Love your work, very inspirational Dan! I've been working at a local bar for the past 10 years (sure as hell no NOMA), but I've always dreamt about giving back to the community like you; either through schools or for the homeless. Show may be called Local Legends, but I hope it doesn't stay local.
Been a fan of your work for a while. You are truly impacting so many lives for the better - a tasty, nutritional meal helps students succeed in school, and the ripples will go on forever!
👇Give a thank you and shout out to any lunch ladies/gentlemen, custodians, administrators, and other behind-the-scenes staff that made a difference to you in school or soon will ! ❤👇
I remember my lunch chef who was in charge of feeding us every day. I loved him, but probably never truly appreciated all he did for all of us kids back then. Thank you for highlighting this oh so important job which doesn’t get enough credit
One of the assistant principals at my old high school now runs a food review show on youtube under the title "Goodall's Country Kitchen" I actually use his reviews to find new places to eat around town.
Cool to see you here! I absolutely loved this video as well. There was a news segment on the guy that started the program years back and I've been keeping up with it ever since.
As a former “free lunch” kid, this makes me want to cry. There were a lot of days the only meal I ate was at school & I loved the lunch ladies. Thank you all you do, just know you are making a big impact on these kids. ❤
I went here to write this same thing, from elementary school all the way through the end of highschool I was on reduced lunch which was only like $1 per day but even then most of the time my parents couldn't afford even that. Mom was always too embarrassed or prideful to receive or go through the process of getting on assistance like that... Over the years a peanut butter sandwich was my lifeblood
It's heartwarming to see a Michelin-Starred chef like Dan Giusti leave the glitz of NOMA to make a real difference in the lives of our children. With Brigaid, he's not just serving food; he's serving hope, health, and happiness. This story is a testament to the fact that passion and purpose can truly change the world. Kudos to the team behind this episode for shining a light on such an inspiring journey. Let's give our kids the best, one meal at a time!
I have been a cook and a (sous) chef for awhile. After 10+ years I treat it like skateboarding: I am pretty good. My friends are better. Any chance to chill (or film/sesh/whatever) is kind of an honor. Sometimes you just gotta shut up and learn. If I thought Brad/Chef gave a site, I would even add a link to my resume. Just don't let me drink. I have driven myself into the ground with that lifestyle. I am at my (hopefully) lowest valley approaching my mid thirty year. Focus is prime. But actions are not. I need to fix that. Thanks world. I try. Z.C.N
@@rmh2747 yeah I think a lot of these commenters are failing to notice this is a magnet school, not a public school. There's nothing wrong with what they're doing but it just really makes me sad that the scope of this program only encompasses rich kids. Hopefully this inspires other schools to break the mould of the prison food being fed to children
You have to give it to the staff. they bring love and it shows how much the kids enjoy it. Not only the food, but the compassion they show to the kids. Great job ladies and gentlemen for making the kids be part of the decision what they want to eat.
I am a school lunch lady in Kentucky. Before there I was a prep cook at the fanciest steakhouse in town. I still use the tools I was taught to make the kids’ lunches look and taste good. I make a lot of salads and always take care to cut the vegetables nicely, arrange the toppings in neat rows, etc. If it LOOKS good, the kids will at least try it! It is SO rewarding. I work with high schoolers and truly enjoy seeing the students every day.
Thank you for doing so. When I was a kid I appreciated the fresh chicken salads and home made pizzas my lunch servers made at my school. Best part of the day. :)
My wife started running a kitchen for a local school this past year and the quality of the food she's putting out, for free, for every single kid blows my mind. this video was so cool.
I'm not sure why but I was teary eyed through this entire video. I wished someone cared as much about the food I ate in school as these wonderful people do. This is AMAZING.
This video really hit home for me. I started in fine dining, my head chef also worked at Noma, and it was great to see the creativity, I moved on to run my own restaurant, and it was good but still missing something. I now run a kitchen that feeds the school district in my city, and it's amazing cooking for 1100 kids a day. Hearing their feedback and helping to educate their pallets is such a fulfilling experience.
I really appreciate Dan's approach to "picky eaters." I grew up with, and still struggle with, texture issues. I can absolutely love a taste, but if the texture is off and reminds me of something else, my brain forces me to get rid of it. I've had to endure people calling me a child or immature for something that I wish I didn't have to deal with. How he says they don't have to get them today, there's always tomorrow, next week, next year etc. is a fantastic approach. He doesn't ridicule or force them and offers them something "basic". I've learned over the years how to get used to things or overcome textures and I think if I had a Dan in my life, I would be a lot farther along in my food journey. I also really appreciate his mission to make school lunches better.
I very much understand this. I have ADHD, and food texture is apparently a common issue for a lot of neurodivergent people. It can be a reason neurodivergent people are susceptible to eating disorders, and a program like this must be doing a great deal to encourage a healthy relationship with food. Koodos to Brigaid!
I recently discovered that I don't like foods that are soggy or not crispy. I don't like pancakes, French toast, untoasted white bread, dhokla( a Gujrati dish that has sponge like texture). I prefer foods that are crunchy. What food textures you don't like?
@@zahilakhan6496 I'm exactly like this but don't find those things soggy. But I have to chew & swallow quick because I can't handle sogginess just sitting in my mouth
@@zahilakhan6496 Unfortunately, a lot of my texture problems are with vegetable textures, which doesn't really help my case. If it's soggy but has a "pop" to it (things like bratwurst, some vegetables, etc.) or if it has "fibers" to close to each other and hard to chew (like steak).
