The Premise
Hiya, I'm Monica. I just moved from Maine to New York to go to culinary school, but the best part is that I get to move in with my brother "Captain" Charlie (he's a pilot!) and help take care of my nephew and nieces, Colby, Pepper, and Cherry, in my family’s Brooklyn brownstone. (Wanna hear Monica's story in song form? Click here!)
The World: Gran's Kitchen & Pop Pop's Garden
You see, for many years my Gran baked out of our brownstone’s kitchen as Pop-Pop did magic shows for the neighborhood kids. I remember visiting them as a girl watching him practice his magic while she baked. “There’s magic in the mixing”, Gran would say, when presto! Pop Pop would pull chocolate chips out of thin air for me to munch on. Every time I use her utensils and recipes I find that maybe Pop-Pop’s magic was more than sleight of hand… but Gran and Pop Pop really were magic together.
Adjusting to life in the city hasn’t been easy, but something that helps me get through is my garden that once belonged to Pop Pop. He was known for his green thumb and would insist, “It’s my little bit of country in the big city,”– now it’s mine too. I can’t help but wonder if a little bit of Gran and Pop Pop’s magic managed to seep into the garden. Even in the dead of winter I’ll find fresh blueberries peeking out of the snow, apples hanging between icicles, and fresh basil and mint everywhere!
The Characters: Monica & Family
Monica
I’m studying to become a baker so I can open my own bakery—but don’t worry, I know how to make treats for everyone to enjoy, no matter the allergy or dietary restriction. It’s kind of my specialty ever since I moved in with my brother Charlie, his twins Colby and Pepper, and their little sister Cherry. Charlie says I’m quirky, but I think that’s a good thing since I love to laugh, especially at myself-- as I like to say, don't yuck on my yum! Who cares if I get the hiccups when I’m nervous or if I sometimes make a mess when I bake? I always clean up after myself, besides, I look good with a little flour on my nose! But maybe that’s just my quirkiness shining through…
My brother Charlie is an airline pilot, that's why I call him "Captain" Charlie (Cherry calls him 'Captain Daddy'- how cute is that?). I know being a single dad isn’t easy, but while he’s flying all over the world I get to take care of his wicked cool kids. He sends us back postcards with recipes from wherever he goes. Colby, Pepper, Cherry and I always look forward to baking the international treats and learning about cultures far and wide. Charlie often flies for non-profits, spreading as much good as he can. Remind me and I'll tell you about the time he asked me to help with a freedom flight to rescue some dogs -- No joke!
"Captain" Charlie
Last but not least, there’s my nephew and nieces. Cherry is the sweetest preschooler you’ll ever meet, and Colby and Pepper—they may be twins but there couldn’t be two more different first graders!
COLBY
Colby is street-wise and stylish, constantly teasing me for wearing polka-dots with everything. He’s the president of his school’s drama club and knows everything there is to know about New York City culture. Colby’s got a wicked sweet tooth, especially when it comes to chocolate. Sometimes he can be a bit of a show-off, but that’s where his sister Pepper comes in. She’s the yin to his yang; as Pepper would put it, she’s the right brain, while Colby’s the left. Colby may not be as scientifically minded as his twin, but he’s got flair to spare and sometimes his outside-the-box thinking saves the day!
PEPPER
Pepper knows just about everything there is to know (or so it seems!), whether it’s the NYC subway or how to solve a Rubik’s cube. Her mind in constant motion, not unlike Colby’s mouth. She’s a whiz when it comes to calculations and loves helping me bake by adding and subtracting quantities, and watching the chemical reactions. Pepper has Celiac Disease so she can’t eat anything with wheat gluten, which inspired me to make treats that everyone can enjoy together, and inspired her to become the science whiz that she is! She keeps telling me we have to try molecular gastronomy, but I’m still not quite sure what that means...
CHERRY
Cherry is Colby and Pepper’s baby sister, always tagging along and unable to contain her eager, “Me too!!”. Since she’s still learning to talk, she’s a bit quiet sometimes while others she’s a babbling brook. She always knows what she wants to say, even if it needs some translating when it comes out. More than anything else (except hanging with her siblings!) she loves airplanes like her dad and magic like her great-grandpa. She’s also often found with her toy Schnauzer “Princess Schnitzel” in tow.
Additional Information
EPISODE STRUCTURE: Each episode has a Social, Nutritional, and STEAM lesson, at least one original song and recipe, and an overarching problem to be solved in the course of the narrative (often through or with food). Best suited to either a 3-5 minute interstitial ‘mini-stories’ or a ‘full-length’ 11-minute story, it could also work at a longer runtime as well. In some episodes, the song may be presented within a fantasy sequence or contain such elements. Fun fact-- Monica’s recipes really are created by Monica Willey herself (an experienced chef and baker)!
SERIES STRUCTURE: Each episode effectively resets the world, though it’s possible big events or special episodes (such as Captain Charlie getting married or a new neighbor moving in) would affect future episodes.
Series Topics Could Include…
Allergies & Dietary Restrictions
Peanut-free
Dairy-free
Sugar-free
Gluten-free
Tree nut-free
Soy-free
Food Dye (EG, Red Dye)
Vegetarian
Vegan
Religious (EG, Keeping Kosher/Halal)
Social Topics
Tolerance
Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
Sibling Rivalry
Bullying & Teasing
Two Daddies/Two Mommies
Humility (Not Being a Show-off)
Gender Equality
Gender Identity
Problem Solving – Conflict Resolution
Cultural Differences
Manners/Respect
Body Image
Nutritional/Food Topics
The Science of Cooking
The Science of Eating
(How Food Feeds You/
You Are What You Eat)
Brain Foods
Moderation
Well-Balanced Meals
Substitutions
Why Sugar Makes You Hyper
Good Sugar vs. Bad Sugar
Eating Organic
Eating Local
Additionally...
Captain Charlie's Postcards will be additional content featuring traditions and foods from cultures across the globe
Additional Topics
Failure
Tell An Adult
Homesickness
Study Habits
Cheating/Lying
Jealousy
World Cultures
Self-Esteem
Loss
Sustainability
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
Secular and Religious Holidays
Cultural Foods & Special Traditions
Monica's Magical Minute will be additional content featuring a how-to recipe for the food featured in the episode