Grays Mise En Place

Gray’s Mise en Place is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of food waste and empowering young people through culinary education. Its programs welcome participants ages eight and older, offering after-school cooking classes and enrichment that build confidence, practical kitchen skills, and respect for food. Lessons cover kitchen etiquette, knife skills, seasonal produce, and how food makes its way to the table. Rather than preparing individual meals, students cook for the family, so dinner can be ready when caregivers pick them up.

The organization encourages participants to experiment, make mistakes, and discover what they enjoy, while helping reconnect cooking and eating with the shared experience of family and community. Beyond youth programs, Gray’s Mise en Place partners with local farms, grocery stores, and wholesale food suppliers to repurpose salvaged food. Its kitchen turns these ingredients into affordable take-and-bake meals, making meal preparation easier and offering a convenient, healthy dinner option.