I was on free school lunch for my entire school career. I adored the hard working cafeteria staff, and the school's janitorial staff. That free lunch kept so much pressure off a single parent, and taught me the value of variety & learning how to be thrifty. From elementary to high school, if a kid wasn't eating, there was ALWAYS a sweet cafeteria lady who was willing to pay or "oops I dropped a whole meal imma klutz," to ensure those kids ate. I will never stop appreciating those workers. Thanks so much for the spotlight, Brad!
I couldn't help but grin the entire video. Thanks for shining a light on people doing good for kids. This video provided a small glimmer of hope in a country so divided about such basic things like feeding children.
This is one of the best videos you’ve done, Brad. People under estimate how important this is for kids. My mom is an Italian immigrant, food was always very important, she would pack lunch for some of my friends too. Wish more chefs like Dan had this mindset.
This is so wonderful. I feel like my inner child is healing from this video. I was on the affordable lunch prices growing up and remember the lunches were subpar, so I stopped eating and developed an eating disorder at a very young age. Seeing this program makes me so happy. Thank you, Brad, for showcasing this program that promotes healthy and delicious meals. Big kudos to the workers by providing multiple choices so the kiddos can have autonomy.
I was lucky enough to be able to get free lunches when I was in school, and this just blows me away. Us kids in the early 2000s got an entrée tray covered in pre sealed plastic, a small tray of soggy flavorless veggies, and a milk, when they didn't run out. I can't express how happy it makes me to see kids being fed like they matter. No more "ketchup and pizza sauce count as vegetables"
Same, I felt the love that the staff had towards the food they make and the kids they feed. It's amazing thank you for displaying this amazing program, needed throughout the country.
"Are you a youtube star" Brad says, "we'll see how it goes" lol the humility is world class man. Brad you're a legend. Despite BA's issues, your guys' videos and thanksgiving menu are some I come back to repeatedly
I've worked in long-term care for years. I would LOVE to see a program like this in our nursing homes. Our elders also deserve to eat better than what they are currently being served in most facilities. Kudos to Lei and Brigade❤
as a food service worker (yes, I'm a lunch lady)... even the director of food service in my school district has recognized that we are one of the hardest working and most underpaid departments. It's super sad that we make minimum wage and bust our butts as hard as we do. That said, I so love being able to interact with the kids everyday! Even if it is just a few seconds. I dont think many students know my name but when I see them in the community, they recognize me and say hi or "thats a lunch lady!"... It's the best :)
Gosh darn, I'm sitting here choking up. This is such positive content. The passion and love these individuals put into each child's lunch is truly amazing. Brad, you're killing it.
This is an INCREDIBLE cause and initiative. What an absolute legend Dan is. The food system in the US is so messed up and it’s heartbreaking that every kid doesn’t have proper nutrition. I absolutely love this 😭
Dan Giusti and Brigaid are superheroes. Kids are the future and making sure they're well fed is so important to their health and education. A round of applause to everyone involved
As a peruvian, but not only that as an arequipeña, when I saw the solterito my heart melted ❤ specialy as a teacher I find this whole thing so soul lifting. I'm in love.
It wasn't bad in my school. The lunches we got were awesome. I even occasionally got fresh salads and soups. Kids fought to be first for the Asian chicken salad. We would get in trouble for running to line up.
I grew up in a small town in Northern Wyoming in the 70s. Our lunch ladies showed up to work each morning at 5 a.m. All of our school lunches were homemade from scratch. I still remember the smell of fresh bread and rolls wafting through the Halls at school. One of my favorite school lunch days, was Wednesday "Chili and Cinnamon rolls" Yum 😋.
One of the lunch ladies at my school was one of my friends grandma and she would always sneak me and a few others homemade deer or beef jerky on our trays at school. It was a small school and underfunded but the cafeteria staff did the absolute best they could and were amazing. After working in restaurants for years I will always respect any school caf worker and what all they have to do and deal with.
Hello from a lunchlady! Thanks for bringing us a little representation! As soon as the video started, I noticed the plates that were staggered and I immediately recognized why lol... The bowls are a pain to separate as well. Especially when you're on a time crunch!
This is amazing. I cook 5 to 6 meals a week for dinner for my kids, but I wish I knew they were eating as healthy at school. Shout out to Brigaid dude, seriously!
The best job I ever had was working in the lunch room at Hudson Elementary School feeding the younger kids in the 80s. It made me feel wonderful, helpful and useful.
I don't think I've ever smiled so big for 30 minutes straight but that was just such a wonderful experience to laugh with and learn about. Y'all are amazing people truly.
Huge shoutout to the cafeteria staff that strives to serve their kids good food instead of heat & serve food out of a bag. Thank you Brad for highlighting them!
I've followed Brad's work for years & this might be the single most heartwarming video to date. What a phenomenal program they're running, an entirely different meaning to the term "lunch-Lady" I would've loved lunches like this when I was in school.
Like this video. I work at a University kitchen as a Action Cook in front of the students and I couldn’t describe it more perfectly than having the busiest restaurant rush all the time every day. We need more cooks and chefs in this section of food industry.
I used to be a school cop/resource officer. Kids are so pure and innocent. It was the worst paying job i had, but the one that left me most satisfied a the end of the day. Amazing job Brad, Giusti and staff. 👏
That chicken thigh marinade sounds so good! "Lunch ladies" don't get the credit they deserve, and this program looks awesome! There are many things to improve in schools, and this is a good place to start.
