Nonprofit hosts cooking class for kids

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Every kid loves great tasting fast food, and this week some very special kids learned how to make the fun foods served at PDQ. 

Where Love Grows and the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay teamed up with PDQ to put on a cooking class for more than 20 local kids who are a part of the program.

"We are inspired by the Chinese proverb: 'Feed a fish, eat for a day. Teach to fish, eat for a lifetime,'" said Vicki Anzalone from Where Love Grows.

The group helps teach the kids to cook using some simple methods and some clever ways to make food fun. Says Anzalone, "We come up with easy recipes they can (make) with what they find at home in their pantry." 

Where Love Grows works to combat childhood hunger here in the Tampa Bay area through programs like this one, but it's more than just that. It's an interactive way to help kids learn so much more than the skill of making food.

"It's really fun, we've seen shy kids come out (in the kitchen)," says Anzalone. "The energy is palpable."

PDQ Head Chef Michael Brannock worked to help foster in the children a love of cooking at a young age.

"Cooking was always a big part of my life from a small child growing up," Brannock said.

"At Where Love Grows, we like to make love grow as we teach them to cook!" Anzalone said. "We are very honored to be able to do what we do."