The Mix up – Institute of Child Nutrition

Chef Andrew Urbanetti traded Harvard Law School's dining room for the school cafeterias of Boston — and he's never looked back. In this episode, recorded live at the 10th Farm to Cafeteria Conference, Andrew shares the story behind Boston Public Schools' new Central Kitchen, what it felt like when a student encountered whole-muscle turkey for the first time, and how his team is building trust with...

On this episode of The Mix Up, Patrick Garmong sits down with Leah Botko, who shares her journey from starting in food service as a teen to leading school meal programs in Massachusetts—and now stepping into a new role in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Leah reflects on career growth, mentorship, and the impact school nutrition leaders can have in shaping healthier, more engaging meals for students. Her...

On this episode of The Mix Up, Patrick Garmong sits down with Leah Botko, who shares her journey from starting in food service as a teen to leading school meal programs in Massachusetts—and now stepping into a new role in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Leah reflects on career growth, mentorship, and the impact school nutrition leaders can have in shaping healthier, more engaging meals for students. Her...

In this episode of The Mix-Up, Chef Patrick Garmong chats with Chef Chela Cooper, the Regional Culinary Implementation Specialist for the USDA's FNS MARO Region at the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition. Chef Chela shares her journey from growing up in a food-focused family in Kansas City to her groundbreaking role in child nutrition. The discussion delves into her passion for culinary educatio...

In this episode of The Mix-Up, Chef Patrick Garmong chats with Chef Chela Cooper, the Regional Culinary Implementation Specialist for the USDA's FNS MARO Region at the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition. Chef Chela shares her journey from growing up in a food-focused family in Kansas City to her groundbreaking role in child nutrition. The discussion delves into her passion for culinary educatio...

In this episode of The Mix-Up, Chef Patrick Garmong chats with Chef Chela Cooper, the Regional Culinary Implementation Specialist for the USDA's FNS MARO Region at the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition. Chef Chela shares her journey from growing up in a food-focused family in Kansas City to her groundbreaking role in child nutrition. The discussion delves into her passion for culinary educatio...

We are honored to have chef Kevin Jenkins, Executive Chef at Garland ISD in Texas, on our latest episode of "The Mix Up"! Dive into an engaging conversation where Chef Kevin shares his culinary journey, innovative school meal programs. 👉 Don’t miss out on Chef Kevin's insights and passion for creating nutritious and delicious meals for students. Tune in now and be inspired by his dedication to ma...

Join Chef Patrick as he welcomes back Missy Poirier, the Nutrition Services Director of Jurupa Unified School District, for an insightful conversation about changing roles and advancing in the ranks of Child Nutrition Programs. Hear firsthand about Missy’s journey from district chef to her current role and gain valuable insights into the world of school nutrition. Don’t miss this exciting episode...

Join Chef Patrick as he welcomes back Missy Poirier, the Nutrition Services Director of Jurupa Unified School District, for an insightful conversation about changing roles and advancing in the ranks of Child Nutrition Programs. Hear firsthand about Missy’s journey from district chef to her current role and gain valuable insights into the world of school nutrition. Don’t miss this exciting episode...

Join Chef Patrick as he welcomes back Missy Poirier, the Nutrition Services Director of Jurupa Unified School District, for an insightful conversation about changing roles and advancing in the ranks of Child Nutrition Programs. Hear firsthand about Missy’s journey from district chef to her current role and gain valuable insights into the world of school nutrition. Don’t miss this exciting episode...