When they were talking about all the requirements, made me think of how cooking is an art, and the quote "The enemy of art is the absence of limitation." and how limitations can help elevate art...which these chefs do in school kitchens.
I love this episode. Genuinely cried. What a beautiful mission. Thanks for highlighting this amazing organization and the amazing superstar kitchen teams in these school cafeterias.
Thank you to all of the tireless food service workers in our schools. Thanks to Dan Giusti for creating this project and spreading his knowledge in such an impactful way. And thanks to Brad Leone for highlighting this effort. This is something everybody can get behind - feed our nation's youth and nourish the brighter tomorrow! Much love, TM
Wasn't expecting to get teared up but man I just love what y'all are doing for the communities and kids out there. Food is such a beautiful thing to bring people together and I'm glad Dan was able to find a foothold in that. Mad respect to all our school lunch providers out there.
This is amazing! Much better school lunches than I grew up with and I was told I had great lunches, my school district had okay funding, I can only imagine what the kids in the underfunded do tricks were eating. We used to have options of pb& j, canned soup, brown wilted salad or “hot lunch” which was whatever they were serving that day. If you weren’t on the free lunch program and couldn’t afford your food they wouldn’t give you any of those and instead you’d get a cold cheese sandwich. That was tough usually the holidays were cheese sandwich lunches for us but hey 🤷🏻♂️
The positive and truly collaborative atmosphere in this kitchen is so inspiring. Brigaid and the kitchen staff they support rock and I appreciate this channel for letting them shine! An example for us all.
This is so amazing to see that school lunches in America are finally getting up to par with lunches from the rest of the world. The kids deserve it, amazing work!
Oh Brad this is such a good episode.... I'm doing my masters in public policy right now and my research project was on How a Universal School Lunch Program can Improve Social Cohesion and all the facts point to it being one of the most worthwhile things we can do as a society. We need to make sure our children are fed well and their nutritional needs met. It's upsetting that there's red tape stopping these kids even taking home leftovers but even one good nutritional meal per day is a win.
I LOVE DAN. I remember seeing him featured on CBS a few years back and have never forgotten this mans dedication to this incredible mission. School lunches in most of America are absolutely unacceptable. Soda, fast food, ice cream and candy does not belong in the school cafeteria period. The sad truth is that school districts are heavily subsidized by Pepsi Co. and other corporations that profit on selling poison to our young folks. Thank you Dan for making this your lifes mission, and I hope this inspires many others to follow in your footsteps.
1963-rural Ohio- The cooks in our schools were farming women who canned, pickled, froze and preserved their garden produce. Our cooks made all our meals from scratch, just like these cooks. All schools need this and the folks in the community can do it.
Just check out how Japanese schools operate, and you will be amazed at the quality and healthy meals they serve. They also include the students in prominent roles so they gain responsibility, although they do not do the cooking of course. There is a YT video on this with a quick search. This is a great series and glad that they are taking the time to do this.
Awesome! Do David Zilber next! It is refreshing to see people like Giusti, who were at the pinnacle of food culture, find a way to create a new summit.
One of the coolest cooking videos I've seen in a while. As a fledgling chef, I definitely hope to do some meaningful cooking that makes an impact like this. This'll be one of those videos I think back on a lot, I can already tell.
Phenomenal stuff. Thanks for bringing these people to the forefront, Brad, they are some of the most important people in the world. Also, Lei is the most adorable lady ever.
My school had the culinary students cook lunch. We got experience in buffet-type cooking & if you volunteered on the days you didn't have class, then you would get free lunch. I learned how to operate my first dish machine there. Since the students were being taught how to make good food, the school lunches were good. The baking students used to bring around a cart during the study period after lunch & anybody could buy fresh baked goods. I'm really glad that this group is in schools, but also in prisons & senior centres.
i didnt realize until the video was over but i almost cried towards the end. everyone deserves to have a good meal and some friendly, levelheaded conversation. theyre good kids.
The positivity, care, humility, and all around lightheartedness... Everything about this video had me grinning from ear to ear 😊 Thanks for shining a light on these amazing people bringing light to the world ❤
I have so much respect for folks working in the school food programs. As a kid in grade school in the 1950s, the smell of lunch being cooked wafted down to the classrooms. Such delicious memories! Kids deserve a tasty, hot meal. Thank you, folks!
Someone cuttin onions in here bud? I went hungry pretty often as a kid, really makes me happy knowing there are people out there doing something about it. Particularly the approach to the "picky" eaters. Brad's a sweetheart, too
I rally love this! I can remember actually getting good meals when I was in elementary school. Yes there was still some of the common pre-packaged food, but there was always fresh-made food available for us. The lunch ladies really put a lot of care into our meals. I grew up in a rural area, so the High School had agriculture classes, and there was a green house used by the floral design class and the AG students where they grew fresh flowers and veggies. I can remember being in the 6th-8th grade and we always had baked potatoes as an option, and those potatoes were grown in the greenhouse by students! When Obama's food program kicked in, all of that went away. The lunch ladies weren't allowed to cook the way they did before, and I think as kids we noticed a lot of the passion leave them, because their jobs became just heating up frozen meals. It's really sad. We went from getting a diverse set of entrees with whatever side to the same rotation of frozen pizza, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers of questionable meat content, and the obligatory side of boiled, unseasoned vegetables. The rolls they always served with "nicer" meals were harder than rocks (people would save them and throw them at each others heads at recess and those things HURT), and the most anticipated meals of the year (special celebratory meals for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas) we basically done away with. By the time I got to high school I honestly struggled to remember how things were before and I hade to remind myself that those memories of good lunches weren't a figment of my imagination. How are kids supposed to get excited and passionate about their food if its being delivered to them in this way? We have a huge obesity problem in America, and I think poor food education is contributing to that. You cant convince a kid who has little to no food security that the plate of vegetables in front of him is better in the long run than chicken nuggets or frozen pizza if all you do is boil some green beans, slop them on a tray, and hope they give one a nibble. Just another problem with America's public school system. We are failing our kids and hardly anyone in charge seems to care.
