New Orleans JCC
MENU
Welcome to the Culinary Department at New Orleans JCC- Uptown. Launched in May 2024, the new Culinary Department serves a wide range of people. Providing lunches to Summer Camp and Early Childhood Center, operating the J Cafe all-year-round, serving out of this word lunches for our Active Adult programs, catering our annual Center Celebration, delivering a menu that satisfies the fit and fun crowd, serving food to birthday parties, monthly The Center's Table event where you see our Chefs in action, training the next generation of chefs, and adults can take cooking classes too.
All of this is made possible by our in-house chefs, Chef Jeff McLennan, Food Service Manager, and Chef Reed Eldridge, Assistant Food Service Manager, who are the geniuses behind this departments immediate success.
So take a look through the difference sections and see all that our Culinary Department has to offer!
Learn new skills, enhance your at-home cooking, or simply enjoy learning from the best chefs in New Orleans—our very own Chef Jeff McLennan and Chef Reed Eldridge. Each week will spotlight a specific culinary technique, providing hands-on instruction and expert tips to elevate your cooking. This class is designed for ages 18 and up.
Tuesdays | 5:00pm - 6:30 pm
Member price $50 | Non-member price $62
| March 11 | Israel Night | Focus on a variety of authentic, Israeli foods as we celebrate Adloyadah(Purim) |
| March 18 | DIY Pasta Night | Focus on making pasta from fresh. |
| March 25 | Fish Night | Focus on different ways of cooking a variety of fresh fish. Sear, poach, and bake! |
| April 1 | Bread Night | Focus on making a variety of breads from scratch - pita, pizza dough, and Chef Jeff's special focaccia. |
| April 15 | Spring Rolls Night | Focus on making kosher spring rolls, learn to julienne ingredients, and make secret sauces. |
In this culinary arts class, Future Chefs, youth ages 10+ can learn from New Orleans JCC Chef, Jeff McLennan, as he inspires the next generation of chefs! Each week, your child will learn an exciting new skill, building confidence and creativity in the kitchen.
Tuesdays | 5:00pm - 6:00 pm
Member price $40 | Non-member price $50
See the previous schedule from Spring 2025. Stay tuned for fall dates!
| Knife Skills Night | Learn the basics of knife skills, safety, and a variety of cutting techniques (using kid-friendly cutlery). |
| King Cake Night | Learn how to make the famous King Cakes! |
| Basics of Grilling Night | Learn the basics of grilling! Veggies, beef hot dogs, burgers, and more! |
| Homemade Chicken Fingers Night | Learn how to make chicken fingers from scratch! |
| Stuffed Ravioli Night | Learn how to make stuffed ravioli from scratch! |
| Pizza Night | Your child will leverage what they've learned in previous weeks and put their spin on making an epic pizza. |
Come and enjoy a culinary experience as you eat a three-course meal with our Head Chef, Jeff McLennan, and Chef Reed Eldridge, as they demonstrate how the meal is made, giving you tips and tricks, plating techniques, and expert-level insight to the food. Held once a month, this program is designed for ages 18 and up.
Thursdays | 6:00pm - 7:30 pm
Member price $50 | Non-member price $62
| February 13 | Couples Night | A special event for couples that ties into Valentine's Day! |
| March 13 | Adloyadah Night | Celebrate Adloyadah(Purim) by eating an amazing themed menu around the holiday! |
| April 24 | Southern Night | Features a menu inspired by Chef Jeff's deep experience in Southern cooking! |
Everyone is welcome at New Orleans JCC's J Café. Whether you are a first-time visitor, attending a New Orleans JCC program, coming for a meeting or needing a place to get some work completed, dropping a child off for school at the Early Childhood Center, volunteering in any capacity, or simply need to recover from a great workout - the J Café is the place for good food, great conversation, and free coffee!
New Orleans JCC offers a variety of spaces to enjoy your selections from the cafe:
HOURS
Open Everyday 9am - 2pm
Monday - Thursday 4pm - 7:30pm
.png)
Please email Chef Jeff McLennan, jmclennan@nojcc.org, to discuss any catering opportunities. He can make anything!
Stressed? If you're feeling it, chances are your child is feeling it too. You know the signs; when your mind starts racing and your heartbeat starts racing, your tendency is to get louder and faster. But what you and your body and your child need is for things to slow down and start making sense.
...
Members can now access Online Member Services on mobile devices by downloading the New Orleans JCC app in the App Store or Google Play.
...