“The preparation of good food is merely another expression of art, one of the joys of civilized living,” declared English chef, cookbook author and television cooking show host Dione Lucas. Chef Lucas was a pioneer in promoting cooking as an outlet for creativity; studies in publications, including Frontiers in Psychology, confirm that the therapeutic process of cooking nourishes the body, mind and spirit with mindfulness and instills joy upon the successful preparation of a delectable meal to share with family and friends.

“It’s definitely a creative outlet, even for people who might not be creative or think they’re not creative—there’s always a little bit of creativity in all of us,” affirms Sharon Landis, owner of Zest! kitchen store and cooking school. “Eating is a necessity in order for us to thrive and to live. Learning to cook makes the food that you eat that much more interesting, palatable and delicious.”

Zest! fosters happiness through cooking with an array of kitchen utensils, cookware, small appliances, spices and artisan pantry staples, along with a cooking school offering themed classes for adults and children. Landis and her staff strive to support home cooks of all skill levels with recommendations and suggestions to achieve their culinary goals.

As the Lancaster-Berks area embraces the warmth and sunshine of the summer season, Landis observes an increased interest in outdoor cooking and entertaining. Zest! carries a full line of barbeque tools and gadgets, along with sauces, marinades and rubs. They also carry ice cream makers, frozen pop molds and assorted ice cream toppings, such as bourbon caramel sauce.

Zest! recently became an exclusive dealer of Made In cookware’s stainless steel line of products crafted in Italy. Made In has a large social media presence and until recently was only available through direct-to-consumer sales. “It was originally created for chefs in restaurants, but it’s at a very affordable price point,” notes Landis. Made In is endorsed by many chefs, including Tom Colicchio of the popular cooking competition program Top Chef.

Landis keeps up on the latest culinary trends to pair retail and class offerings compatible with what home cooks are seeking. She notes there’s currently a lot of interest in sourdough and breadmaking, along with sushi and Asian cooking, especially Thai cuisine.

“And Italian is always popular. Americans always love Italian food, and our Italian classes are the first ones that sell out,” Landis says. “Every region of Italy features different cuisine, and we offer very authentic classes.”

Zest! has recently welcomed three new instructors: Sara Elia, who specializes in Sicilian and southern Italian cuisine; Cat Alwine, who teaches cooking with Asian and Hawaiian foods; and Stephanie Willette, from Bistro Barberet & Bakery, in downtown Lancaster, who teaches advanced pastry classes. All of the Zest! instructors inspire camaraderie among their students while educating about the cultural histories and nuances behind cuisines of the world.

Another trend that appears here to stay is the preference for locally sourced, farm-to-table foods, whether one is dining out or preparing dinner in the home kitchen. Zest! incorporates local and regional ingredients into their classes, such as the Farmers Market, Garden Cooking and Baking camp for kids ages 7 to 12, which takes place July 9 through 11, 2024; an identical class for teens ages 13 to 16 will be offered July 16 through 18, 2024. The classes will teach kids how to creatively use seasonal ingredients. Peaches, a favorite summertime fruit of many, takes the spotlight in the Baking With Peaches class on July 24, 2024.

The Sun Kissed Italian Summer class on July 20, 2024, explores using appetizing seasonal ingredients in fresh, flavorful Italian dishes. Mastering Napoleon Pastry, on July 31, 2024, teaches aspiring pastry makers how to craft this crisp, layered pastry, also known as mille-feuille, into a dessert worthy of a pâtisserie display.

While some dishes might seem intimidating to make, Landis says the instructors and staff at Zest! strive to guide home cooks toward immersing themselves in the cooking process to successfully create with food—and have fun doing it.

“We love being able to help people become confident in the kitchen, even to make simple things. It opens up a whole new world for them,” Landis says.Zest! is located at 30 E. Main St., in Lititz. For more information, call 717-626-6002 or visit ZestChef.com.

Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings