Food experts from the struggling South African hospitality industry are giving lessons and more during lockdown to raise funds for charity.
South Africa (16 April 2020) – Our Social Kitchen is a digital platform that was formed in response to the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the restaurant industry, both locally and globally. People in all spheres of the hospitality industry are suffering as first social distancing, and then lockdown measures, were implemented across the country.
The platform is a coming-together of foodies, fans and fellow professionals, in order to help an industry they feel passionate about navigate a time of crisis.
Since eating out is off the table, Our Social Kitchen gives chefs, bakers, mixologists, baristas and other industry experts in South Africa a stage on which to continue to do what they love. Food experts are live-streamed as they prepare a recipe of their choice in their own kitchens, and the community can interact with them, purchase their products or donate to listed initiatives. The audience is encouraged to ask questions, share photos of their own dishes, or nominate someone to take part.
The ultimate aim of this platform is to keep South Africa’s hospitality workers in front of their “audience”, albeit virtually, and hopefully to contribute in a meaningful way to help them get through this dire financial period.
The Our Social Kitchen initiative was started by Empire State, Arnold Tanzer from Food on the Move and Caroline McCann of Braeside Meat Market. Other sponsors that have helped to make this possible include Slow Food International.
Our Social Kitchen also serves as a fundraising initiative for Slow Food International and NOSH Food Rescue.
“We took a lot of things for granted before coronavirus spread across the world, forcing many of us into isolation and lockdown. A relaxed meal with friends in a favourite local restaurant. An afternoon lingering over tea and scones in the patisserie on the corner. Buying a loaf of crusty fresh bread on a Saturday morning from an artisan baker. Appreciating the heady aroma of a cup of coffee as the barista hands you your fix on a Monday morning. This is all, temporarily, gone. People in the food and hospitality industry are suffering. Your favourite restaurant or coffee shop may not see the other side of this pandemic.”
“We want to help as many people in these industries as possible. Because it is irresponsible to support our most-loved establishments in the old way, we have come up with a creative new way for you and your favourite food makers to interact. Our Social Kitchen is a platform to allow us to cook, make and share dishes with our favourite chefs, baristas, mixologists and bakers online, to support their craft, and to sit down at a virtual table to have a meal with the people we love.”
The food charities being supported by the platform are below.
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Slow Food International operates in over 140 countries, promoting good, clean and fair food for all while protecting biodiversity. One of their main campaigns is to create 10 000 food gardens in Africa – a project spear-headed locally by Themba Chauke. He is currently the Slow Food 10 000 Gardens project co-ordinator in Limpopo, where he has established 50 food gardens in the Vhembe District Municipality, in conjunction with Adopt A River. The aim is to raise sufficient funds to establish two food gardens every month, which feed 50 people a day in the most impoverished areas.
NOSH Food Rescue works with retailers and farmers to redistribute surplus food and produce to those in need. Run by Hanneke Linge, this organisation is currently in crisis as farmers having many tonnes of surplus produce as a result of the effects lockdown has had on the hospitality industry. In addition, there are millions of people who are now faced with lack of access to adequate nutrition. NOSH urgently requires resources to deliver the surplus food to the many who need it. NOSH is currently setting up an essential service hot-food distribution with various partners.
You can find out more about “Our Social Kitchen” via their website here or their Facebook here.
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