Last week The Oregonian had an interesting piece about a 5-year-old child who has his own cooking show. On Portland Community Media's show The Big Kitchen With Food, kid chef Julian Kreusser shows viewers how to make chocolate chip zucchini bread, a killer spaghetti sauce, and persimmon smoothies. To learn more about the pint-sized chef and check out a video of his show, read more.
It's possible that before he was teething, Julian was cooking. By the ripe old age of three, he was scrambling eggs and inventing recipes such as toasted green olives. The next year, he decided he wanted to cook on TV. And at his current age, he's already achieved his goal.
"He actually understands what he's doing. He's not just following orders," explains Portland Community Media executive director Sylvia McDaniel. In fact, all of the show's recipes are Julian originals — and so is the show's theme song. More importantly, viewers love him: "It has potential to be a national program," she says.
I'm not sure what to think. On the one hand, both Julian and the show are adorable, but on the flip side, I wonder if he should be on a playground instead of a televised cooking show. Watch the video below and tell me: What do you think of the kid chef?
Celine
Luella
Sergio Rossi
Okay I stopped at "tomato paste" because I couldn't focus and was bored.
1Well he is really cute. I had to stop at chop up veggies. Yes he is five but I can't handle the um um um.
2nope cant do it
3I don't know, I'm not into it at all. It feels forced and did you read the entire article? It says the kid doesn't go to school! Sounds a little kooky to me...
4Its cute for about a minute, and then its not. I suppose it would be awesome if it was your own child, but to a complete stranger its like pulling teeth to watch it.
5I watched the whole thing. I don't know why I made myself suffer like that. It is awful! I agree with CaterpillarGirl... maybe if it's your own child... Ugh. And, the idea of "unschooling"... I don't know... At least he has made his mama proud...
6Cute for kids ONLY, I guess. Then again, my 6-year old would have limited interest in the subject matter and would resort to his PlayStation 2 immediately! I, for one could NOT blame him. LAME.
7Everybody cannot be cooking stars!
to be honest, nope i wouldn't tune into a show that was hosted by a 5 year old. i don't know - i think that it's reaching just a bit don't you?
8I agree with partysugar about the schooling issue...
does Oregon really allow that? I can only imagine how "structured" some parents are with it. I know there's a movement among some ADULTS to structure universities that way, but I just don't believe a five-year-old child really knows or understands what's best for his education. Maybe he's a prodigy in cooking, but who's to say he'll want to be a chef? Maybe he has interests he won't discover until someone else exposes him to them.
(For example, I HATED math as a kid, and I'm a physics major now. I needed some prodding ;p Had I been given the choice as a kid, though? I'd have dicthed math in a second, which ultimately would have been a huge regret.)
As for the show? No, I'd never watch it. I have a hard enough time understanding children speak, it's just painful to have to try to follow instructions from them. I guess this show is just keeping the time-honoured tradition of awkward cable-access programming alive.
9*ditched.
There's a reason I majored in math, not English
10No.
11This was truly nauseating. I don't know why I watched as much as I did. The child can barely remember the name of his own show, let alone articulate a complete sentence. And while we're on the subject of the show's title, they should definitely think about a new one. The Big Kitchen WITH food WITH Julian??? I think I speak for us all when I ask "WTF???". The humming in the background only adds to the unbearableness of it all. Someone needs to tell mommy that she should stop living through her children.
12Hey, give the kid some credit for trying. After all, he is only five. He's got his whole life ahead of him.
That said, he does need to be coached a little. A little less "umm-ing" and a little more looking at the camera, thanks.
13Why would they let a kid by the oven at that age? I think he's adorable, but no. I'm fine watching Giada.
14I agree with partysugar that it seems very forced. I think I would watch it for 3 minutes because of the novelty, then go back to channel surfing.
15the licking the stirring spoon and then dipping fingers into the sauce was a bit much for me. Looks like Mom forgot the lesson on hygiene.
16Lighten up people! He is just a 5 year old. I thought it was really cute. Of course he is going to forget lines and stuff.
He is not Emeril. He is not Rachel Ray. He is just a kid doing something he loves.
YES homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Children have to take standardized tests every year to make sure they are at the same level as their peers.
I knew someone who was homeschooled her whole life and she entered college and majored in bio-chemical engineering. She is now making a 6 figure income and is one of the smartest and most well educated people I know.
17He's a cutie but I doubt that I'd watch :|
18Wow I made it to 1 min 44 secs....painful. But then again, I don't really like kids that much to begin with unless they are kids I know personally, so there you go.
19i must of missed this in the oregonian! and i'm from there..lol. doesn't interest me. something for his memory box tho.
