City Schools Cafe

I’m Ken Crampton, (Artist, Musician and Chef)

All my life, I have been an artist and a cook!  I was born the first Grandchild in 1970; both my Grandmothers were Artists, and both were cooks, too.  Many afternoons were spent exploring artistic mediums (drawing, painting, sculpture, and pottery) and rewarding ourselves with delicious meals and treats!

My Mother's Mother was German, so I got to experience traditional German Cuisine! As a teen, I was in charge of helping my sisters with their schoolwork and meals as I was the eldest and had to assist my Mother in parenting duties in a single-parent household.  My first job was working in multiple Pizzerias and later for some of the classic restaurants in downtown Fredericksburg (Sammy T's, Irish Brigade (original), Kenmore Inn, and later working with BK, building out and writing the original recipes and menu when we Opened J Brian's Taproom many years ago).   It was a perfect combination of having an artistic eye to apply to the culinary arts I was cooking! I always focused on the taste, the colors (presentation), and nutritional values.  And I never fell into the starving artist category.  I went on to be the president of the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, created a collective of younger artists that put on shows in abandoned spaces downtown, cleaned and painted the spots, had an art show, and then moved on.  We then made a home in the shops at 810 Caroline, where I opened Eyeclopes Studios, starting as an art studio collective to one of the largest gallery spaces in downtown Fredericksburg. It was there I created the First Night Pear that I lowered at the stroke of midnight for over 15 years.

Later in life, I joined the School Nutrition team! I ran into my "old friend" BK downtown, and he shared with me his vision and how he had been building a food truck for the department.  I was sold! I've always done good in the community with my art, having a gallery that featured local, regional, and traveling artists, and while a potter, I helped early on with the soup bowl project. Feeding children seemed like an obvious need, as we know a hungry child is a challenged learner, not to mention the behavioral problems accompanying nutritional neglect.  Working with the team, I was allowed to help brand each of our kitchens and even help with the food truck wrappings that give our department its distinctive look!  When the pandemic hit, we never stopped; we had three food trucks by then and hit the neighborhoods, helping to feed the youth! For it is in our children that we see tomorrow's leaders, scientists, healers, and future!  Now, as I work in the program, we are educating ourselves on the various nutritional needs to provide a balanced meal to help cope with the various needs of our unique individuals and community.  Being a School Nutritionist at WGMS is a satisfying role as we (my crew and I) create traditional meals as well as new sandwiches and entrees that will hopefully help the children explore new foods as they grow older and integrate into society, making healthy choices to fuel their bodies and minds!