Those schools cooks and servers are heroes for feeding the future generation healthy life sustaining food - real food and not junk full of sugar. I salute your hard work and dedication. And to the Filipina chef - I am proud of you. As a fellow Pinay, you have shared your heart with these children and they will always remember the taste of adobo. Nothing like it. God Bless. ❤
This really made me miss working with a good, tight knit crew that was both laid back, and took pride in their work. Good times, good work, and good friends. It made the daily grind so much more bearable than overworking in an emotional silo, even with higher pay and 'better' QoL. It's the comradery of it all that brought meaning to the task outside of the task itself.
I'd love this to get implemented into other schools across the country!!! Kids need this and look how happy and proud all the folks working to make this happen are! ❤
Talk about awesome people! I know i would of been very hungry growing up if it wasnt for the school food. I wish i could go back and give the cafeteria workers a big hug to show how important they are! I couldn't imagine teaching a class of students thats are hangry!
I've been a huge Brad fan for years, but I'll admit I was starting to lose interest in some of the recent uploads to this channel. But this one right here, wow! This was personal, emotional, informative, raised awareness for a great cause, and above all else let Brad shine as an entertainer. More local legend topics like this one, please!
this video has taken me a minute to get to because i knew it would make me emotional. i missed a lot of meals in school because of neglect and having an experience like this every day would've done so much for me. these people are pillars of their communities.
Seriously Brad, this video was so heart-warming!! Seeing you shine a light on these incredible people just makes my day and I was smiling throughout the entire video. I'm so super glad you've got your own channel now because the energy you exude is just so contagious! The production quality is amazing, thank you for making my day so much better team!!
Always appreciated my school's kitchen staff. My school kitchens were pretty good, albeit with many of the standards, but my high school 20 years ago already had better options than most. Hope this trend continues. Love to see it, and in my home state!
Love, love, love this episode! I’ve been a school teacher for over 3 decades, and the availability of healthy school lunch is a big deal for kids of all ages! 😊Thank you so much for all you do!!!
Thanks everyone for watching and for all of the kind words!
Love your work, very inspirational Dan! I've been working at a local bar for the past 10 years (sure as hell no NOMA), but I've always dreamt about giving back to the community like you; either through schools or for the homeless.
Show may be called Local Legends, but I hope it doesn't stay local.
Bless you brother! Keep kicking ass
You're a hero
Thank you for everything you do for the children
Been a fan of your work for a while. You are truly impacting so many lives for the better - a tasty, nutritional meal helps students succeed in school, and the ripples will go on forever!
👇Give a thank you and shout out to any lunch ladies/gentlemen, custodians, administrators, and other behind-the-scenes staff that made a difference to you in school or soon will ! ❤👇
Was smiling through this whole video Brad, thanks so much.
Good stuff brad I wish I grew up with cafeterias like this, also your son has a cool name
I remember my lunch chef who was in charge of feeding us every day. I loved him, but probably never truly appreciated all he did for all of us kids back then. Thank you for highlighting this oh so important job which doesn’t get enough credit
To the custodial staff at Margo elementary in weslaco, tx! Yall are the best making our kids laugh everyday with silly costumes! 🤪 puro 956!
One of the assistant principals at my old high school now runs a food review show on youtube under the title "Goodall's Country Kitchen" I actually use his reviews to find new places to eat around town.
this is so badass!
Been following Brigaid for a few years now, they definitely deserve this exposure!
Cool to see you here! I absolutely loved this video as well. There was a news segment on the guy that started the program years back and I've been keeping up with it ever since.
Exposure? It's on his TH-cam channel not food network
@@christianterrill3503 so?
@@christianterrill3503 Video posted one day ago and has 50,000 views is exposure. Who the hell watches the Food Network nowadays?
@@christianterrill3503 lol you clearly need to recalibrate your concept of exposure to meet the modern era
"How long you worked here?" She was so excited to talk about her 5 years there. Totally lit up with joy. She clearly loves that kitchen.
Lei is amazing along with the rest of the staff!
As a former “free lunch” kid, this makes me want to cry. There were a lot of days the only meal I ate was at school & I loved the lunch ladies. Thank you all you do, just know you are making a big impact on these kids. ❤
I went here to write this same thing, from elementary school all the way through the end of highschool I was on reduced lunch which was only like $1 per day but even then most of the time my parents couldn't afford even that. Mom was always too embarrassed or prideful to receive or go through the process of getting on assistance like that... Over the years a peanut butter sandwich was my lifeblood
It's heartwarming to see a Michelin-Starred chef like Dan Giusti leave the glitz of NOMA to make a real difference in the lives of our children. With Brigaid, he's not just serving food; he's serving hope, health, and happiness. This story is a testament to the fact that passion and purpose can truly change the world. Kudos to the team behind this episode for shining a light on such an inspiring journey. Let's give our kids the best, one meal at a time!
