Behind the Story: How Oliver the Owl Became a Culinary Pro
My dad, Ken Weber | The White House Cafeteria Owner from 1968-2004
Ever wonder how a chef-owl came to life? Well, let me take you behind the scenes of Oliver the Owl and the culinary adventures that started with a little inspiration—and a lot of food! At the time I was dreaming up my first children’s book, I had just switched gears in my career. I went from working in human resources and waiting tables at a national restaurant chain to serving as a kitchen equipment customer account manager. Basically, I was up to my elbows in food service, so when I started thinking about creating a book, it was pretty clear—this owl was going to be a chef!
The real spark? My dad. He is the culinary pro behind the whole thing. I grew up in my parents’ restaurant, where food was life (and leftovers were my daily jam). Add a pinch of those memories and a dash of my own career experience, and suddenly, Oliver the Owl was born. A chef-owl who invites kids to have fun in the kitchen—what could be better?
Food Adventures from Borscht to Spaghetti Tacos
Growing up, my relationship with food was...let’s just say, different. While other kids were living their best boxed mac and cheese lives, I was over here eating leftovers from my parents’ restaurant. My dad’s borscht soup? I could eat that every day and never get tired of it. And don’t even get me started on cheesebuttons swimming in cream sauce. But those were rare treats because, thanks to the popularity of my parents’ scratch kitchen, they usually sold out before they could bring any home.
Flash forward to when I became a mom of four—my kitchen became the central hub for culinary chaos. My kids were always eager to help with everything from chopping veggies to stirring sauce. We even had Spaghetti Mondays and Taco Tuesdays on rotation, and the neighborhood kids knew exactly when to show up for dinner. We may have even tried spaghetti tacos once (thank you daughter, dearest). It wasn’t exactly a culinary triumph, but hey, they got a laugh from it!
So when it came time to whip up recipes for Oliver the Owl, I turned to my trusty list of kid-approved favorites. From yogurt parfaits to towering sandwiches (courtesy of my son), I wanted to make sure the recipes were not only fun but easy enough for little chefs to try with minimal help. Let’s be real—when kids help make the food, they’re more likely to eat it! That’s my experience, anyway!
Wholesome Adventures with a Side of Fun
At the heart of Oliver the Owl is the idea of bringing families together in the kitchen. I want my stories to be heartwarming and wholesome, with a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of "let’s try something new!" Whether it’s tackling a recipe or crafting something fun, I hope families use the books as a way to bond and have a good time.
Creativity plays a big role in every book, especially with the craft suggestions that go hand-in-hand with each story. And yes, I may or may not be trying to spark a lifelong love of cooking in the next generation of young chefs. Guilty as charged!
The Recipe for a Great Story
Each Oliver story starts with a real-life inspiration. The first book? All about my dad, the culinary master himself. The second book? Inspired by my mom and the magic of Christmas from my childhood. Knowing who I’m writing about helps guide the story, and when it comes to the recipes, I look to my own kids’ favorite meals—whether it’s my son’s meat-loaded sandwich stacks, my daughter’s healthy parfait creations, or the blended smoothies that powered dance practices.
There’s a lot more in store for Oliver and his friends as the series continues to grow. I’ve got plans to dive into bigger themes like diversity and overcoming challenges. But don’t worry—every story will still have that same heartwarming, feel-good vibe that keeps families coming back for more kitchen fun!
