Daniel Jones knows his way around the kitchen. "I like everything that I cook," he said. Tablespoon Cooking Company has been on the map in Over The Rhine for about five years. Daniel has been there for three of them. You could say he's a seasoned chef. "He came in, he interviewed with me. He says I hired him on the spot, which is true. He started shortly thereafter," said owner Jordan Hamons. She describes Daniel, or Dan as many call him, as caring and genuine. Spend no more than a minute with him and it's easy to see why. "My favorite thing about coming into work is to see everybody and I just like their smiling faces cause it makes my day a lot better," Daniel said. "They've just opened his whole world up and taught him so much which has helped his independence," said Daniel's mom, Tracy Jones. "Jordan over here helped me and showed me how to work in a setting that... how you work with coworkers and different people. Yeah, Jordan is the highlight of my day and that's why I like to cook," said Daniel. Hamons said he's the unofficial cheerleader — a built-in morale booster. "I've been so proud of our team and how everyone here goes out of their way to include Daniel, to help Daniel, to assist Daniel," Hamons said. Dan's mom is proud of the growth and confidence she's seen in her son. And, what his co-workers see in him. "They don't see what Dan can't do. They see what Daniel can do and... that's fabulous," Tracy said. "Daniel does important work here. He's not just here for fun. He is a key member of our team," Hamons said. He's picked up skills along the way in his three-year career. "I learned knife skills. That's most important. You don't need to lose a finger while you're cooking," said Daniel. He's now paying it forward, teaching cooking classes and passing on the skills he's learned to other individuals with Down Syndrome. Tablespoon also recently won an award from LADD, a local nonprofit that provides services to adults with disabilities.
Daniel Jones knows his way around the kitchen.
"I like everything that I cook," he said.
Tablespoon Cooking Company has been on the map in Over The Rhine for about five years. Daniel has been there for three of them. You could say he's a seasoned chef.
"He came in, he interviewed with me. He says I hired him on the spot, which is true. He started shortly thereafter," said owner Jordan Hamons.
She describes Daniel, or Dan as many call him, as caring and genuine. Spend no more than a minute with him and it's easy to see why.
"My favorite thing about coming into work is to see everybody and I just like their smiling faces cause it makes my day a lot better," Daniel said.
"They've just opened his whole world up and taught him so much which has helped his independence," said Daniel's mom, Tracy Jones.
"Jordan over here helped me and showed me how to work in a setting that... how you work with coworkers and different people. Yeah, Jordan is the highlight of my day and that's why I like to cook," said Daniel.
Hamons said he's the unofficial cheerleader — a built-in morale booster.
"I've been so proud of our team and how everyone here goes out of their way to include Daniel, to help Daniel, to assist Daniel," Hamons said.
Dan's mom is proud of the growth and confidence she's seen in her son. And, what his co-workers see in him.
"They don't see what Dan can't do. They see what Daniel can do and... that's fabulous," Tracy said.
"Daniel does important work here. He's not just here for fun. He is a key member of our team," Hamons said.
He's picked up skills along the way in his three-year career.
"I learned knife skills. That's most important. You don't need to lose a finger while you're cooking," said Daniel.
He's now paying it forward, teaching cooking classes and passing on the skills he's learned to other individuals with Down Syndrome.
Tablespoon also recently won an award from LADD, a local nonprofit that provides services to adults with disabilities.
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