FAMILY PHOTOSRay Hudgins, host and waiter at La Castle.

At 12 years of age with more time at home as school is closed, Ray Hudgins is doing much more cooking than usual. Ray’s mother says he has been interested in cooking for a long time. “When he was very little my dad used to let him make pies and cakes with any ingredients he felt like putting together. He has been cooking for us food that we actually eat for about four years now.”

With his enthusiasm for cooking, Ray has pursued many ideas. He recently held a special dinner at his home, creating a restaurant setting which he called La Castle. His sister and her boyfriend were his special guests. Ray set up the affair as the owner, executive chef and waiter. A menu was printed. Ray gave one to each guest, and then he seated them.

Then Ray’s position and attire switched from host to waiter (“I have my own waiter’s outfit”). Then it was back to the kitchen and his status returned to executive chef. The menu read: “APPS - 1. ...