history of the kitchen house
In 2011, there was a meeting of the minds. From there, a unique community resource was born.
The collaboration began between community professionals and key educators to create a Nutritional Science Lab at Orlando Junior Academy, located across the street from what is now the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden. As the program blossomed, an Advisory Committee formed. This led to the creation of Edible Education Experience as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own leadership, facility and programming.
Through a 2013 capital campaign, OJA donated the property and, after a visit by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation pledged a $250,000 grant to build the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden. AdventHealth for Children, a nationally recognized pediatric hospital and care network, joined the campaign, donating $450,000 as part of its commitment to the belief that good nutrition is paramount to good health and that teaching our children about the importance of healthy eating will bring wholeness to the entire community. In 2014, Edible Education Experience, alongside Chef Lagasse and other community leaders, held a ceremonial ground-breaking. The design and permitting process commenced.
The Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden opened in April 2017. In 2025, Edible Education Experience became The Kitchen House.
The centrally located facility is a simple, yet beautiful, 3,500 sq. ft. kitchen house with four cooking stations that opens onto a veranda overlooking the garden that perfectly serves The Kitchen House’s goal to teach our community to grow, cook and enjoy a more plant-forward diet for personal and environmental health.
Meet our Founders
From left to right, Brad Jones, Sarah Cahill, and Chef Kevin Fonzo brought a full spectrum of food education to Orlando Junior Academy. Brad initiated a school gardening program, Sarah developed a Nutritional Science Lab, and Chef Kevin crafted healthy school lunches through K Restaurant.
The community wanted to see this seed grow. Chef Kevin introduced celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse to their work at OJA. Here they are pictured with OJA’s principal at the time, Nicole Agbonkhese, a champion for hands-on food education in schools. Our vision aligned perfectly with Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s mission to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential—especially in the culinary arts.
Janice Banks, our first Executive Director, facilitated a strong partnership between AdventHealth, Orlando Junior Academy, and The Kitchen House.
Chef Lagasse cut the ribbon for our ceremonial groundbreaking alongside community leaders. Since then, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden has stood as a home for hands-on learning, welcoming the Central Florida community to embrace joyful experiences with real food and each other.
