On Monday, July 16, the Selma-Dallas County Public Library hosted its “Cooking with Chef D” event where children gained the opportunity to create a meal and learn about nutrition from “Chef D.”

Director of Nutrition Services at Edmundite Missions and Executive Chef for the Edmundite Enterprises Harry “Chef D” Dominick taught the children who attended the event how to create healthy meals while they are at home.

“We wanted something nice, healthy and light, which they can make while their parents are working or gone for the day,” Dominick said.

Dominick has been a chef for 30 years, and said his interest in the craft stemmed from watching his mother cook while he was a child.

“I have always been interested in food and I always knew what I wanted to be,” he said. “I took cooking when I was in high school and never looked back. Cooking was all I’ve ever done, all of my life.”

To emphasize the importance of healthy eating, the children were assisted in making spinach and tomato wraps. Dominick said he wants to contribute his skills to the community as a means of giving back.

“It’s very important to me to give back because I have had a good career, met a lot of people and traveled the world through food,” Dominick said. “I could take these inter-city kids around the world through food. You can go to Europe, Spain, Italy and France through food, and I’m trying to bring that to Selma.”

De’Shanda Hatcher, the owner of Kidz Klubhouse of Selma, said she was excited to bring her students to the event, and found it to be a wonderful and educational experience.

“We are here to enlighten them [her students] on the healthy things that are available to eat,” Hatcher said. “This is our first time attending an event at the library and we will definitely be attending more in the future.”

Chief Operating Officer of Edmundite Enterprises and Chief Innovation Officer of Edmundite Missions Susan Raymond said Dominick is great in his profession. 

“He’s great and has a sense of nutrition,” Raymond said. “He teaches how important it is to drink water and stay hydrated. He really has educated everyone who comes to the Missions.”

Executive Director of the Selma-Dallas County Public Library Becky Nichols said she is happy to have Dominick come to the library to spread is knowledge.

“We are happy to have talented people like Chef D and learn more about a skill like cooking,” Nichols said. “What we are really excited about is the fellowship that comes when our boys and girls get a chance to meet some of the people in our community that care about them.”

The library is scheduled to have another cooking event “Cooking with Bob” on Wednesday, July 18 at 10 a.m.