Answer: Let's just say it's gettin' hot in Talia's kitchen these days. A recent alum who majored in Sociology, Talia Barret '08 is doing what a good many of us weird Wesleyan kids do upon graduating: Toss the degree in the drawer, dream up a bold, new plan, and get cookin'!

Talia is in dogged pursuit of her new goal to start up a business teaching kids how to cook tasty, healthy dishes. And she's quickly building up the ol' resume. This summer she worked at a day camp teaching kids how to cook and found the experience enlightening. As a friend of Talia's who only recently heard about her interest in cooking, I asked her what made her want to roll up her sleeves in the kitchen alongside America's fussiest eaters, kids.

Talia explains that "it all started this summer when I taught cooking at a day camp. It was a lot of fun, but I had forgotten how picky kids can be, and how the texture, the color, or the name of a food alone can be enough to turn them off of it. I had kids telling me that peaches and blueberries were gross! But it was so satisfying at the end of the day to see them take these tentative bites and then proclaim, with this funny wonder and surprise in their voices, 'This is gooood...!'"

Talia recently moved to Philadelphia and plans to operate her cooking school partly from home. She's also willing to travel to kitchens across the city to teach kids how to cook in their own homes. While she's still working on a name for her new endeavor, she's decided to advertise it as "hands-on cooking lessons for kids." I vote for Talia Naomi's Culinary Adventure Academy, personally. But, my dear readers, why don't you help us out by posting some name possibilities below on this blog? And word to all the families in Philly -- check out Talia's cooking classes for kids on Craiglist!

Talia's recently posted ad is below and tells you all you need to know:

Hands-On COOKING Classes for Kids! (Center City, West Philly, or Your Home)
Reply to: serv-816693941@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-08-28, 12:23PM EDT

I am an energetic, fun, and responsible college graduate who loves cooking, baking, and working with children. I have experience teaching children ages 8-12 a wide variety of cooking techniques, and I have a knack for broadening the tastes of even the most picky eaters!

Starting in September, I will be offering after-school and weekend cooking lessons for kids and teens grades 3 through 12.

The cost is $25/hour and most lessons will take about 2 hours, including ingredients, clean-up and eat-up. (The price may change based on the number of responses and whether lessons will be individual or a small group.) Your child can sign up for one lesson or several.

Lessons are in the heart of Center City at 11th and Lombard Streets, but I can also hold lessons in West Philadelphia, or travel to you if you would like your child to learn in their home kitchen.

Upon request, classes can focus on:

- Cooking with local foods
- Cooking with seasonal foods
- Cooking with organic ingredients
- Cooking vegetarian or vegan dishes
- A combination of any of the above!
- Baking only

In every class an emphasis on safety, cleanliness, eating healthy, and having fun is guaranteed!

Weekly group classes for 11 weeks from mid-September to mid-November will be offered at discounted rates that will include all ingredients, aprons, supplies for crafts and activities during cooking time, and a personalized recipe book. We will be learning a wide variety of dishes--everything from simply but deliciously prepared veggies to soups, salads, pasta from scratch, home-made mac and cheese, pesto, pizza, lasagna, desserts, and more!

Please contact me for further information at talianaomi@gmail.com

References are available.