Cooking for more
Although born and raised in Thailand, and moved from Los Angeles to Bowling Green, Anna Kulka discovered a new way to combine her love for teaching and learning about different cultures. She was able to create a space where community and culture come together through cooking.

Anna Kulka explains what the class is making and the cultural history behind the food.

Like most creations, it all starts with a dream and a passion. Little did Anna Kulka know, but a casual conversation with some friends would turn her next big idea into a reality.

Kulka was born and raised in northeast Thailand, but in 2022, she moved to Bowling Green from California with her husband, Dustin. The two of them moved primarily for his job, but they also had friends living there and wanted more of an affordable place to live.

“The first time I was in the United States, I was 11, even though both of my parents are American citizens, I have had a little bit of an immigrant story,” Anna said. "I have been studying Spanish since fifth grade and started Arabic in college. When I went to school in Los Angeles, I very much enjoyed the fact that it was a large, very diverse location.” 

Anna Kulka, owner of The Food School, welcomes new people to her cooking class. The Food School is a place where people can explore the art of cooking international cuisines, while having a good time and it all started with Anna's love for teaching, food and Thailand.

After her son Samuel was born, Kulka stepped away from full-time work as a high school teacher. She didn’t think it made sense for her to continue working a full-time, 9-5 type of job, but was now on the lookout for what to do next.

What started as a casual conversation over a potluck evolved into The Food School, which officially launched in September 2024.

“We started kicking around options,” Anna said. “I could tutor! I love tutoring. What could I offer? Another friend said, what if you taught restaurant Thai? Like, where we learn to make Thai food and learn a few Thai words? Soon enough, a crazy idea on somebody’s back porch became a business.”

The final product at a Brazilian cooking class. It included a creamy chicken strogonoff, pão de queijo, and brigadeiro.

Anna Kulka gets ready to demonstrate what people in the class should be doing. The Food School is a place where people can explore the art of cooking international cuisines, while having a good time and it all started with Anna's love for teaching, food and Thailand.

The Food School offers hands-on cooking classes that showcase a different culture in each class and Anna works alongside her food partners and assistant, Hannah Hudson.

“We are not a culinary institute,” Anna said. “We are just a bunch of home cooks learning what dinner looks like from around the world.”

Anna Kulka writes down future class dates at a Staples Community Event on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Manuela Pegues, Anna Kulka’s German Food Partner, seasons thin sliced center cut pork chops to make schnitzel. Anna gets her recipes from various Food Partners in Bowling Green. These are people from different countries who might be her neighbors or someone she meets while running errands.

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Anna Kulka writes down step by step instructions on how to make German foods at Manuela Pegues home.

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Manuela Pegues (left) and Anna Kulka share a meal after Kulka learned how to cook schnitzel. Anna learns from them firsthand how to make something and then teaches others how to do the same.

“More than anything, I want them (cooking class participants) to have a good time experiencing something new. My hope is that this will help tear down barriers between people and make everyone more comfortable interacting with people outside of their own culture.”

- Anna Kulka, Owner of The Food School

Anna Kulka cooking in her home with The Food School Assistant, Hannah. The two were preparing for their Salvadorian class.

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Anna Kulka cooking in her home with The Food School Assistant, Hannah. The two were preparing for their Salvadorian class.

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