Mid-Continent Public Library is home to an innovative library destination where people can build literacy skills while learning about food and cooking.
The Culinary Center at the new Green Hills Library Center focuses on education and community development through:
- Teaching and demonstration spaces to host public programs about healthy eating, nutrition, cooking, and food culture.
- Two commercial kitchens for small businesses to rent to prepare, sell, and sample food.
- Culinary-based programming to engage customers with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and other subjects.
- Assisting small businesses with information about regulations and permits.
The MCPL Culinary Center is a destination and resource for anyone interested in learning more about food and culinary entrepreneurship. Housed in the Green Hills Library Center, the Culinary Center features a teaching and demonstration kitchen and two shared commercial kitchens for use by startup food businesses.
The Culinary Center’s goals are to enrich our customers’ lives by teaching about and through food with culinary literacy programs, and to help launch and grow local businesses in the community through MCPL’s Culinary Incubator Program.
Teaching Kitchen
The teaching and demonstration kitchen is home to MCPL’s culinary literacy programming. We feature programs for all ages that teach practical kitchen skills, cooking techniques, food STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), nutrition, world cuisine, and more.
Commercial Kitchens for Small Business
MCPL’s Culinary Incubator Program provides affordable, flexible, and commercially licensed kitchens for startup food business to rent. No need to start completely from scratch, the Culinary Center team will help startups navigate the process.