I have been a cook and a (sous) chef for awhile. After 10+ years I treat it like skateboarding: I am pretty good. My friends are better. Any chance to chill (or film/sesh/whatever) is kind of an honor. Sometimes you just gotta shut up and learn. If I thought Brad/Chef gave a site, I would even add a link to my resume.
Just don't let me drink. I have driven myself into the ground with that lifestyle. I am at my (hopefully) lowest valley approaching my mid thirty year. Focus is prime. But actions are not. I need to fix that.
Thanks world. I try.
Z.C.N
Well said.
@@zacnoel2926 bro what the fuck are you talking about? Were you on the sauce while typing that too? Lmao
And @ 20k a year tuition I hope it’s good.
@@rmh2747 yeah I think a lot of these commenters are failing to notice this is a magnet school, not a public school. There's nothing wrong with what they're doing but it just really makes me sad that the scope of this program only encompasses rich kids. Hopefully this inspires other schools to break the mould of the prison food being fed to children
Shouts out to the cafeteria workers who are an integral part of a safe space for so many school kids!
absolutely! can't tell you how many times my lunch lady saw me sad in line and encouraged me to grab an extra snack. it's the little things!
You have to give it to the staff. they bring love and it shows how much the kids enjoy it. Not only the food, but the compassion they show to the kids. Great job ladies and gentlemen for making the kids be part of the decision what they want to eat.
I am a school lunch lady in Kentucky. Before there I was a prep cook at the fanciest steakhouse in town. I still use the tools I was taught to make the kids’ lunches look and taste good. I make a lot of salads and always take care to cut the vegetables nicely, arrange the toppings in neat rows, etc. If it LOOKS good, the kids will at least try it! It is SO rewarding. I work with high schoolers and truly enjoy seeing the students every day.
Thank you for doing so. When I was a kid I appreciated the fresh chicken salads and home made pizzas my lunch servers made at my school. Best part of the day. :)
I cannot deal with how WHOLESOME this is. Big ups to all these folks.
leaving what was at the time often considered the highest-rated restaurant *on earth* to help feed kids is insanely admirable
My wife started running a kitchen for a local school this past year and the quality of the food she's putting out, for free, for every single kid blows my mind. this video was so cool.
That's amazing howndidnshe start running it? I have a 5 year old in kindergarten and want to improve the quality and taste of the food for health
Brad! You know I fucking love this! I have so much respect for the amazing work Dan does! Keep shining, Leone! 💚 #iloveit!
Thank you gabby! Your also a inspiration! Brad is amazing.
@@markohenk691 💚
miss watching you gaby just subbed to your youtube! your amazing!
@@PhilhellenicAgori, thank you! 💚
Brad showing immense respect to the lunch ladies by saying “yes, chef” when they tell him to do something. My favorite part of the video.
I'm not sure why but I was teary eyed through this entire video. I wished someone cared as much about the food I ate in school as these wonderful people do. This is AMAZING.
This Is the feeling when real, enduring, positive changes show up in this troubled world
same this is wonderful
I’m with you! I wiped a few tears away. So wholesome and love how they’re playing a big part in these kids lives ♥️
This video really hit home for me. I started in fine dining, my head chef also worked at Noma, and it was great to see the creativity, I moved on to run my own restaurant, and it was good but still missing something. I now run a kitchen that feeds the school district in my city, and it's amazing cooking for 1100 kids a day. Hearing their feedback and helping to educate their pallets is such a fulfilling experience.
I really appreciate Dan's approach to "picky eaters." I grew up with, and still struggle with, texture issues. I can absolutely love a taste, but if the texture is off and reminds me of something else, my brain forces me to get rid of it. I've had to endure people calling me a child or immature for something that I wish I didn't have to deal with. How he says they don't have to get them today, there's always tomorrow, next week, next year etc. is a fantastic approach. He doesn't ridicule or force them and offers them something "basic". I've learned over the years how to get used to things or overcome textures and I think if I had a Dan in my life, I would be a lot farther along in my food journey. I also really appreciate his mission to make school lunches better.
this!!!!
I very much understand this. I have ADHD, and food texture is apparently a common issue for a lot of neurodivergent people. It can be a reason neurodivergent people are susceptible to eating disorders, and a program like this must be doing a great deal to encourage a healthy relationship with food. Koodos to Brigaid!
I recently discovered that I don't like foods that are soggy or not crispy. I don't like pancakes, French toast, untoasted white bread, dhokla( a Gujrati dish that has sponge like texture). I prefer foods that are crunchy. What food textures you don't like?
@@zahilakhan6496 I'm exactly like this but don't find those things soggy. But I have to chew & swallow quick because I can't handle sogginess just sitting in my mouth
@@zahilakhan6496 Unfortunately, a lot of my texture problems are with vegetable textures, which doesn't really help my case. If it's soggy but has a "pop" to it (things like bratwurst, some vegetables, etc.) or if it has "fibers" to close to each other and hard to chew (like steak).
I was on free school lunch for my entire school career. I adored the hard working cafeteria staff, and the school's janitorial staff. That free lunch kept so much pressure off a single parent, and taught me the value of variety & learning how to be thrifty. From elementary to high school, if a kid wasn't eating, there was ALWAYS a sweet cafeteria lady who was willing to pay or "oops I dropped a whole meal imma klutz," to ensure those kids ate. I will never stop appreciating those workers. Thanks so much for the spotlight, Brad!
