About

Social Skillet

Where Good Food Meets Good Fun

— and Confidence Grows —

Our Mission

To help people of all ages build confidence, leadership skills, communication abilities, and meaningful social connections through the joy of hands-on cooking.

Cooking is our medium — but confidence, connection, and growth are our outcomes.

Our Story

Social Skillet began in a middle school kitchen, where founder Dr. Talia Ortega spent years teaching culinary arts to hundreds of young students. What started as simple cooking lessons quickly became something much more meaningful. Talia noticed that as students chopped, stirred, measured, and tasted, they were also developing confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities, often without even realizing it.

Quiet students found their voice.
Shy students became team captains.
Peers who rarely interacted learned to collaborate.

These moments revealed a simple truth:
cooking builds people, not just meals.

Young woman in graduation gown and cap with medallion and honor cords, standing outdoors near a body of water, smiling.

Inspired by these transformations, Talia pursued her Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Organizational Innovation, where she studied leadership theories, team dynamics, and the power of experiential learning. Her research confirmed what she had been witnessing for years, that hands-on, collaborative activities like cooking are uniquely powerful tools for strengthening confidence, communication, and connection.

Social Skillet was born from the blend of these two worlds:
the science of leadership development and the joy of cooking.
Talia’s unique expertise allows her to design programs where people don’t just follow recipes, they practice leadership, build relationships, and discover what they’re capable of.

Today, Social Skillet brings these research-informed, heart-centered cooking experiences to kids, families, and communities, creating spaces where food becomes the catalyst for personal growth.

Scrabble game board with tiles spelling out 'LIVE', 'TEAM', and 'SUCCEEDED' against a background of score blocks and game markings.
Group of people placing their hands together in the center, symbolizing unity or teamwork.

What We Believe

  • Everyone Can Cook
    Cooking is for every age, background, and skill level — our programs are intentionally inclusive and accessible.

  • Confidence Through Creation
    When people create something with their own hands, they build pride, self-belief, and resilience.

  • Learning Through Doing
    Hands-on cooking strengthens communication, problem-solving, executive functioning, and real-world skills.

  • Connection Through Food
    Shared cooking fosters teamwork, empathy, and meaningful social relationships.

These are the values that shape every Social Skillet experience.

The Science

The Science

Cooking isn’t just a fun activity, it’s a research-backed way to strengthen confidence, leadership, communication, and well-being across all ages.

  • Snow-capped mountains with grassy foreground under a cloudy sky.

    Confidence & Self-Efficacy

    Completing a recipe builds belief in one’s abilities. Research shows cooking interventions significantly improve confidence and skill development.

  • A landscape of a mountain range with brown and gray peaks and a grassy foreground under a pale blue sky.

    Communication & Leadership

    Cooking requires clear communication, delegation, and collaboration — core elements of leadership development in educational theory.

  • Scenic view of mountains across a body of water with some trees in the foreground and a building on the right.

    Social Connection & Community

    Shared cooking experiences naturally build trust, cooperation, and meaningful social bonds.

  • A landscape featuring a lake with green hills in the foreground and tall mountain ranges under a cloudy sky in the background.

    Cognitive Engagement & Well-Being

    Cooking activates multiple senses and supports memory, focus, and emotional regulation. It has also been linked to improved mood and reduced stress.

Our Approach

  • We believe people learn best by doing. Every Social Skillet session is fully interactive — participants chop, mix, taste, problem-solve, and work together from start to finish. Cooking becomes a dynamic learning environment where skills develop naturally through action.

  • A warm, positive atmosphere is at the heart of everything we do. When learners feel safe and supported, they’re more willing to try new things, take risks, and trust themselves. We use cooking as a joyful medium for building confidence one small success at a time.

  • Cooking is a natural leadership lab. Whether it’s sharing tools, dividing responsibilities, communicating steps, or solving challenges, participants practice real leadership moments effortlessly. Our programs intentionally highlight collaboration, communication, and decision-making.

  • Each program is customized to the developmental, cognitive, and physical needs of the group. We adjust pacing, tools, recipes, and expectations to make cooking accessible and empowering — from preschoolers discovering sensory play to seniors engaging in gentle, supportive activities.

  • Everyone has a place in the kitchen. Our approach ensures each participant feels valued, encouraged, and capable, regardless of background or experience. We design experiences where learners support one another and build a shared sense of community.

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