STILL COOKING: Former local residents Emily and Lyla Allen, known in the food world as The Kitchen Twins, will lead a streamed event to benefit the Arts Council of Princeton. Emily, left, and Lyla are co-authors of the book “Teen Kitchen.”
By Anne Levin
The last we checked in with Emily and Lyla Allen, better known as The Kitchen Twins, they were 13-year-old middle school students at Princeton Day School. Already veterans of such television programs as The Today show, Chopped Junior, and The Rachael Ray Show, they were getting ready to go to the International Housewares Show in Chicago, where they would demonstrate a line of pots and pans created by Michael Graves Architecture and Design.
That was four years ago. Now 17, the twins now live in Buffalo, New York, where they are high school juniors. On Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m., they will return to Princeton, virtually, with a streamed “cook-along” where they will take viewers through the steps to make a gnocchi dinner topped off with a chocolate dessert.
The event is “perfect for the whole family to enjoy together,” reads a release from the Arts Council. “Emily and Lyla are experts at creating healthy and delicious recipes from home.”
In the middle of AP exams, the twins were not available for an interview. But following their Instagram provides a glimpse into their lives. They play lacrosse. They got COVID vaccines. They take walks in the snow. They go on vacation. But mostly, they cook.
A different recipe is posted every day. Heavy on breakfast and sweet-tasting concoctions, they include such delectable-looking creations as pumpkin scones, banana pancakes, chocolate cherry granola, and double chocolate oatmeal. But there are also avocado toast, blueberry smoothie bowls, jackfruit toast, and loaded nourish bowls. Many recipes include substitutions for those who might be gluten-free, dairy-free, or looking for extra protein.
The girls started baking cookies with their grandmother when they were 3 years old. “And our parents were natural food entrepreneurs [who formerly sold naturally flavored waters and healthy snacks] so it just came naturally,” Emily told Town Topics in 2017.
“When we were 9, we entered a local competition and got first place.” “We were 10,” countered Lyla. “No, 9,” said Emily. After some good-natured back-and-forth, the girls agreed to disagree.
After joining forces with marketing officer Kelly Ford of Edison Partners, the twins’ career took off. Three appearances on
The Rachael Ray Show were followed by the spot on Today. “They came to our house,” said Lyla. “Sheinelle Jones interviewed us for a piece they were doing on young foodies.”
The now-teenage media stars’ most recent appearance on The Rachael Ray Show was a virtual one this past February, where they created recipes out of food they used to hate — white mushroom pizza and smoky eggplant fries.
They are also the authors of the book Teen Kitchen, a 75-page compendium of recipes they love to cook.
Registration for the Arts Council event includes the live tutorial and a downloadable, teen-friendly recipe guide. Tickets are $35
per household. All proceeds benefit the Arts Council, helping to close the fiscal gap created by COVID. Register at artscouncilofprinceton.org.