Charlie Cart booking lessons
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 Charleston County Library

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Wondering how to prepare the beautiful produce that our local farmers are growing and selling at the farmers market? Do you have a knee-high sous chef whose interest in cooking you want to foster and develop in a safe, educational way? We have a program for that!

This summer we'll be celebrating food and kitchen literacy with the Lowcountry Food Bank through live food prep and cooking demonstrations of simple, healthy -- and delicious! -- foods.

What's a Charlie Cart? Good question! The Charlie Cart is a mobile kitchen classroom that delivers hands-on nutrition education. Lowcountry Food Bank and the Charlie Cart provide the tools and knowledge children need to make healthy choices for life. Cooking is an ideal medium for learning: it is hands-on, engaging and rewarding. Hands-on learning promotes success across disciplines and develops collaboration, critical thinking skills, and subject mastery. 

These programs are made possible through a partnership with the Lowcountry Food Bank through its Nutrition Initiatives. The Lowcountry Food Bank is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that distributes donated food to a network of nearly 300 member agencies throughout 10 coastal counties in South Carolina, including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries. 

2019-2020 Charlie Cart Program Dates

Otranto Road Regional Library: August 26 - September 14
Poe/Sullivan's Island Library: September 16 - October 5
Hurd/St. Andrews Regional Library: October 7-26
Dorchester Road Regional Library: October 28 - November 16
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library: November 18 - December 7
Main Library: December 8 - January 4
Mt. Pleasant Regional Library: January 6-25
Wando Mount Pleasant: January 27 - February 15

Otranto Road Events

Kids Kitchen (ages 7 and older)
Monday, August 26 at 3:30 p.m.
Join us for some fun and tasty adventures!

Kids Kitchen: Cool Desserts (ages 7 and older)
Wednesday, August 28 at 3:30 p.m.
Learn how to create a healthy, satisfying dessert.

Cook with Us: Berry Compote Parfait (teens and adults)
Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m.
Explore sweet and tangy flavors with a yogurt parfait with cooked fruit.

Cook With Us: Hummus (teens and adults)
Monday, Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m.
Learn how to make homemade hummus using fresh ingredients.

Cook With Us: Applesauce (teens and adults)
Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Make homemade applesauce.

Poe/Sullivan’s Island Events

Kids Kitchen
Monday, September 16 at 2:30 p.m.
Join the Lowcountry Food Bank as they show off what can be made with a Charlie Cart!

Kids Kitchen: Pancakes Plain and Fancy
Monday, September 23 at 2:30 p.m.
Learn to make pancakes 3 ways: plain, blueberry or chocolate chip

Kids Kitchen: Quesadillas
Monday, September 30 at 10:30 a.m.
Kids can help make quesadillas!

Cook With Us (Adults)
Thursdays, September 19 & 26, and October 3 at 6 p.m
Make the most of summer's bounty with simple recipes.

Thyme for Teens
Saturdays, September 21 & 28, and October 5 at 12 p.m.

September 21: French Bread Pizza
Make your own pizza instead of calling for delivery.

September 28: Fruit Salsa & Pita Chips
All you need is a knife and some patience to turn summer bounty into a tasty fruit salsa

October 5: One Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Better than a box macaroni and cheese that only requires one pot.

 

Hurd/St. Andrews Events

Bistro Book Tasting (teens)
Monday, October 7 at 5:00 p.m.
Everyone has the taste for a good book. What’s your flavor? Cook dishes from your favorite books. We'll be eating have some delicious food and drinks! (Food and books will be provided).

Kids Kitchen (ages 6-11 with adult)
Thursdays, Oct. 10 & 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Learn how to cook simple and delicious recipes through hands-on instruction in the mobile kitchen.

Cook With Us (ages 5-17)
Friday, October 18 at 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Come and cook with us. Try some simple recipes that you can make with your family.

A Tasting: Israeli Cuisine (adults)
Wednesday, October 23 at 6:00 pm
Join the Charleston Jewish Federation for a demonstration and tasting of healthy vegan recipes from Israel!

A liability waiver may be necessary to participate in some programs. Please contact the branch for more information.

 

Dorchester Road Regional Events

Charlie Cart Kickoff! (all ages)
Monday, October 28 at 3:30 p.m.
Join the Lowcountry Food Bank and explore some delicious recipes we can make on the Charlie Cart mobile kitchen.

Cook With Us: Appetizers & Desserts (teens and adults)
Monday, November 4 at 3:45 p.m.
Join us as we learn how to make mozzarella sticks and a yogurt parfait.

Charlie Cart Teen Edition (grades 6-12)
Thursday, November 7 at 3:45 p.m.
Want to learn something new about food and eat it too? Help prepare garlic toast with greens and taste how different green can be when sauteed with lemon, oil, and salt. Bring your brain and appetite!

Kids Can Cook!
Friday, November 8 at 3 p.m.
Make your own flavored popcorn, then stay to watch How to Eat Fried Worms. Rated PG; 85 minutes.

STEAM CLUB: Kids Can Cook! (ages 8 and up)
Wednesday, November 20 at 3:45 p.m.
The Charlie Cart is here! Learn to prepare a fun and delicious Thanksgiving appetizer!

Baxter-Patrick James Island Events

Charlie Cart Kickoff (adults)
Monday, November 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Join Lowcountry Food Bank to practice making simple and healthy recipes with the Charlie Cart mobile kitchen.

Teen Chopped with the Charlie Cart (teens)
Tuesday, November 19 at 4 p.m.
Calling all teen chefs! Which chef will reign supreme at Baxter-Patrick, and who will be chopped? Teens will team up to compete, and three local celebrity guest judges will determine our winner. Registration is required. To register or for more information, please email [email protected].

Red Red and African Spice with Julian Gooding (adults)
Saturday, November 23 at 4 p.m.
Food documentarian Julian Gooding will share his recipe for Red Red, a West African black-eyed pea and okra stew and easy to make spice blends popular in African cooking.

Kids Kitchen: Apple Tasting (kids)
Tuesday, November 26 at 3:30 p.m.
Take part in an apple tasting and compare various flavors.

Kids Kitchen: Corn on the Cob with Chile and Lime (kids)
Tuesday, December 3 at 3:30 p.m.
Learn about the Charlie Cart and enjoy a taste testing of corn on the cob.

Bento Boxes with the Charlie Cart (teens)
Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 4 pm
Learn to assemble your own bento box, and then take the whole thing home with you. Registration is required. To register, email [email protected].

Easy Appetizers with the Charlie Cart (adults)
Thursday, December 5 at 5 p.m.
Learn to make easy, healthy appetizers for any occasion.

These programs are made possible through a partnership with the Lowcountry Food Bank through its Nutrition Initiatives. The Lowcountry Food Bank is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that distributes donated food to a network of nearly 300 member agencies throughout 10 coastal counties in South Carolina, including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries.

A liability waiver may be required for participation in some programs. Contact the branch to learn more.