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FM On Demand with Tara Fitzpatrick: K-12 cafeteria whisperer Kern Halls talks design, participation and more

Ingenious Culinary Concepts takes school lunchrooms from ‘blah’ to welcoming, fun and bound to get kids hyped up. Kern Halls, owner and founder, lends us some inspiration for back to school with a fresh new attitude.

Tara Fitzpatrick

August 1, 2023

As a former director at one of the nation’s largest school districts, Kern Halls remembers what it’s like to serve school lunch. As a former kid who grew up on school lunch, he also remembers what it’s like to eat it. When Kern and the Ingenious Culinary Concepts team arrives at a school district, the consulting includes observing, listening and then collaborating for cafeteria solutions that turn a blah cafeteria into the coolest hangout spot in the school. Fresh paint is huge, but even bigger is the infectious enthusiasm that Halls brings to each job. Over the years, FM has featured Halls’ work  and also his personal experiences in life  recently we caught up with him at the SNA show in Denver, and next thing you know he was recording a podcast, calling in from the airport on his way to a school in Idaho. He’s full of energy, and hopefully listening to this fresh new podcast will help energize you for back to school.

 

About the Author

Tara Fitzpatrick

Tara Fitzpatrick is senior editor of Food Management. She covers food, culinary and menu trends.

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