💜🙌🏽
I couldn't help but grin the entire video. Thanks for shining a light on people doing good for kids. This video provided a small glimmer of hope in a country so divided about such basic things like feeding children.
This is one of the best videos you’ve done, Brad. People under estimate how important this is for kids. My mom is an Italian immigrant, food was always very important, she would pack lunch for some of my friends too. Wish more chefs like Dan had this mindset.
This is so wonderful. I feel like my inner child is healing from this video. I was on the affordable lunch prices growing up and remember the lunches were subpar, so I stopped eating and developed an eating disorder at a very young age. Seeing this program makes me so happy. Thank you, Brad, for showcasing this program that promotes healthy and delicious meals. Big kudos to the workers by providing multiple choices so the kiddos can have autonomy.
I was lucky enough to be able to get free lunches when I was in school, and this just blows me away. Us kids in the early 2000s got an entrée tray covered in pre sealed plastic, a small tray of soggy flavorless veggies, and a milk, when they didn't run out.
I can't express how happy it makes me to see kids being fed like they matter. No more "ketchup and pizza sauce count as vegetables"
Same, I felt the love that the staff had towards the food they make and the kids they feed. It's amazing thank you for displaying this amazing program, needed throughout the country.
@@killerduckboy3 "Kids being fed like they matter" is such a perfect way of putting exactly how I felt watching this.
"Are you a youtube star" Brad says, "we'll see how it goes" lol the humility is world class man. Brad you're a legend. Despite BA's issues, your guys' videos and thanksgiving menu are some I come back to repeatedly
I've worked in long-term care for years. I would LOVE to see a program like this in our nursing homes. Our elders also deserve to eat better than what they are currently being served in most facilities. Kudos to Lei and Brigade❤
As one of the people doing the serving of that food, I have to agree! The food is okay, but it can definitely be improved.
This made me tear up. Working in schools is so fulfilling, but so draining on a person. They deserve more for their work.
as a food service worker (yes, I'm a lunch lady)... even the director of food service in my school district has recognized that we are one of the hardest working and most underpaid departments. It's super sad that we make minimum wage and bust our butts as hard as we do. That said, I so love being able to interact with the kids everyday! Even if it is just a few seconds. I dont think many students know my name but when I see them in the community, they recognize me and say hi or "thats a lunch lady!"... It's the best :)
made me tear up too
Gosh darn, I'm sitting here choking up. This is such positive content. The passion and love these individuals put into each child's lunch is truly amazing. Brad, you're killing it.
This is an INCREDIBLE cause and initiative. What an absolute legend Dan is. The food system in the US is so messed up and it’s heartbreaking that every kid doesn’t have proper nutrition. I absolutely love this 😭
Lei is competence, humility, passion, and goodness in one awe-inspiring compact package. Lei is a beacon for humanity.
Dan Giusti and Brigaid are superheroes. Kids are the future and making sure they're well fed is so important to their health and education. A round of applause to everyone involved
Honestly one of my favorite channels as of late. The content is wholesome and everyone involved is having fun whilst making it. Kudos Brad and Crew!
As a peruvian, but not only that as an arequipeña, when I saw the solterito my heart melted ❤ specialy as a teacher I find this whole thing so soul lifting. I'm in love.
20:35 hit me like a freight train... Food deserts and food scarcity is real. Shout out to Brad and everyone in the video for doing what they did here!
It's sad how poor quality food we feed our growing children in America. Thanks for the lovely video Brad
It wasn't bad in my school. The lunches we got were awesome. I even occasionally got fresh salads and soups. Kids fought to be first for the Asian chicken salad. We would get in trouble for running to line up.
I love how exited Dan got when that kid said sweat glazed carrots. He was like, “see they’re learning!” 😂
The Midwest needs these amazing people so badly
When I get done crying, I might write a comment telling you how great Brigaid and how great this video is, Brad. Thank you.
Making me realize how much I truly adored my years as a "Lunch Lady."
Oh man, I am so impressed. As a child of the 70’s this blows my mind! Kudos to all of these passionate people.
I grew up in a small town in Northern Wyoming in the 70s. Our lunch ladies showed up to work each morning at 5 a.m.
All of our school lunches were homemade from scratch. I still remember the smell of fresh bread and rolls wafting through the Halls at school. One of my favorite school lunch days, was Wednesday "Chili and Cinnamon rolls" Yum 😋.
I need a school for my kids with a kitchen staff that care this much, and these recipes
One of the lunch ladies at my school was one of my friends grandma and she would always sneak me and a few others homemade deer or beef jerky on our trays at school. It was a small school and underfunded but the cafeteria staff did the absolute best they could and were amazing. After working in restaurants for years I will always respect any school caf worker and what all they have to do and deal with.
As a mother of a child who thankfully is part of a program where she gets free breakfast and lunch; this is incredible ❤
Hello from a lunchlady! Thanks for bringing us a little representation!
As soon as the video started, I noticed the plates that were staggered and I immediately recognized why lol... The bowls are a pain to separate as well. Especially when you're on a time crunch!
This is amazing. I cook 5 to 6 meals a week for dinner for my kids, but I wish I knew they were eating as healthy at school. Shout out to Brigaid dude, seriously!
The best job I ever had was working in the lunch room at Hudson Elementary School feeding the younger kids in the 80s. It made me feel wonderful, helpful and useful.
I love how stoked everyone is for Mr. Brown’s announcements 😂😭
I think Dan & Brigaid don’t get enough spotlight that they so deserve. Thank you for featuring him, Brad! ❤❤
Brad, Connecticut loves you brotha, please keep coming back!
