The Jewish Chronicle

Cooking up a feast for those with less

November 3, 2011 11:59
Participants at the Tikun cookery school

ByJessica Elgot, Jessica Elgot

1 min read

A new cookery class run by education charity Tikun will see all produce from the lesson distributed to the homeless and those in poverty.

Tikun's Jo Hyams, who co-ordinates the monthly sessions with Hayley Greenspan, said the aim was to combine volunteering with an enjoyable social occasion.

Ten people attended the second kosher-supervised class at Tikun's centre in Temple Fortune, making homemade red pepper and mixed vegetable soups with meatballs, egg mayonnaise sandwiches, shepherd's pie and stewed plum crumble. The class produced around 250 servings of soup and sandwiches, which will be distributed to the homeless. The hot meals went to the house of an anonymous donor, who provides hot meals for Jews living in poverty, catering to around 100 families.

Ms Greenspan, an experienced cook who previously ran the Tikun onsite café, said: "Everyone who came was really passionate, not just about cooking but about volunteering. We talked people through how to make everything completely from scratch. I'm a perfectionist.

"I wouldn't feel right making anything from a package. We made the crumble topping, the shepherd's pie ingredients, the sandwich fillings and the soup all from scratch."

Ms Hyams reported "a real mix of abilities, from mums who cook all the time to teenagers who needed some guidance. One of the men was so proud of making a crumble all by himself."

The next class takes place on November 23.