Incubator Kitchen

The Overbrook Environmental Education Center’s (OEEC) Incubator Kitchen is a fully licensed and certified, shared –use commercial kitchen for caterers, bakers, chefs, and specialty cooks who prepare healthier foods. The Incubator Kitchen is often referred to as a “Community Kitchen” (a food business incubator, or shared commercial kitchen).

The kitchen Incubator concept began gaining ground in the 1990’s when incidents of food –borne illnesses began to increase and health officials called for stricter food handling oversight. These kitchens gave specialty cooks and chiefs a designated place to prepare their meals while complying with local, state and federal regulations for food handling, preparation, labeling and distribution.

In low-wealth communities near the OEEC, there has always been a tradition of community cooking. The OEEC – Incubator Kitchen provides a safe and modern facility for preserving this positive community tradition.

An additional benefit of the OEEC-Incubator Kitchen is the culinary talent it attracts. The Overbrook Community has a growing demand for food practitioners who prepares “Healing Foods”. These are foods prepared with low sodium, lactose and dairy free, low sugar, and whole foods to stabilize diets and are increasingly used to promote healthier lifestyles.