By Mark Curnutte, The Associated Press

CINCINNATI — Two-thirds ofthe Freestore Foodbank's new administration building, in the 1100 block of Central Parkway, is dedicated to its culinary arts training program for at-risk, low-income people.

Now into its ninth year, Cincinnati Cooks, which has placed almost 500 of its 650 graduates in food-related jobs, is poised for more growth.

The plan is to increase its daily production from 800 meals at 15 Kids Cafe sites for low-income children to 2,000 meals at 22 locations. Wednesday's menu of chicken and rice, vegetable medley and fruit was the first prepared and shipped from the new kitchen, which program manager Dennis Coksie called a "stainless steel palace."

The additional space should help the program increase its number of participants, too.

"We're here for Cooks," said John Young, Freestore president and chief executive. "This place gives us room to grow."

People weren't tripping over each other in the new Rosenthal Community Kitchen, as was the case at Cincinnati Cooks' former home, Queen City Vocational Center on Ezzard Charles Drive, where the lease had expired.

Three groups of students, volunteers and staff worked in three areas. Students in the newest of overlapping classes sharpened their knives skills by cutting and chopping vegetables. Other students, now in their sixth week of a 10-week program, prepared lunch for the Kids Cafe sites.

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