MCPL Culinary Kitchens

05/28/2026

Things are cooking at the Green Hills branch. Food trucks with sampling till 3 today!

05/27/2026

EXPLORING HUMMUS (TEEN) MONDAY, JUNE 1st, 6-7pm

Find out why hummus is one of the world’s most common foods and explore its many health benefits.
We provide the ingredients, and you provide the mixing power to make your very own portion of hummus.

Hummus is EASY to make @ home... come learn in our Teaching Kitchen! Once you know, you know!

This pop-up program is for teens, ages 12 to 16. A signed release by a parent or guardian, and the presence of a parent or guardian for those under 14 years of age, is required.
First come, first serve, while supplies last.

05/19/2026

Open Kitchen announcement!

05/19/2026

School is out — Come cook with us!
Learn new skills and have fun in the kitchen this summer!

Join our FREE, hands-on cooking classes and learn fun, easy recipes for the whole family.

Full class list at this link: https://www.mymcpl.org/culinary

Please know, if class registration is full, one hour before the class begins, you may sign up on the daily Walk-Up, Sign-Up Sheet -
first come, first serve for open and available seating.
Come learn to cook in our kitchens!

Slice and Dice: Practical Knife Skills
Wed, May 20 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm Withers Community Room

CANCELLED! - Knife Skills: Beyond the Basics
Thu, May 21 2026 @ 6:15pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Family Meal Essentials: Baked Potato Bar
Tue, May 26 2026 @ 6:15pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Let's Do Brunch
Wed, May 27 2026 @ 6:15pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Open Kitchen
Thu, May 28 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen - NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED - 14 and under need adult supervision and signed waiver

Cooking with Tea: How to Infuse Your Recipes
Sat, May 30th 3:00pm -North Independence Community Room 2

Exploring Hummus (Teen) - NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Mon, Jun 1 2026 @ 6:00pm-Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen -
14 and under need adult supervision and a signed waiver

Family Meal Essentials: Taco Tuesday
Tue, Jun 2 2026 6:15pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Food Preservation Basics
Tue, Jun 2 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm Withers Community Room

Five Mother Sauces of Classical Cuisine: Bechamel
Wed, Jun 3 2026 @ 1:00pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Pasta You Can Make at Home
Thu, Jun 4 2026 @ 10:00am -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Beyond Iced Tea: Cool Beverage Creations
Thu, Jun 4 2026 6:30pm -Lee's Summit Community Room 1

Introduction to Greek Cuisine: Falafel
Sat, Jun 6 2026 1:00pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

Jazz Up Your Picnic
Sun, Jun 7 2026 1:30pm -Culinary Kitchens Teaching Kitchen

05/12/2026

Study Hard, Taco Harder!
Do you have a teenager in your life?
Send them our way for a study break this Thursday, 5/14/26

***TEEN TACO COOKING CLASS***

MCPL Teaching Kitchen @ 6:15-7:15.
No registration necessary!
Bring friends for a teen study session in the library, take a taco break and make a mess in our kitchen.
All ages welcome. 14 and under need adult supervision and a signed waiver.

05/05/2026

Comforting. Energizing. Nostalgic.

"Food writing is more relevant than ever before because it is one of the only things left on the planet that brings people from different backgrounds together'', quote from author and poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of Bite By Bite.

Aimee led a class on food writing and we hosted a food pairing last Saturday in the MCPL Culinary Kitchens.
She helped the class reconnect with how food feels and tastes in our body and our memory.

Thank you Aimee Nezhukumatathil and The Story Center at MCPL for igniting taste, memory and emotion through writing and through food!

05/02/2026

May Cooking Classes @ the MCPL Teaching Kitchen - FREE!

Full class list at this link: https://www.mymcpl.org/culinary

Please know, if class registration is full, one hour before the class begins, you may sign up on the daily Walk-Up, Sign-Up Sheet -
first come, first serve for open and available seating.

Come learn to cook in our kitchens!

May 3 Big Easy Cajun Cooking @ 1pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 5 Family Meal Essentials: Smash Burgers @ 11am in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 6 Pizza Night @ 6:15pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 7 Beginning Culinary Knife Skills @ 6:15pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 11 Vegan Eating: A Starting Point @ 1pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 12 The Gluten-Free Baker: Oat Flour Bagels @ 2pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 13 From the Pantry @ 11am in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 13 Flavor Foundations @ 2pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 14 Energy Balls 11am-12pm - No Registration, in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 14 Teen Taco Night @ 6:15pm - No Registration, in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 16 Starting Sourdough @ 11am in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen
May 16 Starting Sourdough @ 2pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

May 17 Soup for Every Season: Spring @ 1:15pm in the MCPL Teaching Kitchen

04/24/2026

We are thrilled to partner with The Story Center to host author and poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil!
Register for the May 1st Speaker Series event with Aimee here: https://bit.ly/3R00ZDm
Attendees on May 1st can additionally enter for a chance to join an intimate writing workshop and tasting at our kitchen on May 2nd!

We have an exciting surprise: Aimee Nezhukumatathil will teach a food writing workshop on Saturday, May 2, from 10:30am-12:00pm at the MCPL Culinary Kitchens! This will be a unique and intimate workshop, and we’re holding a drawing to give away the workshop spots. To be eligible for the drawing, you must attend the May 1 Speaker Series event and visit the Culinary Kitchens table in the Auditorium lobby to enter your name into the drawing. You may enter as either a single or a duo, but both customers in the duo must be present on May 1 to qualify for the May 2 workshop. Winners will be randomly drawn and announced at the end of the Speaker Series event on May 1. Please see the full workshop description below.

That Which Rips Your Heart with Joy: Food Writing as Provocation & Exclamation
Saturday, May 2, 10:30am-12:00pm, MCPL Culinary Kitchens - 8581 N. Green Hills Rd. Kansas City, MO 64154

What gets so often overlooked in food writing is the contagious exuberance that can happen when one takes a bite and wants to be curious about where the food came from and what it means to have a bridge for people to connect or a place to provoke and reclaim, as poet Thomas Lux once wrote, “…that which rips your heart with joy.” Join New York Times bestselling nature writer and acclaimed poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil for this unique workshop that will feature “mindful tastings” and send you off with several starts and prompts for writing about food.

To register for the May 1st Speaker Series event, please visit: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/115118/story-center-speaker-series-aimee-nezhukumatathil.

04/21/2026

Teen Taco Takeover! Send your teen to cook in our kitchen for FREE! No registration necessary.
April 30th @ 6:15pm
The MCPL Teaching Kitchen helps teens build confidence in the kitchen. Learn basic cooking skills with this hands-on experience that makes learning to cook fun, easy and tasty!
Thursday, April 30th @ 6:15 - 7:15pm

04/16/2026

Hands-On OPEN KITCHEN Friday, April 24th.
Open house style, drop in anytime between 11am - 2pm.
Learn all about BBQ and Crepes.
Just show up, cook a crepe and sample great BBQ!
No registration required. 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.