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Who is the food gap for?

Our program is for the creative young adult (aged 18-24). "As a child, I was obsessed with baking, cooking, and watching Food Network shows on the weekends with a pen and paper in hand. As an artist, I frequently sketched recipe ideas and scoured cookbooks for techniques and knowledge. I was incredibly passionate about food, but I had no community to share it with. There was no cooking club, local cooking classes, or home economics program in school. So, The Food Gap is a way to create a dream community of food-obsessed people who can eat and cook together." Each group is like a family, and we create traditions that will last forever.  We are the only food-themed gap year program, and we believe food teaches you so much about local history and culture. In addition to exploration, scenic hikes, and exploring the city, we focus on trying all the foods on our travel list and soaking up culture, flavor, and history with every bite we eat. We share most of our meals because eating together is a beautiful and quick way to form close bonds. Dining with a group also encourages sharing, which allows us to try so many more foods than we could on our own, and cooking for others is one of the highest expressions of love and friendship. Picture walking through the streets of Florence at midnight and seeing the Duomo; walking to I'Girone de Giotti for warm, salty panini; shopping for Parmigiano Reggiano and tomatoes at Mercato Centrale.  

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We also have a ton of relaxation time and creative time to cook, bake, and create art. We have multiple free days each week to explore and test recipes. By staying in one place for the program, we are able to learn a lot about the local cuisine, culture, and to get to know each other without the stress from long travel days. Instead, we take hikes in the countryside, frolic through fields of olive trees, and shop for groceries at local markets. We chat in lines at panini shops and bake birthday cakes for fun. We learn where our food comes from and develop an appreciating for the world around us. By the end of the program, our students gain heaps of confidence, make friends for life, take home a bundle of special recipes and experiences, as well as learn valuable life skills that will help them transition into adulthood. We welcome all experience levels of cooks and eaters - you don't have to be registered in culinary school or a have experience in restaurants. We are here to help you discover new passions, learn new things, and to become a confident cook, artist, and person with countless close friends. We are all about creating a welcome and open space for young adults to feel safe and confident, and we treat each other like family. 

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