Taste of Summer Arrives at Haverford College

Our Haverford College campus officially opened its doors for another exciting summer as junior chefs joined us for the first of six incredible weeks of hands-on culinary adventures! From June 22–26, campers immersed themselves in Taste of Summer, a week celebrating fresh seasonal ingredients, creativity, and the joy of cooking from scratch in a professional kitchen environment.

Junior Chefs gather around to see demos by Chef Carisa.

Throughout the week, junior chefs developed essential culinary skills while preparing a variety of savory dishes and baked treats inspired by the flavors of summer. Campers practiced knife safety, sautéing, measuring, mixing, baking, and kitchen organization while learning how fresh ingredients and proper techniques come together to create delicious recipes. Every day offered new opportunities to build confidence, work as a team, and discover the satisfaction of creating something entirely with their own hands.

Leading the culinary kitchen was Chef Carisa, who returned to Haverford for another summer of inspiring young cooks with her passion, creativity, and culinary expertise. Alongside her was Instructional Assistant I'Jhier, whose encouragement and enthusiasm helped every junior chef feel welcomed, supported, and excited to learn. We were also thrilled to welcome back Campus Coordinator Jess, whose organization and dedication help keep our Haverford campus running smoothly and ensure an outstanding experience for every family throughout the summer.

Junior Chefs practice their knife skills day 1 with dicing red onion for their Pico de Gallo!

One of the highlights of our full-day Haverford program is that junior chefs experience both culinary arts and baking & pastry every day, giving them the opportunity to expand their skills across multiple areas of the kitchen.

Taste of Summer at Haverford Culinary Dishes

• Quesadillas with Homemade Pico de Gallo and Mexican Crema

• Zucchini Fritters

• Lemon & Summer Squash Risotto

• Ratatouille Pasta

• BBQ Chicken Flatbread with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Taste of Summer at Haverford Baking & Pastry Dishes

• Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

• Summer Garden Focaccia

• The Viral DIY Dot Cake Trend

• Banana Pudding Cookies

Beautifully decorated Summer Garden Focaccias!

From the first knife cuts of the week to the final batches of freshly baked cookies, our Haverford kitchens were filled with laughter, curiosity, teamwork, and plenty of proud moments. It was wonderful to watch junior chefs encourage one another, celebrate each accomplishment, and grow more confident with every recipe they completed.

Junior Chefs proudly display their Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins!

With this being the first of six weeks at Haverford College, we're just getting started! We look forward to welcoming many more junior chefs throughout the summer as they continue discovering new flavors, building lifelong culinary skills, and creating unforgettable memories in the kitchen. If Week One is any indication, Summer 2026 at Haverford is going to be one for the recipe books!