Mason Partak has made it his mission to update his school kitchen. Alta Vista School in Auburn, CA is over 100 years old and does not have a stove or oven, and the dishwasher does not work. Because Mason is a kid cook, he would like to see the school have a fully functioning kitchen so that they can not only provide hot, nutritious meals, but also because he would like to see other kids learning to cook. Kids who can cook are more confident in all areas of their lives and aren’t those the future citizens we want? Mason thinks so! Two local chefs have offered a culinary curriculum for the school and Mason wants to see that come to fruition. He has several great fundraisers planned in addition to utilizing social media and our local television station who has him on every other month.  Mason’s goal is to have the new kitchen in place for the start of the next school year (2015/2016). Mason is working to raise $25,000!  He did it! AS of 12/9/2014 Mason raised $26,052! Way to go Mason! Because of the age of the school, the plan now is to install a fully functioning Food Science Lab where the kids at Alta Vista Community Charter School can get their hands in the mix and learn to cook. At the end of each school year, the school will host a luncheon made up of food the students have prepared. The plans are underway now and Mason now has his sights set on a large kitchen company stepping up to sponsor the FSL and equip it with all the kitchen tools necessary to cook real meals. All of this because a then 3rd grader asked, “Why not?”

Mason Partak, at only ten years old, is a kid with a passion for cooking. Not only does he love to cook, but believes other kids love to cook, too. “I’ve been baking with my mom since I was two years old, now I’m nine and I can cook anything I can read a recipe for, and some things I just make up. I want to show other kids that they can cook, so I have recorded videos on You Tube to show kids how easy it is.” Mason has tutorials to make complete recipes, videos that show how to do specific techniques, and his favorite segment, “What the heck is this thing for?” where he introduces kids to kitchen tools, what they are for, and then demonstrates how to use them. Mason says cooking is cool and kids who can learn to cook feel like they can accomplish anything else they set their minds to – in the kitchen and in life! Mason has been wowing judges and audiences at cooking demonstrations and recipe contests since 2010 when he won his first cash prize for a cookie recipe at a local community festival. Mason is often the youngest contestant in the recipe contests he enters, and it is not uncommon for him to be competing with adults who have 20 or more years of experience baking and cooking. He often places in the top three! Most recently, he took 2nd place over all ($50) and the prestigious Snows Citrus Court Award for the best use of a Snows product ($50 and a Snows cookbook)! This prize is especially dear to Mason as  he developed his recipe for the Beef Mandarin Slider and won an award his mom has never won!Mason makes it known, “It is my goal to be the first kid cook on the Food Network – kids need other kids to show them they can do it – even if we have to learn together as we go!”For more information on the Alta Vista Kitchen project or to donate (fully tax deductible), e-mail Kdpartak@yahoo.com and be sure to note “Alta Vista Kitchen” in the subject line.