What's Cookin in Gus's Kitchen?

by Linda Unger

For anyone who’s experienced the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, you know that its all encompassing mission is to bring young people together, to create an enthusiastic diverse community fostering positivity. And isn’t food perhaps the one universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together, to spark creativity, to add warmth to everyday life? No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people get together to eat. 

So it is not surprising that when planning the revitalization project at HPNC, a state of the art culinary classroom would be a centerpiece of the new space. And as HPNC is an iconic Hyde Park institution, who better to name it for than Gus Swift, a life-long Hyde Parker who contributed so much to the club as well as to the whole community. 

Gus’s father was on the HPNC Board and years later so was Gus. He also served for several years as its Comptroller. As an active volunteer in the community, Gus was the first Commissioner of AYSO Soccer in Hyde Park, a math tutor at Kenwood Academy, not to mention a master pancake flipper at HPNC’s annual pancake breakfast. And as he was self-employed for many years, he was also the family’s cook, where he loved experimenting with different ingredients to prepare delicious meals for his wife Linda and their two children. His sloppy joe and chili recipes are particularly popular. Linda is also a staunch supporter of HPNC. She currently helps out with the Capital Campaign Committee and has been instrumental in the revitalization project. While Gus was the savory cook, Linda’s the baker par excellence; her cookies are a marvel. 

As I’ve been following the updates in the revitalization project at HPNC, I was excited to see the completion of the first phase, which includes the fabulous club lounge, new offices, a quiet room, accessible restrooms, and of course, Gus’s Kitchen. I was blown away. It was all so light and bright and the culinary classroom was amazing, spacious, attractive, with plenty of stations for class participants. 

The programming possibilities in the culinary classroom are practically endless, but they’ve started with Kitchen Possible, a wonderful non profit whose mission is to “build empowered mindsets in kids through cooking.” (Kitchenpossible.org). While they’ve previously been involved with HPNC, the new culinary classroom will be a game changer. The first 8 week session began in January for ages 8 - 12, and the kids are loving it.

As discussed in the HPNC garden blog, as children learn to grow and tend to vegetables and herbs in the garden, learning to cook with some of the very things they planted and watched grow, will be rewarding, and will foster a love for healthy eating. 

HPNC is also alert to the fact that food allergies have become an increasingly prevalent health concern, particularly for children. While the numbers vary among different populations, it is estimated that at least one in 13 children in the United States have an allergy to one or more foods. The FDA now regulates the nine most common allergens: peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts), milk, eggs, soy, wheat, shell fish, finfish and sesame seeds. 

With help from a generous local parent, the club reached out to Martha Morgan, a 30 plus years chef, certified food handler, and consultant who provides support in kitchens to those with food allergies, food intolerances, and specialty diets. Chef Martha Morgan’s specialties include cooking guidance in the kitchen, whether it be on technique, what to look for, safe products, or handling those new ingredients. Recipe creation is something she excels at, as well as recreating old recipes. (Allergydragon.com). 

HPNC is committed to making Gus’s Kitchen as allergy inclusive as possible, and Martha has advised them on how to accomplish this feat. For example, there will be no nuts or shellfish in the classroom. Also, for those who are gluten free, there will be a timing delay in the classroom when gluten has been used for baking. Since the gluten remains in the air for a certain period of time, if, for example, there is gluten baking on Monday, gluten free baking will not occur until Wednesday. For parents who have to be constantly vigilant about the foods their allergic children may come into contact with, imagine their comfort knowing their children can safely attend classes in Gus’s Kitchen. 

The culinary classroom will also be available for rental to outside groups. What a great place to host a cooking shower for a bride, a couples themed birthday party, or any other creative use this very special place has to offer.

I’m excited for the next phase of the revitalization project. Stay tuned!