Handi-Capable Kitchen showcases abilities, not disabilities

Shelby Reeves, Chillicothe Gazette
·2 min read
Members of the Handi-Capable Kitchen vlog made chicken quesadillas and nachos during a filming day on April 26, 2024.
Members of the Handi-Capable Kitchen vlog made chicken quesadillas and nachos during a filming day on April 26, 2024.

CHILLICOTHE — A group of young adults in Ross County are working together to make cooking more accessible to those with special needs through an online cooking vlog.

The Handi-Capable Kitchen was created in 2020 by Chef Hunter Robinson, Sous Chef Kaitlyn Brown, Videographer Brice Coey and Photographer Brad Parsons. The group met right before the pandemic started to talk about using their skills to create a show that helps others and spreads positivity.

"It was a rough one but we made it," said Coey of starting during the pandemic.

The group makes a variety of foods from recipes they find online or in celebrity cookbooks. They also make seasonal foods throughout the year. Some favorite recipes of the crew are the mac and cheese and meatball subs they have previously made.

"I love it all," said Brown of her favorite recipe. "I can't hardly choose."

While they love the food the group agrees their favorite part of the show is getting to spend time with each other and have fun. Throughout filming the group laughs a lot from the jokes that are made and the singing and dancing that takes place during the slow moments.

The Handi-Capable Kitchen often has on special guests from the community, like Molly Tisdale who helped make quesadillas.
The Handi-Capable Kitchen often has on special guests from the community, like Molly Tisdale who helped make quesadillas.

While the group has fun together they also enjoy regularly bringing on special guests from the community. Each new guest adds a different personality to the episode.

In the videos, Robinson uses a variety of helpful tools and gives tips and tricks to viewers of the show that make cooking easier. This is important for cooks of all skill levels as the tips he gives out not only help those with disabilities but anyone in the kitchen.

Outside of the vlog, the group won the People's Choice awards at the Chili-Fest and even made their own prepackaged spice mixes for chili to sell during DD Month and raise money for their customized shirts worn during videos.

Overall, Parsons said the show is a way for them to showcase how everyone can cook and do something they love. He said others often look down upon those with disabilities but all you need to do is give them a chance and they can accomplish their goals.

"Just because we're disabled doesn't mean we can't do anything," said Parsons.

The Handi-Capable Kitchen's recipe videos can be found anytime online.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Handi-Capable Kitchen vlog shows Ross County that anyone can cook