THE FOOD CULTURE PROJECT
FOOD LITERACY
Experiencing the world of food opens the world to us! Yes, with us it's allowed to play with food! Interdisciplinary learning — from watching a sourdough develop to art, writing and research projects that practice team participation skills.
August 2026 · San Francisco
The Sensory Kitchen and Memory
Kid's summer camp at Celsius & Beyond, San Francisco
Curious minds are invited to a week of fascinating connections among our five senses, five tastes, and the memories that shape how we experience food. We will dive into the crossroads of neuroscience, cooking, and sensory design – where taste meets memory and science meets art. Each day will bring new discoveries as you learn how smell triggers memory, why texture matters as much as flavor, and how our brains create the experience of taste. Through hands-on cooking, scientific exploration, and creative experimentation with ingredients, aromas, and textures, you will design your own sensory experiences and document your findings. The week will culminate in an immersive, multi-sensory dinner where the kids guide guests through carefully curated dishes that demonstrate everything you have learned, from the crack of caramelized sugar to the perfume of fresh herbs, from umami-rich broths to the interplay of temperature and taste.
Inquire →
June/July 2025 · San Francisco
Food Evolution
Kid's summer camp at Celsius & Beyond, San Francisco
The summer camp offered young participants an immersive journey through the history of food, tracing humanity's development from early hunter-gatherers to inventive modern cooks. Throughout the week, the children created and nurtured their own sourdough starter, experimented with ancient and contemporary cooking techniques, and explored global spices and flavors through sensory exercises. They learned how everyday foods such as apples and potatoes traveled across continents and shaped cultures, and they worked collaboratively in small kitchen teams—an experience that fostered both practical skills and new friendships. Each day centered on a different historical theme: from early human survival and the transformative discovery of fire, to the spice routes that altered world cuisines, to the evolution of staple foods across time. The week concluded with a festive three-course dinner prepared by the children for their families, showcasing not only their new culinary abilities but also their understanding of food history, cultural traditions, scientific principles of cooking, and the value of teamwork and creativity.
Inquire →
