Tamika's School of Epicure, Inc

Tamika's School of Epicure is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Jacksonville that teaches kids to cook. Its main offering is a free 6-week class. Children learn real recipes, knife skills and kitchen safety from trained instructors. Each series follows a theme, and the group cooks about two new recipes from it each week. Every child prepares their own food and takes home plenty of it, sometimes still hot.

Founder Tamika Wolfe Mckenzie grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, and learned to cook at her grandmother's house. She cooked her first rice at age ten. She opened the school in 2020. She also runs corporate team-building, private parties and lunch-and-learn sessions for seniors.

Families buy a $26.50 apron for each child, and scholarships are available. Kids 8 and up use knives under supervision. Closed-toe shoes are required. Every staff member and volunteer passes a Level 2 background check. The school has a 5-star Google rating from 5 reviews.