20to septemberlights:
the guidelines for homeschooling are different in every state. some states have more rigorous rules concerning curriculum, some are pretty lax. i've just never heard of ANY state that actually allowed SUCH an open curriculum like that.
i'm concerned about allowing a young child like that complete freedom to choose his learning path. everyone i knew who was homeschooled grew up and turned out fine, BUT their parents set the curriculum, not them. they did the standard math/science/reading/writing everyone else did, but their parents also included things like extensive art lessons and religious teachings. homeschooling itself isn't a problem, but leaving out major areas of study might be.
21I'm sure kids would probably watch it, which is probably a great way to get them to help in the kitchen. But I never could. Seriously, I can't even sit through 5 minutes of Dora the Explorer or Teletubbies w/o my brain turning to mush, but my nieces love it and I'm sure my nephew would watch this kids show and then begin to help out his mom.
22"Un-schooled" sounds like some fruit loop stuff to me.
So, he was scrambling eggs at 3? Yeah. . .I dont think I buy that. 3 year olds are so uncordinated, would it really be ok for them to be over a hot stove with hot pans?
And btw, he needs a hair cut.
23I think this is so stupid and a product of his parents trying to get in the spotlight. Can't people get over their own selfishness to protect their children?? ANy kid could watch this and think its okay to cook and go get burn or even worst!!! Why in the world would you let a five year old near an oven??? Who cares if he could cook he should be playing with play food not real food!! Yes put him on TV and teach other kids its okay to use the stove. This should be illegal. My daughter knows never to go near a stove, when she is 12 then maybe I will teach her to cook until then she is going to be a kid like she is suppose too.
24Nope, can't do it. Too many ums and smacks. That is so annoying. Cute kid that desperately needs a haircut! Oh well, mommy's great idea to get her kid and family rich! Good luck with that need some work.
25You are suppose to protect and teach your children right from wrong and its wrong for a 5 year old to teach other kids to play with fire and knifes. Oh you want a cooking show sure lets give you a cooking show, the people involved in this are really unintelligent. My daughter 4 year old tells me mommy, I want to go to space you don't see me calling NASA and making her the first 4 year old to go to space. Little kids have dreams that come and go, Hthat doesn't mean you decide their career for them at 5 years old and screw with their heads. His parents are mentally abusive for allowing a child to work at 5 years for their own satisfaction old, they should be arrested.
26While I see the cuteness factor, I don't see a real audience for this kid. Adults are going to cringe at the thought of him slicing or dicing anything and be too distracted to use his recipies. Kids are going to be instantly bored - Disney channel has their own personal chef. Better yet, turn off the TV and create new dishes TOGETHER! When I was 5, I was an excellent singer...for a five year old. Does that mean I signed a record deal? Of course not! This kid obviously has a passion, which is great, but exploiting it on TV is just going too far.
27I think there should be more editing to shorten it and the recipe is too elaborate to hold interest. The recipes should also be simpler in case other kids try to attempt the same, and instead chop off their finger, break dishes or set the kitchen on fire. Plus, because of its pace, I think they should show the dish first, THEN showing the kid make it. Perhaps that would hold interest longer.
28For one thing, my three year old is better in the kitchen than this five year old, but then my husband is a chef and we have involved our son in making meals for a while now. I assume this child was introduced to the kitchen/cooking early and his parents involved him, which is great - But not TV Show, let alone Cooking Show material! Although I didn't ready the full article, I've read the comments regarding Home-Schooling. Something I'm NOT a fan of, unless you happen to live in a very remote area and are unable to get your child to an actual school. I have known a few home-schooled kids, and an overwhelming majority of them are socially awkward. That is another very important reason to send your kid to school. (Another interesting note to those that I know are currently home-schooling … Most have only completed High School themselves. Even a person with a PhD in Education, I believe is not the best choice to school their own child. There are other things that “outsiders” have been trained to see in a child. Those things are often overlooked and/or clouded by parental bias and for me, a very important reason why not to home-school.
29Back to the cooking show – cute for about 30 seconds. I think even my three year old would be bored. But then one of his favorite things to make (with me) is Chicken Piccata. And about half the capers are eaten before they go into the sauce!
What a bunch of Whiny McComplainersons!
The kid's having fun.
30I got to the part where he introduced himself, and then had to stop watching to laugh hysterically for fifteen minutes.
31...But, hey, as long as the kid's having fun, there's really no harm in it, right?
You just won't catch me watching it unless I'm baked.
see cooking so easy a five year old can do it....sorry couldn"t help myself....next will be a show called "can you cook better than a five year old"
32Too many "Umms".....
33At 5:30, What's up with that?
