Logo with the words "Social Skillset" and a tagline "Where Good Food Meets Good Fun" surrounding a black skillet with an orange fork, spoon, and green whisk inside.

Social Skillet

Where Cooking Builds Confidence

Hands-on cooking classes that create leaders, build connection, and grow lifelong skills.

What We Offer

Three young girls with aprons preparing apple slices topped with a crumble mixture at a cooking class or activity.

Kids Programs

Hands-on cooking classes that build confidence, teamwork, creativity, and real-life skills.
After-school, summer, preschool, and in-school options available.

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Two elderly women baking together in a cozy kitchen, both wearing aprons, with a ball of dough on the table.

Senior Workshops

Community building, joyful, culinary sessions, that support memory, connection, and emotional well-being through hands-on, cooking and social engagement.

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Chef demonstrating cooking techniques to a group of four adults in a kitchen.

Corporate Team-Building

High energy culinary challenges designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, leadership, and morale through shared cooking experiences.

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Group of people cooking together in a kitchen, wearing blue aprons and smiling or laughing, with various fruits and ingredients on the counter.

Events & Workshops

Birthdays, celebrations, community programs, and custom lessons that bring people together through cooking, creativity, and connection.

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Unrolled cookie dough on a wooden surface with three gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutters, two cutout shapes in the dough, and a rolling pin, surrounded by flour and a cloth with a holiday design.

Who we are

Social Skillet is a hands-on cooking education program that uses food as a pathway to confidence, leadership, communication, and connection. We teach people of all ages how to grow, not just as cooks, but as collaborators, teammates, and leaders.

Founded by Dr. Talia Ortega, Social Skillet blends culinary education with research-based teaching practices that support social-emotional learning and community building. Through joyful, interactive cooking experiences, we help kids, seniors, teams, and communities learn new skills and strengthen the bonds that matter most.

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Let’s Get Cooking!

Have a question or want to bring Social Skillet to your school, center, workplace, or event? Send us a message below, we’d love to connect.

Various spices on silver spoons, including black sesame seeds, curry powder, paprika, salt, and fennel seeds, surrounded by fresh chili peppers, herbs, and a rolling pin on a light-colored surface.