Urban Chef is committed to helping Houstonians learn to cook great, healthy meals for themselves and their families. We believe that the keys to successfully combating a culture of solitary eating, nutritionally poor diets and unnecessarily high spending on food are access, knowledge, experience and opportunity.

Urban Chef believes we can make a significant improvement in the quality of people lives by:

Ø      Giving people better access to and appreciation for high quality food by supporting community gardening.

Ø      Teaching people the skills and knowledge needed to prepare high quality meals at home.

Ø      Promoting a culture of family and community dining to strengthen relationships and deepen our awareness of God’s glorious provision for us by giving people the experience of preparing and sharing well-prepared meals.

Ø      Creating awareness and opportunities for underprivileged youth to pursue careers in the culinary industry through partnerships with local culinary professionals, restaurants and culinary institutions.

We seek to work in partnership with established organizations in economically challenged communities. Our programs are customized to supplement the services that are already being provided so that this important aspect of life can be improved.

We are currently offering courses in partnership with

Forge for Families, a local non-profit organization that serves the 3rd Ward through Yellowstone Academy, Inner City Youth and City of Refuge Church.

Agape Development Ministries, a local non-profit organization that assists 18 to 25 year old men in women through counseling, mentorship, fellowship and job coaching.

Fifth Ward Pregnancy Help Center is a non-profit organization in our neighboring fifth ward that assists women with pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, job coaching, parenting classes, health classes and economic assistance for expectant mothers.

Chef Chara Gafford is also a volunteer chef with

Recipe for Success which uses hands-on cooking classes in Houston public schools to teach fourth graders about food and nutrition to combat childhood obesity and encourage long term health.