DinnerTime, a brand new community kitchen idea, is up and running in Oxfordshire. The pilot event, put together by OxGrow, CAG, the Oxford Food Bank and Oxford Food Justice, took place on Sunday 13 November at the Student Hubs building on Turl Street, Oxford.
Combining a delicious way to reduce food waste with a great excuse to bring a community together, DinnerTime is a celebration of food, family and friends. The idea is to reclaim food in your community by making and sharing a meal together, reducing the amount of food we throw away and maybe gaining a new skill along the way. Plus it’s absolutely free!
The next step is for groups and individuals to take the model into their own communities. From equipment and food to publicity and venue, comprehensive support is available for anyone excited by the idea of bringing their community together over a hot stove.
The first event was a roaring success, with over 35 people of all ages and backgrounds attending. Some fantastic dishes were created, including sweet brussel sprout risotto, Spanish omelette, caramelised onion hummus and rice pudding.
The day is split into sections, with people free to come and go as they please:
Hunt & Gather
Bring food you don't know what to do with. This could be tins you’ve had in the back of the cupboards for ages, spare vegetables, pulses, herbs and spices, left over apple crumble, etc. Generally, anything that’s edible and too good to throw out.
Lets get cooking!
Come and help prepare the meal, this is where the fun begins! Make something yourself, lead a group or simply give a helping hand. There is plenty of cooking equipment and DinnerTime chefs on hand to give advice. All ages and abilities welcome!
DINNER TIME!
Sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labour; taste new things, have a natter, meet new people. Any food left over can be either taken away (bring some Tupperware if you like), donated or, if all else fails, composted.
Film
Relax after a hearty meal with a hand-picked film, or get a drink from the bar and carry on chatting.
For more information, and for help organising your own community kitchen, contact Peter Lefort on 07903037290 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .