Meet me in the kitchen

Every member of the Rintoul family has played a role in Little Kitchen Academy’s evolution. Abigail and Emily are students themselves and are featured in many of Little Kitchen’s promotional materials. Fiona is LKA’s Global Director of Partner Support and Training. Scott hosts and produces this podcast series. So what happens when dad brings his family to work? Find out if parenting and podcasting can coexist, what children take from their experiences at Little Kitchen Academy, and why Fiona is so emotionally invested in her job.

Many a great idea has been hatched over dinner, but very few have turned into something to eat a dinner on. Felix Böck is the man behind the beautiful community table found in every Little Kitchen Academy, a table that symbolizes many of the values that both he and LKA stand for. From his unconventional method of learning English to his unwavering affection for bamboo, Felix explains how a boy from a tiny German village has turned chopsticks into Chop Value for the rest of the world's benefit.

It’s not that far from his family’s grocery store in Richmond to the campus at the University of British Columbia, but Rickey Yada has come a long way in becoming the Academic Dean of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. His journey has given him extensive knowledge of the multitude of advancements in the food industry, yet as Rickey explains, getting back to our roots may provide the best path forward. You’ll hear why Little Kitchen Academy makes the Dean’s List, and why Rickey doesn’t have to worry about sharing his ice cream.

A Montessori guide walks into an oyster bar and… well, that’s not exactly true, but it makes for a great opening line! When Hayley Sexton and Eamon Clark discovered the Little Kitchen Academy website, they knew they had found their calling. The couple has a wealth of experience from the two worlds that Little Kitchen Academy fuses together, and is proud to be operating LKA The Beach in their own community. You’ll hear tales from the oyster shucking world and why family is the one ingredient that is always in their kitchen.

Michelle Marin is a recent graduate of the UBC Dietetics program and has a passion for health and wellness. Michelle entered Little Kitchen Academy via her practicum placement while completing her degree and shares her perspective on how Little Kitchen Academy’s approach is informing the next generation about food. Michelle was courageous and vulnerable enough to divulge the negative relationship she had with food earlier in her life, and reveals why she believes the enjoyment of what we eat can play a role in cultivating personal happiness.

Compassion is the one ingredient that is always in Michelle's kitchen!

Growing up vegetarian wasn’t always easy. Nor was fitting into a restaurant industry that seemed to lack acceptance and compassion. It was enough to cause Avery Fletcher to rethink choosing a culinary career. But thanks to a stint in spinning, a cross-country move, and an application for a part-time job, the Director of Little Kitchen Academy at Westfield Century City believes he has found his place. And he’s determined to make sure everyone knows they too have a place at Little Kitchen Academy.

Joy is the one ingredient that is always in Avery's kitchen!

There’s not much Cat Cora has left to do in the culinary world. The first female to achieve Iron Chef status has worked in kitchens all around the globe, authored a book, and been inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame, all while smashing glass ceilings along the way. So why was someone in such high demand so eager to be a part of Little Kitchen Academy?? Cat reveals that answer, explains how her family has influenced her career, and details what she wants to see when she walks into a kitchen full of children.

Before Little Kitchen Academy was even a concept, it was inadvertently being created in the Curin kitchen with their three young girls. Bronwyn, Gabriella, and Gwendolyn helped Felicity discover the key ingredients to creating independent children, and they’ve grown into remarkable young women. The Curin girls dish on the journey from students to teachers, getting “Little Kitchened” at home, and how they’ve come to appreciate the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Every step that Little Kitchen Academy takes is supported by the world’s most iconic footwear brand, BIRKENSTOCK, thanks to David Kahan. The CEO of BIRKENSTOCK Americas talks shoes, Springsteen, and synergy, explaining why Little Kitchen Academy is such a great fit for him on a number of levels. Find out which ingredient is always in his kitchen and which tv show he recommends to everyone.

It’s the inaugural episode of Meet Me in the Kitchen, and who better to talk to than the founders of Little Kitchen Academy, Felicity and Brian Curin. The couple shares a few laughs with their brother in-law, Scott Rintoul, before diving into the story behind the creation of Little Kitchen Academy. Felicity and Brian share personal anecdotes about their family, talk about navigating the challenges of franchising their vision, and explore how this endeavour has provided each of them a greater purpose.