Chef Ralph spoke with Amplify’s Tara Vargas Wallace. Check the end of this post for how to contact Chef Ralph!

"Hospitality is an art form,” says Chef Ralph Jason Younger. “And food is a catalyst to understanding so many different cultures. Fun, unique, and soul filling foods allow a peaceful feeling for people to gather and break bread. It’s in those bites, and moments, that people become willing to hear another person’s point of view. Every table I set, every meal I provide, is to be enjoyed without judgment or offending the people who have gathered."

With a background in the culinary arts and business, Ralph initially launched Simply Black & White Catering. When his then partner decided to go back to school, Ralph became a stay-at-home Dad for their two children and launched My Daddy Wears an Apron, to focus on helping families and kids. Leaning into his exceptional talents as a host and event designer, Chef Ralph's original company has now grown into SBW Hospitality Management & Events, offering elevated dining and hospitality experiences as well as (during Covid) beautifully curated boxes of hand-crafted appetizers. Meanwhile, thanks to a sponsorship from the Kennedy-Donovan Center (KDC), his Daddy empire has branched out into online cooking classes for people of all abilities, and given him a platform to share his hard-earned wisdom about cooking with young ones, single dad challenges, and navigating life stages like co-parenting. The free sessions often have him “chef it up” with his own kids.

"I believe in the idea that love and acceptance sees your color, your gender, your sexual orientation, your pain, and your struggle. When you love and accept people, you will ultimately witness their passion, their joy, their dedication, and their ability to grow. I will only speak positive affirmations and allow my children to grow in a space that makes sense only to them. I will build them up so they don't have to tear other people down. And I will expose them to every type of person or ideology so that they can choose their own paths.”

The free online culinary workshops happen biweekly via Zoom (registration info below) — the recipe and instructions arrive before the session so you can be ready to cook along. The sessions dispel two persistent misperceptions: That only women belong in the kitchen, and that Black fathers are inactive in the lives of their kids. Every two weeks, Ralph dons an apron and actively teaches his own children culinary skills and the life lesson of kindness towards people with all abilities.

Chef Ralph’s family & kids food repertoire is mind-boggling, spanning culinary cultures and all levels of entertaining, from modern takes on fancy classics (chicken cordon bleu with spinach rollups, apple sausage and veggie quiche, spanakopita, strawberry biscuit shortcakes) to backyard camping (southwestern egg rolls, sweet corn and chorizo fritters with garlic aoli, chicken pot pie crescent cups, classic shepherd’s pie, smores quesadilla) to movie night with the family (homemade baked mozzarella sticks, Latin American chicken nachos a.k.a. tostones con pollo, pizza rolls, pigs in a blanket, fruit kabobs, fruit pizza, and even taco-stuffed pepper mummies for Halloween).

And not surprisingly, Chef Ralph extends his generosity of talent and spirit to the greater community as well. He often caters for exceptional non-profits like the YMCA and Calmer Choice. "There is no room for hate for me! We can agree to disagree and keep it moving. I will accept you for who you are now and who you still may become.” — Tara Vargas Wallace

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SBW Hospitality Management & Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBWCatering

On Instagram: @simplyblackandwhitecatering

My Daddy Wears an Apron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mydaddywearsanapron

On Instagram: @mydaddywearsanapron

Register for free culinary workshops with Chef Ralph: sdeschenes@kdc.org.