Brad Leone.....salt of the earth. Keep on this good path. You are really doing a great job with your own channel.
I don't think I've ever smiled so big for 30 minutes straight but that was just such a wonderful experience to laugh with and learn about. Y'all are amazing people truly.
This needs to go nationwide.
Couldnt agree more. Dan has a great outlook on the entire thing
My son was subjected to US public school cafeteria food. No one believes the disaster unless they've experienced it. This is wonderful, thank you.
Huge shoutout to the cafeteria staff that strives to serve their kids good food instead of heat & serve food out of a bag. Thank you Brad for highlighting them!
I've followed Brad's work for years & this might be the single most heartwarming video to date. What a phenomenal program they're running, an entirely different meaning to the term "lunch-Lady" I would've loved lunches like this when I was in school.
Like this video. I work at a University kitchen as a Action Cook in front of the students and I couldn’t describe it more perfectly than having the busiest restaurant rush all the time every day. We need more cooks and chefs in this section of food industry.
I used to be a school cop/resource officer. Kids are so pure and innocent. It was the worst paying job i had, but the one that left me most satisfied a the end of the day. Amazing job Brad, Giusti and staff. 👏
That chicken thigh marinade sounds so good!
"Lunch ladies" don't get the credit they deserve, and this program looks awesome! There are many things to improve in schools, and this is a good place to start.
When they were talking about all the requirements, made me think of how cooking is an art, and the quote "The enemy of art is the absence of limitation." and how limitations can help elevate art...which these chefs do in school kitchens.
I thought you got the quote backwards, but then I thought about it, and I got it!
I love this episode. Genuinely cried. What a beautiful mission. Thanks for highlighting this amazing organization and the amazing superstar kitchen teams in these school cafeterias.
Thank you to all of the tireless food service workers in our schools. Thanks to Dan Giusti for creating this project and spreading his knowledge in such an impactful way. And thanks to Brad Leone for highlighting this effort. This is something everybody can get behind - feed our nation's youth and nourish the brighter tomorrow! Much love, TM
Wasn't expecting to get teared up but man I just love what y'all are doing for the communities and kids out there. Food is such a beautiful thing to bring people together and I'm glad Dan was able to find a foothold in that. Mad respect to all our school lunch providers out there.
This is amazing! Much better school lunches than I grew up with and I was told I had great lunches, my school district had okay funding, I can only imagine what the kids in the underfunded do tricks were eating. We used to have options of pb& j, canned soup, brown wilted salad or “hot lunch” which was whatever they were serving that day. If you weren’t on the free lunch program and couldn’t afford your food they wouldn’t give you any of those and instead you’d get a cold cheese sandwich. That was tough usually the holidays were cheese sandwich lunches for us but hey 🤷🏻♂️
The positive and truly collaborative atmosphere in this kitchen is so inspiring. Brigaid and the kitchen staff they support rock and I appreciate this channel for letting them shine! An example for us all.
This is so amazing to see that school lunches in America are finally getting up to par with lunches from the rest of the world. The kids deserve it, amazing work!
My kid goes to a magnet school in new London. Can confirm they eat good food - way better than what we got as kids haha
This is the wholesome content the world needs. Thanks Brad 🥹
Oh Brad this is such a good episode.... I'm doing my masters in public policy right now and my research project was on How a Universal School Lunch Program can Improve Social Cohesion and all the facts point to it being one of the most worthwhile things we can do as a society. We need to make sure our children are fed well and their nutritional needs met. It's upsetting that there's red tape stopping these kids even taking home leftovers but even one good nutritional meal per day is a win.
In Finland we pride our school lunches. And I can tell you how meaningful that one goo a day can be.
I LOVE DAN. I remember seeing him featured on CBS a few years back and have never forgotten this mans dedication to this incredible mission. School lunches in most of America are absolutely unacceptable. Soda, fast food, ice cream and candy does not belong in the school cafeteria period. The sad truth is that school districts are heavily subsidized by Pepsi Co. and other corporations that profit on selling poison to our young folks. Thank you Dan for making this your lifes mission, and I hope this inspires many others to follow in your footsteps.
1963-rural Ohio- The cooks in our schools were farming women who canned, pickled, froze and preserved their garden produce. Our cooks made all our meals from scratch, just like these cooks. All schools need this and the folks in the community can do it.
She’s got her own recipe out there across the districts 🙌🙌 THAT’S the kind of news I want to start hearing about! This was outstanding ❤
Thanks for highlighting this brad. All school lunches should be free and like this. Made from scratch. I would work in a school kitchen too.
Just check out how Japanese schools operate, and you will be amazed at the quality and healthy meals they serve. They also include the students in prominent roles so they gain responsibility, although they do not do the cooking of course. There is a YT video on this with a quick search.
This is a great series and glad that they are taking the time to do this.
Awesome! Do David Zilber next! It is refreshing to see people like Giusti, who were at the pinnacle of food culture, find a way to create a new summit.
One of the coolest cooking videos I've seen in a while. As a fledgling chef, I definitely hope to do some meaningful cooking that makes an impact like this. This'll be one of those videos I think back on a lot, I can already tell.
Omg Brad was easily my favorite from the Bon Appetite for how positive attitude. I love seeing him branch off. This series is beautiful.
Phenomenal stuff. Thanks for bringing these people to the forefront, Brad, they are some of the most important people in the world.
Also, Lei is the most adorable lady ever.
