Discover Your Culinary Journey
At Echelon Prep, we believe cooking is more than just following recipes—it’s about creativity, science, culture, and life skills all rolled into one. Our Culinary Arts pathway offers two distinct programs designed to meet students where they are and take them where they want to go.
The Wild Pantry: Focuses on foundational cooking skills, nutrition literacy, and whole-food preparation for students ready to build confidence in the kitchen.
Ancestral Table: Our advanced program for students who want to explore traditional food preparation, ancestral eating principles, and the deep connection between food, health, and human heritage.
The Wild Pantry: Building Culinary Confidence
The Wild Pantry is where students discover the joy and science of cooking from scratch. This foundational program emphasizes whole foods, practical skills, and nutrition literacy while building confidence in the kitchen. Students learn to create delicious, healthy meals while understanding the “why” behind what they’re doing.
Whole Food Focus – Learn to cook with fresh, unprocessed ingredients and understand their nutritional value
Foundational Techniques – Master essential cooking methods like sautéing, roasting, braising, and knife skills
Science Integration – Discover the chemistry and biology behind cooking processes and food safety
Cultural Exploration – Explore cuisines from around the world and understand food’s role in different cultures
Practical Life Skills – Develop meal planning, budgeting, and kitchen organization skills for lifelong independence
Ancestral Table: Rediscovering Our Food Heritage
Ancestral Table takes students on a journey back to our food roots, exploring how humans have nourished themselves for thousands of years. In partnership with Modern Stone Age Food Lab, students learn that the best nutrition science often points back to traditional wisdom. This program focuses on ancestral living principles, traditional food preparation, and understanding how our relationship with food shapes our health and vitality.
Traditional Food Preparation – Master ancient techniques like fermentation, curing, smoking, and cooking with fire
Ancestral Nutrition Principles – Study how traditional diets supported human health and vitality for millennia
Wild Foods & Foraging – Learn to safely identify, harvest, and prepare nutrient-dense wild edibles
Food as Medicine – Discover how traditional cultures used specific foods to promote healing and prevent illness
Modern Stone Age Partnership – Work with Food Lab experts who bridge ancient food wisdom with modern nutritional science
Choose Your Culinary Path
| Features | The Wild Pantry | Ancestral Table |
|---|---|---|
| Age Range | 11+ | 11+ |
| Training Focus | Whole foods cooking Basic knife skills Nutrition fundamentals |
Traditional food preparation Ancestral nutrition principles Wild foods & foraging |
| Goals | Build skill & confidence | Connect with food heritage |
| Coaching Style | Group instruction with individual guidance | Traditional methods training Modern Stone Age partnership |
| Session Format | Group sessions Hands-on cooking |
Traditional techniques Foraging expeditions Fermentation projects |
| Extras | Cultural cuisine exploration | Food as medicine focus Ancient wisdom application Health & vitality emphasis |