A story from Riga.

Laura.

"Cooking and eating are a very good way to socialize and get to know new people," says Laura Grēviņa, founder of the "School of Little Chefs" (latvian – "Mazo pavāru skoliņa"), about cooking master classes. 

Thanks to the EU Horizon 2020 project "IN-HABIT – healthy and inclusive cities" and the Riga City Council, since the summer of 2023, entertaining and educational events, open cooking master classes, birthday parties and other activities have been taking place in the co-creation kitchen of RE CEP TE in the Āgenskalns market. In the co-creation kitchen, Laura has conducted several seasonal and themed master classes for children and teens, as well as children's birthday parties. Laura also conducts master classes in the center of Riga, but additional premises were needed in another place. Following the invitation of Āgenskalns market to conduct a master class "Pastas" in 2023, Laura liked the co-creation kitchen RE CEP TE. Friendship was formed and cooperation is still ongoing.  

Master classes at the market are held regularly every month, but Laura also likes to go to the market, buy products, look around and participate in other events as a market visitor. "When I'm conducting master classes, and if there's a thematic event in parallel with it, I notice that there are really a lot of people. They are interested, talk, engage. In my opinion, the market does not feel the avoidance or fear of engaging in a conversation that is sometimes characteristic of Latvians. Here come people who are not afraid to speak up and ask." This is in line with the nature of the market and one of the goals - to make the environment engaging and prosperous for everyone. It is said that a similar attracts a similar - also at events and master classes in the Āgenskalns market, you can meet people who socialize and take the opportunity to spend time with friends, family and other visitors to the market, strengthening the sense of belonging. 

Laura's goal is to encourage children to eat as varied and healthy as possible. In her opinion, the way to involve them in it and get them interested in tasting something new is cooking. The "School of Little Chefs" turns 10 this year, and it can be said undeniably that children love to cook in them. In master classes, children feel safer to taste what they do not eat at home, prepare something different. for example. pizza in the heartfelt form, create new friendships, spend time with other peers in a fun and educational way. Answering the question of what is appreciated in children, Laura replies that they are sweet and very open. The feedback is felt because the children are sincere. If something does not taste or does not like it, then it will also tell.  

Many parents choose to apply for classes directly in the co-creation kitchen RE CEP TE, because it is a great opportunity to combine the pleasant with the useful – children enthusiastically work in the kitchen, adults can leisurely meet and talk. As Laura herself has observed, it is more often used by her girlfriends – while the children in classes, meanwhile, talk on their own, drink coffee or tea and eat a piece of cake. Laura shared a story from a master class that she still remembers with a smile and admiration that children have the fantasy and courage to realize business ideas at a young age. They had baked spinach pancakes and decorated them very neatly. Seeing what the essence of the market is and what people do in the market, the idea of selling prepared food arose. They made notes, figured out the price and, just like at the Michael's Market, pancakes were also sold in the kitchen.  

Even though the daily rush and chores do not leave anyone, Laura invites to cook meals for parents and children together. Of course, coming home from work, sometimes it seems that it would be faster to boil dumplings or order food delivery, but frying chicken with vegetables will not take much more time than cooking semi-finished products. Children will be children only once, and the time spent together with their parents preparing a meal will remain in memories long after the food has already been eaten.