, their confidence and creativity grew, as shown in the sentiments shared by the participants:
“The Culinary Class gave me the confidence to prepare food in the kitchen, and the basic skills I need to help me be a Culinary Pro!” says B. from Russia.
Geulah remarked, “The culinary class was the highlight of my week! I always enjoyed cooking and now I was able to perfect my sauteeing skills and learn how to make a mean steak!”
Another student, Mijal, shared: “I loved the culinary class because we built our skills from the very basics and learned to make a variety of dishes, from warm meals to salads and desserts. The chef shared great tips for hosting, which will be super helpful in my future home for Shabbos, Yom Tov, and entertaining friends. Plus, we got to enjoy the delicious food we made in class and even take some home to enjoy throughout the week. It was amazing to have good food made by me and my friends thanks to the chef’s guidance.”
The grand finale was a student-run banquet, where participants put their skills to the test—without any recipes to guide them. They prepared an impressive mega salad bar featuring London broil steak, schnitzel, salmon, quinoa salad, roasted chickpeas and sweet potatoes, and more. Everything on the table was made from scratch by the students, and the result was as delicious as it was rewarding.
To celebrate their accomplishments, each student received a customized binder of recipes compiled over the semester, a spatula bearing a thoughtful message from Chef Naomi, and a certificate of completion signed by Mrs. Sara Labkowski (founder of Michlelet Chana), director Mrs. Holtzman, and Chef Naomi herself.
This Culinary Arts Program is just one of many opportunities offered in the vocational training program at Michlelet Chana, a unique post-seminary academy located in the heart of Crown Heights. Dedicated to advanced Torah learning, vocational and early childhood education training, and holistic support—including affordable housing, meal plans, and a warm, growth-oriented community—Michlelet Chana empowers young women to thrive both personally and professionally.
Interested in joining the next session or learning more about our dynamic programs? We’d love to welcome you to the Michlelet Chana family. Visit www.michleletchana.com to learn how you can be a part of something truly transformative.
