News Nearby: 'Diva Chef' Teaches Teens How to Cook

 spent one night last week with at-risk teens at Arpino Trattoria in Scott Township to inspire them to find a hobby they love.

For Elise Wimsthat, the easy answer is to find a love of cooking.

There are plenty of cooking classes and shows aimed to inspire youth to get involved in cooking, however, there are not too many quite like this. With guidance from an accomplished celebrity chef, the Ward Home teens learned a much broader lesson in cooking at .

Wims guided eight teens, in and out of the kitchen, for skills they can develop over the six-week cooking workshop.

“It is Ward Home’s mission to teach and inspire,” said Daryl Lucke, the Ward Home executive director. “This workshop was unique compared to other cooking classes in that our teens were exposed to a passion for cooking that only Chef Elise could inspire. The classes not only focused on cooking techniques, but made sure the teens learned about proper food selection and teamwork.”

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