Sticky Notes - Sticky Fingers Cooking® Is Now in NYC

What kind of bagel can fly?
A " plane" bagel
Where did the math teacher like to hang out in the Big Apple?
Times Square.

Sticky Fingers Cooking® is thrilled to announce our expansion into Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, and to introduce Khalil Hymore who’s joined us at full sizzle! With over 15 years of experience as a recipe developer, culinary content creator, and food media pro, Khalil is bringing his passion and expertise to leading Sticky Fingers Cooking in NYC—nurturing a whole new generation of kid chefs.

From Food Network to Kids' Cooking Classes in NYC

Originally from California, Khalil is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan, and has cooked up content for MTV, VH1, Martha Stewart Living, Bon Appétit Magazine, and Food Network. As a seasoned chef, he’s developed recipes and food stories for millions. But after years in media, something was missing.

“Nothing was sparking joy,” he said. “I knew I wanted to pivot—I just wasn’t sure how.” That changed when he struck up a conversation at school pick-up with fellow parent Jenny Young, founder of Brooklyn Robot Foundry. “I told her, ‘I want to do what you do, but cooking,’” Khalil recalled. And she said, ‘That exists—and they are amazing!’”

That “amazing” turned out to be Sticky Fingers Cooking. And we’re so glad he found us. “Khalil’s incredible talent, passion, and warmth perfectly embody everything Sticky Fingers Cooking® stands for,” said founder and CEO Erin Fletter. “He has unbelievable culinary expertise, creative vision, and a genuine love for giving back to the city he adores. Khalil’s passion and drive are truly contagious—I’m absolutely confident he’ll build a thriving, joyful business and create a lasting impact in New York.”

Cooking with Kids in the City That Never Sleeps

“New York is a working-class city,” Khalil says. “Yes, there’s wealth, but it’s also full of families who rely on after-school programs,” “I want to be the best part of a kid’s day.” He’s especially passionate about helping kids see themselves in what they make. “New York is the most diverse city in the country. When a child sees their culture represented in the classroom—it matters. It teaches empathy and belonging.”

Cooking as a Love Language

As a dad of two kids (ages 10 and 14), Khalil deeply values the role food plays in family life. Growing up with German and Lebanese roots, he learned early on that cooking was a language of love in his household.

“If you can’t say it, you cook it,” he said. “I think the thing my family taught me about cooking is it’s the way you show affection, care, and concern for others.”

That idea—that food can speak where words fall short—comes alive in his classroom too. One recent moment in the classroom left a lasting impression. While students were making Sweet & Cheesy Ukrainian Blintz Bundles, Khalil overheard a spontaneous conversation between two students:

“One kid said, ‘Blintzes are like crepes from France, which is like the pancakes my family makes,’ and another chimed in, ‘Tortillas are kind of like pancakes too!’”

For Khalil, it was a glimpse of how food invites connection and makes room for shared understanding. “That moment—that's what Sticky Fingers Cooking® is all about.” Learn more about Khalil here.