Wilton High School junior James Lillis calls the Trackside Teen Center kitchen his “lab.” There, he has experimented all year with original recipes, his most popular among Trackside students being the tasty buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. This Friday, June 6, for the first time, James will be sharing one of his scrumptious creations with the whole community at a Pop-Up Burger Bar.
James has been coming to Trackside since he was in sixth grade. Back then, he said, “it was just a place for me to find my people.” Since then, he has not only made close friends and built meaningful connections, but also blossomed creatively as a chef.
“I’ve always loved food,” James said. He started teaching himself how to cook around age 13, but he has honed his skills in the Trackside kitchen this past year.
“I never measure anything,” he said, tossing a just-right amount of salt in with his fries. Despite this, James has perfected a menu beloved by Trackside students, consisting of several signature sandwiches like The Korean Kick, The Honey Sriracha, and The Classic. His experience embodies Trackside’s motto: “for teens, by teens.”
The kitchen and cafe, said Trackside’s Executive Director Lori Fields, are “representative of our mission to empower youth to experiment, to try things.” James’ story is one of many inspiring, confidence-building teen experiences at Trackside.
“One of my favorite parts about cooking is cooking for other people,” he said.
In a post on social media, Fields raved about James’ culinary skills (and such newfound fame that he was being profiled in GMW). She wrote that it’s been a pleasure to watch the teen’s skills improve and “witness his ‘becoming’.”
“We have supported him, cheered for him, bought speciality ingredients, happily taste-tested and openly praised his abilities to anyone who has been close enough to see the magic firsthand,” she added.
The experience has earned him some other life skills as well.
“It should also be said that he shows up early, stays late and cleans up like a pro,” Fields said.
The community can support James and enjoy one of his mouth-watering burgers (served with tots and specialty sauces) on Friday afternoon, June 6 between 4-7 p.m. at his Pop-Up Burger Bar at Trackside Teen Center (15 Station Rd.)
Friday is also evidence that the Burger Bar won’t be Trackside’s last event open to the entire community. “This is the beginning of what other things we can do to both serve the community and empower the teens at the same time,” Fields said. “And I think it’s a really powerful combination.”