Would never watch this show
Come on what the hell is this world coming to. If he wants to do cooking on tv let his parents tape it .Then they can sit and watch all they want. Do not bore us with things you think that your child is good at. Hell if that was the case i would put my neighbors child on. She seems to be pretty good at picking her nose.
34i dont know about you guys, but i would never let my five year-old use a knife and stove like this kid does. but all in all, really cute!
35I have to admit I read some of the other comments before I watched the video and thought some folks were being pretty harsh BUT I have to agree, although the kid is very cute, he is definitely not tv material. Too many umms. He shows the basics but not enough for another child to catch on if he were to mimic the recipe. The humming in the background was a little over the top and it looked like the kid was being coached, not to mention distracted by the person in the foreground with the camera. Cute kid. Not tv worthy. And regardless of any opportunity they think the child must have, education is a must for anyone over the age of 5.
36I think that it's great that he's advanced for his age. Most kids would not take an interest in something so grown up, or for that matter stick with something for so long. In addition it's wonderful how knowledgeable he is for his age about the subject. On the flip side, the homeschooling doesn't sound appropriate. Like some of the comments before mine say, homeschooling is ok if you have a curriculum and you have your child tested once a year to make sure he's up to standard with his peers like some states require. However, it sounds like the parents don't have a curriculum and let him learn whatever he feels like. This could have a negative impact on the child and leave him behind in his studies. Also, what about social interaction? Not being around kids his age could have a negative impact and leave him socially handicapped to dealing with people later in life.
37I have to agree that it seems forced. I think he must have a stage mommy. Couldn't stand all the smacking. I definitely wouldn't watch. Rather boring.
38Danger ,Danger! No way would I leave a sharp knife within reach of a child ,much less allow him to stand on a chair next to a stove. I think its' great that he can cook but let him use age appropriate tools.
39I'd encourage my 4 year old to check it out but I wouldn't watch it. I'd encourage the kid to practice on youtube until he becomes more refined at speaking on camera.
I don't know how homeschooling entered the conversation but considered that the USA is ranked near the bottom of the list with regards to academic excellence in westernized countries, I'm going to homeschool my own children as long as possible. Mexico has higher academic standards than we do and comparably, they are a very poor country.
40It will work, just need a LOT! of practice. and he needs an elder assistant, not really an adult but a much elder assistant, maybe someone in grades school. put music good editing it will be a good show.
41Sorry. Can't do a 5 year old with a cooking show.
42Maybe some one should contact the Food Network and see if they can add this clip to Diners Drive thru's and "DIVES" I bet Guy would not each that food after all of the finger licking. Best of luck Kid, maybe your future in the food industry should lean toward KFC... It's finger lickin good there.
43Maybe some one should contact the Food Network and see if they can add this clip to Diners Drive thru's and "DIVES" I bet Guy would not each that food after all of the finger licking. Best of luck Kid, maybe your future in the food industry should lean toward KFC... It's finger lickin good there.
44Maybe some one should contact the Food Network and see if they can add this clip to Diners Drive thru's and "DIVES" I bet Guy would not each that food after all of the finger licking. Best of luck Kid, maybe your future in the food industry should lean toward KFC... It's finger lickin good there.
45As cute as he is, I think that his parents need to put their feet down and let him be a child. He can go ahead and cook at home but why feed the precociousness. I know that I wouldn't watch this show because of all the lip smacking, the ums, and the obnoxiousness of it all. Later, when he is all grown up and able to speak at an adult level, he will be interesting but, by pushing him right now, he may be blowing his chance at stardom later on. Once a star dies, it may never be resurrected. Personally, this stinks a bit too much like the parents living their lives through their child.
46Okay, I'm a parent and this would even get on my nerves if it was my child. I made it to ummmmm about ummmmmm the chopping and had to stop the madness. The kid is cute but most are. And it doesn't really look as if this is his "passion" it looks as if he's a little puppet. And for the love of God I hope his parents decided to give him a learning path that includes all the basics a 5 year old does not have the mental objectivity to pick his own learning path. Cute for about 30 seconds and there is no way someone should but this on national tv.
47I realized my earlier response didn't explain where I got the homeschooling information. If you read the article about Julian in the Oregonian it says his parents homeschool him and let him learn whatever he wants to learn. Just click on the link below his picture above titled "5-year-old child who has his own cooking show" and it will take you to the article.
48julian is cute, but he does not know the recipe! he talks about other stuff like his house and not fully on cooking! and dude, stop eating tomato sauce! concentrate!
49I tried to watch this and couldn't, it looks too much like a home movie instead of something on a local channel. If they are thinking national TV, think twice. Youtube maybe, but only if they cut it down to a few minutes, he would need a lot more practice with his public speaking.
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