Youth Workshop: Hosting the Holiday Dinner

Get ready to season, roast, and feast! Join us for a fun, hands-on evening where we’re mastering the essentials of a classic holiday spread. In this workshop, we’re showing you how to lead the kitchen for your next big family gathering—from prepping the bird to perfecting the sides.

Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a Sunday roast, the skills are the same. We’ll be practicing on whole chickens (the perfect turkey rehearsal!) to learn about thawing, removing giblets, and achieving that perfect crispy skin with herb butter. You’ll learn how to balance a sweet glaze for carrots and how to make the creamiest mashed potatoes that will have everyone asking for seconds. This is the ultimate "hosting" skill for when you want to treat your family to a high-quality, homemade feast.

We’ll focus on building confidence in the kitchen, practicing timing so everything finishes at once, and chatting about how to make holiday meals fit your budget. Bring your appetite and your teamwork for a night of skill-building and great food! Since this workshop is just two weeks after Easter, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your favourite holiday meals and prepare to lead the next one!

Date: Wednesday, April 15 

Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM, workshop begins at 6:00 PM 

Location: Growing Chefs Headquarters, London, Ontario – https://www.growingchefs.ca 

Target Audience: This workshop is for youth aged 12 to 25.

This beginner-friendly workshop is all about teamwork, foundational skills, and tasty food — no cooking experience needed!

In this workshop, you will:

• Icebreakers & Holiday Social: Kick off the night by getting to know each other and chatting about your favourite holiday food traditions—and why you don't need to be a professional chef to host a great dinner!
• The Bird Breakdown: Learn the essentials of poultry safety, including the thawing process, finding the "surprise bag" (giblets), and how to prep a bird for the oven.
• The Butter Trick: Master the art of rubbing herb butter under the skin to ensure a juicy bird with perfectly crispy, golden skin.
• Master the Mash: Learn the secret to perfect potatoes—from starting in cold water to mashing in your team’s favourite "secret" seasonings.
• The Sweet Side: Practice your stove-top skills by boiling and then glazing carrots with a crowd-pleasing brown sugar and dill finish.
• Gravy 101: Work with a volunteer to learn how to turn pan drippings into a rich, savoury gravy from scratch.
• Family Style Feast: Join the group for a carving demonstration before sitting down to enjoy the full holiday meal you helped prepare.

What you’ll need:

• Your appetite and enthusiasm!
• All ingredients, tools, and materials are provided.
• Bring a container if you want to take home leftovers (highly recommended!)
• Closed-toe shoes appropriate for indoors (please change out of outdoor boots to help keep our space clean and safe).
• A hair tie or clip to secure long hair during food preparation.
• Bringing a friend, sibling, or support person? Awesome — just let us know when you register so we can plan ahead.

This workshop is completely FREE! However, any donations made at checkout are appreciated and go directly towards funding future workshops.

RSVP through the Dandelion Event Page. Questions or need to update your RSVP? Email us at lcrc@lcrc.on.ca. If your plans change, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to someone on the waitlist!

We’re committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone. Let us know if you require accommodations to participate fully.

Accessibility:

Step-free entrance (no automatic door). Main bathroom upstairs; a staff bathroom on the main floor is available if needed (note: narrow walkway). Staff will assist as needed to ensure participants can access the space comfortably.

About Growing Chefs Ontario:

Growing Chefs Ontario is a non-profit connecting kids and youth with fresh, healthy food through hands-on food education programs. Their learning kitchen spaces give youth a safe, engaging place to build cooking skills, food literacy, and an understanding of food systems. For this workshop, we’re excited to be borrowing their space! Learn more at https://growingchefsontario.ca

About YWHO:

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is a nonprofit initiative supporting youth aged 12 to 25 and their families by providing the right services at the right time and place. Services include mental health and substance use support, primary care, education/employment assistance, peer support, and more. YWHO also helps connect youth to workshops like this one. Learn more at https://youthhubs.ca

About Grow Cook Learn:

Grow Cook Learn is a project of the London Community Resource Centre (LCRC), building community through food literacy and food security while promoting health and wellness for all. Learn more at https://lcrc.on.ca

Disclaimers:

• Ingredient availability may vary.
• Allergen Note: Please be aware that these recipes contain poultry, dairy (butter/milk), and wheat (flour). Participants who require specific food accommodations or preferences are encouraged to let us know when they register so we can best support your needs.
• Teamwork & Sharing: Participants will be working in teams of 4–6 to create a full holiday spread, which will be served as a family-style buffet for the group.
• Attendance Policy: To ensure a quality experience for all, please plan to attend the entire session. Arriving late will result in missing the introductions and vital safety information, while leaving early may result in your team's meal not being completed.
• Email Subscription: Signing up for this workshop automatically adds you to our workshop invitation email list. We send updates on future Youth Workshops. You can request to unsubscribe at any time.