Wooden utensils laying on open cookbook Wooden utensils laying on open cookbook

Learn • Cook • Thrive

The Downtown YMCA Community Kitchen is a welcoming space where people come together to learn, create, and connect through food. Designed to support cooking classes, nutrition education, and community gatherings, the kitchen provides a hands-on environment where individuals and families can build healthy habits and share meaningful experiences. From youth programs to community workshops, the Community Kitchen helps bring people together while promoting wellness, learning, and a stronger community.

Savory Greek Meatballs with Zesty Tzatziki sauce

Bring the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to your kitchen with authentic, herb-seasoned Greek meatballs paired with cool and creamy tzatziki sauce.

Greek Baklava Dessert

Discover the sweet tradition of homemade baklava with layers of flaky pastry, a rich walnut filling, and a not-too-sweet honey syrup. It’s an authentic taste of Greece!

Homemade Pita Bread & Walnut Chicken Salad

We’re pairing traditional handmade pita bread with a flavorful high-protein, low-fat chicken salad featuring protein-rich Greek yogurt and crunchy walnuts with bright bursts of sweet grapes for a wholesome lunch that's as nutritious as it is delicious!

KIDS Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Streusel

Get ready for a sweet seasonal treat as we stir up some fun! Discover the flavors of fall as we create soft, flavorful pumpkin muffins topped with sweet pecan streusel Kids will learn valuable baking skills, explore seasonal flavors, and enjoy a cozy autumn-inspired snack made from scratch! 

Spicy Chicken Riggies

We’re bringing the heat to the kitchen with a deliciously bold and deceptively creamy dish featuring tender chicken thighs, rigatoni pasta, sweet bell peppers,and tangy cherry peppers in a rich tomato and white wine cream sauce. 

KIDS Chocolate Chip Muffins & Banana-Rama Smoothies

A healthy, hands-on class where kids will mix & mash, blend & bake as they whip up some spectacular smoothies and marvelous muffins! 
 

Butternut Squash Soup and Focaccia Bread

Warm up with a bowl of Butternut Squash Soup and Focaccia Bread! We’ll transform sweet butternut squash and creamy pumpkin into a rich, velvety soup, seasoned and simmered to perfection. Then, pair it with fluffy focaccia bread for the perfect dip-and-scoop combination.

French Dijon Peppercorn Chicken and Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Celebrate the rich, warm flavors of fall with savory French Dijon Peppercorn Chicken featuring a creamy, zesty sauce over buttery, homemade mashed potatoes. 

Our Instructors

Michelle Graham

Senior Director, Health & Wellness

Keziah Landadio

Supervisor, Downtown Y Fitness Center

Tasia Hamilton

Supervisor, Member Services & STEAM

Chana Fay

Baking & Pastry Instructor, Jefferson Community College