AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Kalamata’s Kitchen partners with student athletes to bring local children a new food experience
Kelsey Jones: Kalamata’s Kitchen partnered with SU’s Falk College yesterday for the All-Star Food Festival. Local children were invited to the JMA Wireless Dome to try some of their favorite Syracuse athletes’ favorite foods. Co-founder of Kalamata’s Kitchen Sarah Thomas said showcasing the athletes gets the kids excited to try new things.
Thomas: We want to be connecting kids to their heroes, and athletes are heroes to kids. When a kid feels like it’s their idea to try something new because they’re inspired by their buddy, they’re way more likely to do it.
Jones: Thanks to athletes like Alice McNeill and Enrique Cruz Jr., kids enjoyed empanadas, spätzle, and poutine. SU cheerleader Sam Kurland said athletes have a responsibility to be role models for kids.
Sam Kurland: I think what’s really cool about having that responsibility is that you can make a lot of positive impact.
Jones: Kalamata’s Kitchen continues to encourage that impact by sharing different cultures at their food tasting events. For NCC News, I’m Kelsey Jones.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Convincing young children to try new things can be challenging, particulalry when it comes to unfamiliar foods. Luckily, one organization may have a solution with the help of some local stars.
Kalamata’s Kitchen is an organization founded by Syracuse alum David Wallace and his co-founder Sarah Thomas to encourage diverse cultural experiences for children and families through food.
The business partnered with Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sports, SU Campus Catering and Syracuse Athletics to host a food experience for Syracuse children prior to the women’s basketball game on Sunday, March 2.
The All-Star Food Fest was a chance for locals to meet some of their favorite athletes while learning about the different cultures behind Syracuse athletics. A variety of athletes including Syracuse rowers and football players attended the event, bringing with them their favorite traditional dishes from their culture.
Co-founder of Kalamata’s Kitchen Sarah Thomas said the opportunity to highlight the athletes’ cultures through their favorite dishes was an excellent way to get the children excited to try new foods.
“We want to be connecting kids to their heroes, and athletes are heroes to kids,” Thomas said. “When a kid feels like it’s their idea to try something new because they’re inspired by their buddy, they’re way more likely to do it.”
Offensive lineman Enrique Cruz Jr. was one of the athletes at the event. Cruz showcased his Puerto Rican decent, choosing empanadas as his dish. Other foods for the kids to sample included Canadian poutine, German spätzle and Jamacian rasta pasta.
Thomas added, with the help of their partners, the goal of Kalamata’s Kitchen is to create a sense of open mindedness among the next generation.
“What we really believe is that kids and their parents who are open to new experiences in general, and trying a new food is one example of a new experience, are more likely to grow up to be more empathetic, respectful and understanding human beings,” Thomas said. “The world needs that, and that’s what we want for our kids.”
Syracuse cheerleader Sam Kurland acknowledged the important task athletes take on as role models for the kids who look up to them.
“I think what’s really cool about having that responsibility is that you can make a lot of positive impact,” Kurland said.
Syracuse sophomore Sophia Brownsword spoke with co-founder David Wallace while working as an undergraduate course assistant for Policy Studies 101. She understands the idea behind connecting children with role models such as athletes to foster curiousity.
“They have a level of persuasion that some people might not be able to achieve when asking kids to try something new,” Brownsword said.
Kalamata’s Kitchen will continue to work to educate children on diverse cultures both locally and across the country through similar food tasting events.
Thomas encourages interested parties to reach out to the organization through social media or the Kalamata’s Kitchen website if they would like to see an event in their community.