Shawn Conklin, Executive Chef at the Bowling Green, Ky. club, is helping 9-year-old member Hudson Lester explore his love of cooking. The two collaborated on an array of dishes for a recent event. “I had Hudson decorate the cheesecake, glaze the salmon – he painted the teriyaki sauce on there,” Conklin explains. “He also helped cut the pineapples and prepare the avocados.”

Shawn Conklin, Executive Chef at Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green, Ky., took a liking to a young member when he started at the club 10 months ago, WNKY reported. Hudson Lester, a 9-year-old has shown interest at pursuing a career in the kitchen and Conklin is nurturing that passion.

“He knows a lot of the celebrity chefs,” he noted of Hudson. “He’s very interested, and at that age it’s exciting to see someone who wants to be a professional chef.”

From the time he was 4 years old—over half his life—Lester already knew he wanted to spend his life in the kitchen, WNKY reported.

“I got into cooking because I watch a lot of chef shows and I’m into those, and I feel like I was just born with it,” Hudson said.

Hudson helped Conklin cook an array of dishes for Indian Hills Trivia Night, WNKY reported. The main dish served was baked pineapple salmon with teriyaki glaze and avocado sauce – a dish Hudson chose all on his own.

“I had Hudson decorate the cheesecake, glaze the salmon – he painted the teriyaki sauce on there,” Conklin said. “He also helped cut the pineapples and prepare the avocados.”

“[Chef Conklin] taught me a lot,” Hudson said. “He taught me where these dishes are and how to make them, and I feel like I could make them at my house if we have the ingredients.”