Knife Skills = Life Skills

Kids and Teens Cook with Heart started here in San Francisco back in 2011 by a group of chef activists when the GBA Board of Directors asked the community for help in achieving our 2020 Health Impact Goals.  Chef Shane Valentine was one of those volunteers who after a year of meeting created a pilot that was launched in the Fall of 2012 at Galileo Health and Science Academy HS in SF.

The 8-week course focuses on the life skills of cooking while weaving in the nutrition education and AHA dietary guidelines.  Classes are taught as a “lab” in science classes without recipes as they are taught cooking techniques.  The adage, if I teach a recipe you will learn 1 dish; if I teach you a technique you can make 20 dishes. 

This series culminates in Cook Off Final where teams are given ingredients and 30 minutes and must come up with a meals without using a recipe. 

The Kids and Teens cook with Heart is designed to be taught in schools without kitchens as mobile equipment kits were created.  The program has since grown to over 125 schools in 5 western states.  California (Northern and Southern), Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Hawaii.

This year’s participating students are representing
Galileo Heath and Science Academy and Burton High Schools

Special Thanks to Richard McDowell and Eugene Pearson for opening up their classes for the past 5 years

This year's esteemed judges:

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher has delivered memorable performances in movies, television and on stage since 1990, from her wildly successful portrayal of Susan Mayer on ABC’s award-winning “Desperate Housewives” to Lois Lane on “Lois & Clark.” This has earned Teri a host of accolades, from Golden Globe Awards to Emmy nominations. In addition to a widely successful acting career, Teri is a health advocate and an avid cook, having studied at the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, and having won the popular television show “Chopped.” Embarking on a new journey, Teri Hatcher is breaking into the digital world launching her new YouTube series, “Hatching Change" --  the story of Teri’s quest to unite and inspire people from all walks of life to learn to be healthy, conquer life’s toughest questions and once and for all stop eating sh*t out of a box. 

Amanda Haas

Amanda Haas is the Culinary Director for Williams-Sonoma.  She is also the author of two best-selling cookbooks, Cooking Light Real Family Food (Time, Inc., 2012) and The Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: the Delicious Way to Reduce Inflammation and Stay Healthy (Chronicle Books, 2016). Her next cookbook will be released in January of 2019.  She is also the host of Williams Sonoma’s cooking videos.   Haas has been recognized for her work in MAKERS: Women Who Make America, a digital video and broadcast initiative with AOL and PBS that celebrates women who inspire change in the way we live.  She pursues her two biggest food passions daily, which are teaching families how to simplify cooking at home, and improving our health through food.  She is a graduate of Tante Marie’s Cooking School. 

Liam Mayclem

Liam Mayclem is a fundraising professional and Emmy Award-winning Radio/Tv Host known as the Foodie Chap on KCBS radio and of CBS5's Eye on The Bay (2005 - 2014).  

As one of the Bay Area’s most sought after BENEFIT AUCTIONEERS Liam has helped raise millions of dollars for many organizations including American Heart Association.  By day Liam is also currently a correspondent on “SECRET TRIPS” on Travel Channel USA. 

Franco Finn

Aside from being the Marketing Manager of the Bay Area & California for Alaska Airlines....

Franco Finn is in his 15th Season as the In-Arena MC and TV Personality for the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Known as the "Warriors Hype Man" at Oracle Arena by 20,000+ fans each night, Franco's job is to energize and entertain the crowds and his responsibilities include introducing the team's starting lineup, hosting the pre-game show "Warriors TV" and conducting all the contests and promos at the Arena.  Also, Franco is currently a segment host on KRON 4 TV and freelances as an MC/host for the San Francisco Giants' special events for the past 10 seasons. He is a local and national MC, hosting a variety of sporting events from NASCAR to Red Bull’s extreme sports events.  His previous stints include being an on-air personality and host for TV and Radio for CBS, Comcast SportsNet, the Oakland Raiders (NFL Network), KOFY-TV, Radio Disney, KGO AM 810, and guest appearances on ESPN Radio.