My school had the culinary students cook lunch. We got experience in buffet-type cooking & if you volunteered on the days you didn't have class, then you would get free lunch. I learned how to operate my first dish machine there. Since the students were being taught how to make good food, the school lunches were good. The baking students used to bring around a cart during the study period after lunch & anybody could buy fresh baked goods.
I'm really glad that this group is in schools, but also in prisons & senior centres.
This is beautiful, those lunch workers deserve so much more. But again not all school lunches are like this haha.
"Just be direct with him. Be real direct with him. Focus on the task at hand." 🤣🤣🤣
i didnt realize until the video was over but i almost cried towards the end.
everyone deserves to have a good meal and some friendly, levelheaded conversation. theyre good kids.
Thank you so much lunch ladies all around the world I'm not not crying❤
The positivity, care, humility, and all around lightheartedness... Everything about this video had me grinning from ear to ear 😊
Thanks for shining a light on these amazing people bringing light to the world ❤
I have so much respect for folks working in the school food programs. As a kid in grade school in the 1950s, the smell of lunch being cooked wafted down to the classrooms. Such delicious memories! Kids deserve a tasty, hot meal. Thank you, folks!
Dan and his chefs at Brigaid are my heroes and i would love to work for him.
Tears! These people have the biggest hearts! ❤️ those kids are so blessed.
Someone cuttin onions in here bud?
I went hungry pretty often as a kid, really makes me happy knowing there are people out there doing something about it. Particularly the approach to the "picky" eaters.
Brad's a sweetheart, too
I rally love this! I can remember actually getting good meals when I was in elementary school. Yes there was still some of the common pre-packaged food, but there was always fresh-made food available for us. The lunch ladies really put a lot of care into our meals. I grew up in a rural area, so the High School had agriculture classes, and there was a green house used by the floral design class and the AG students where they grew fresh flowers and veggies. I can remember being in the 6th-8th grade and we always had baked potatoes as an option, and those potatoes were grown in the greenhouse by students! When Obama's food program kicked in, all of that went away.
The lunch ladies weren't allowed to cook the way they did before, and I think as kids we noticed a lot of the passion leave them, because their jobs became just heating up frozen meals. It's really sad. We went from getting a diverse set of entrees with whatever side to the same rotation of frozen pizza, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers of questionable meat content, and the obligatory side of boiled, unseasoned vegetables. The rolls they always served with "nicer" meals were harder than rocks (people would save them and throw them at each others heads at recess and those things HURT), and the most anticipated meals of the year (special celebratory meals for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas) we basically done away with. By the time I got to high school I honestly struggled to remember how things were before and I hade to remind myself that those memories of good lunches weren't a figment of my imagination.
How are kids supposed to get excited and passionate about their food if its being delivered to them in this way? We have a huge obesity problem in America, and I think poor food education is contributing to that. You cant convince a kid who has little to no food security that the plate of vegetables in front of him is better in the long run than chicken nuggets or frozen pizza if all you do is boil some green beans, slop them on a tray, and hope they give one a nibble. Just another problem with America's public school system. We are failing our kids and hardly anyone in charge seems to care.
Brad really in his element. Also. chicken goddamn adobo from scratch at school lunch? These people deserve a standing ovation.
Those schools cooks and servers are heroes for feeding the future generation healthy life sustaining food - real food and not junk full of sugar. I salute your hard work and dedication. And to the Filipina chef - I am proud of you. As a fellow Pinay, you have shared your heart with these children and they will always remember the taste of adobo. Nothing like it. God Bless. ❤
This really made me miss working with a good, tight knit crew that was both laid back, and took pride in their work. Good times, good work, and good friends. It made the daily grind so much more bearable than overworking in an emotional silo, even with higher pay and 'better' QoL. It's the comradery of it all that brought meaning to the task outside of the task itself.
This warmed my heart. I wanna work for Brigaid!
I'd love this to get implemented into other schools across the country!!! Kids need this and look how happy and proud all the folks working to make this happen are! ❤
Those kids are eating better than most adults I know. Good on them for making healthy lunches that are approachable
Talk about awesome people! I know i would of been very hungry growing up if it wasnt for the school food. I wish i could go back and give the cafeteria workers a big hug to show how important they are! I couldn't imagine teaching a class of students thats are hangry!
I've been a huge Brad fan for years, but I'll admit I was starting to lose interest in some of the recent uploads to this channel. But this one right here, wow! This was personal, emotional, informative, raised awareness for a great cause, and above all else let Brad shine as an entertainer. More local legend topics like this one, please!
If my school lunches had looked like that 20 years ago I would have been thrilled! Let alone if my lunches now looked that good….
Feeding kids is really really important. They deserve good healthy foods.
this video has taken me a minute to get to because i knew it would make me emotional. i missed a lot of meals in school because of neglect and having an experience like this every day would've done so much for me. these people are pillars of their communities.
Seriously Brad, this video was so heart-warming!! Seeing you shine a light on these incredible people just makes my day and I was smiling throughout the entire video. I'm so super glad you've got your own channel now because the energy you exude is just so contagious! The production quality is amazing, thank you for making my day so much better team!!
Always appreciated my school's kitchen staff. My school kitchens were pretty good, albeit with many of the standards, but my high school 20 years ago already had better options than most. Hope this trend continues. Love to see it, and in my home state!
Love, love, love this episode! I’ve been a school teacher for over 3 decades, and the availability of healthy school lunch is a big deal for kids of all ages! 😊Thank you so much for all you do!!!