Tandoori and truffles

Not on the same plate, you understand, but these were the courses on offer last Friday, the final instalment of Filling the Gap N15’s pilot scheme part 1!  It was, in fact, tandoori chicken or paneer with brown rice pilaf and chocolate cake with truffle topping.

                                   

The stunning, sunny day enabled us to throw wide the backdoors so that the kids could enjoy racing around the yard before, during and after they had eaten.  We had fewer customers than in previous weeks, many folks were picnicking, I believe, but this enabled us to take time and discuss what had come before with some of our cornerstone attendees.  The response made me emotional to say the least, although I hope I hid it.  People want more! They want us to do it again and to keep doing it!  They complimented the food, the venue and the atmosphere.  Renee and I were bowled over, every bit of angst, juggling, staying up late, getting up early and trialling dishes with our sometimes reluctant families (‘Not this again, Mum’) was worth it.  Now we really feel like we have a business of our very own.  We have even had our first review, thank you very much; please take a look at the lovely blog of our lovely friend Rachel: www.londinimum.wordpress.com

Our deepest and most sincere thanks go out to everyone who attended and supported us in many and various ways this last month.  You are invaluable to us and not just as paying customers.  Ian and Rich, our encouraging and often patient hubbies, had even planned a congratulatory surprise dinner on Saturday night.  Bless them, they are both balding and lovely.  Rich had to tell me, however, because I am a control freak who in his words ‘doesn’t do well with surprises’.  Guilty as charged.

So with much happiness and much too much delicious Malaysian food in our bellies we have set about planning our next steps………………………drum roll……………………………………………………….

Filling the Gap N15 will be reopening in May 2012 for three dates only:

·         Friday May 11^th

·         Friday May 18^th

·         Friday May 25^th

@ Salvation Army Hall, Terront Road, N15

We hope to see you there.

You gotta give the people what they want!  Modest aren’t we!

Cat Women

Pushing a borrowed (now returned) Tesco trolley around your very own neighbourhood is an interesting experience to say the least.  Clunking with a deafening metallic rattle as the pans and tins collide with every bump in the uneven pavement, Renee and I have been hard to ignore when transporting bits from our houses to the Terront Road Hall.  Our neighbourhood being Haringey, there are one of two reactions from most passers-by:

1.       They are so conditioned to the general state of anything goes craziness that they look once and then consciously look away for the fear that we are in fact lunatics who have cats following us everywhere, much like that school teacher in ‘South Park’ (my flagrant use of stereotyping will be explained below)

2.       They laugh out loud and point!

I prefer option one, although it does raise some interesting thoughts about our perceived attitudes to homelessness in Haringey, hence my somewhat offensive use of generalisation.  No doubt we Londoners have learnt to ‘look away’ as a defence mechanism to avoid unpleasant confrontations or an even more unpleasant knuckle sandwich, but are we happy to just write people off if their behaviour or circumstances make us uncomfortable?  I think we are all guilty of that sometimes aren’t we?

This feels particularly resonant because on my way home from an amazing week three of the pilot, I met a man on my street picking through the wheelie bins which were awaiting collection, loading up his trolley with anything even barely edible.  I had some of our leftovers with me, and he accepted them with too much gratefulness, I ran home to get him some more food, but he was gone when I got back out.  I wish I had told him to come next Friday.  I am nothing short of grateful for the amazing, beautiful families who are coming to eat week in week out at our pilot, they are our bread and butter, no pun intended, but I’d really like us to be able to meet the needs of some of our other neighbours too.  I bet we could learn loads from each other.  If you know anyone who could use a good meal, free of charge, of course, if it is not within their means, send them along to us.

WHEN: FRIDAY 12 – 2

WHERE: TERRONT ROAD SALVATION ARMY HALL, N15

ASK FOR RENEE OR KATE

Sorry if I have disappointed anyone with my philosophical rant!  The title is misleading if you were hoping for references to the skin-tight lycra wearing DC femme fatale.  I can’t speak for Renee, but I look nothing like Halle Berry in, or out for that matter, of a catsuit, mores the pity.  Good job I can cook, eh!  (Just joking, I am a feminist, I promise)

All are welcome

Having learnt the tough ‘never say no’ lesson in week one of our pilot scheme, the doors were well and truly flung open last Friday!  We served around 50 people with healthy turkey or feta burgers and fudge cookies and I even got my husband to eat courgettes, so, all in all, I’d say it was a great success!

Renee and I were slightly daunted by the 44 pre-booked covers who promised to come, so when a few people arrived with friends and some ‘walk-ins’ stopped by, all hungry and expectant, we were bordering on hyperventilation.  Being the consummate professionals that we are, no one noticed, I hope, and we kept on serving.  To our surprise, no loaves and fishes style miracles were required, although I was very prepared to pray for such things, and everyone left  fed and happy.  Moreover, the atmosphere was brilliant; friendly, laidback and nothing short of energetic, as far as the kids were concerned.

It seems impossible that we are half way through and even more impossible that we should be thinking about what comes next.  One month on, one month off?  Pop-ups?  Events?  There are many possibilities and variables to be considered, one thing is for sure, we don’t want the buzz of interest to die.  Yet without funding the café will never get off its feet, not in any sustainable way anyway.  So it is back to the plans and applications processes, but with renewed vigour fuelled by the knowledge that Filling the Gap N15 can be a success.  There is most definitely a market, clients and a gap that we can fill!

Looking to break our current record this Friday, so if you feel like coming along……………………….

Crocodiles!

My Dad has this great saying, which seems to apply to any number of situations:

‘When you’re up to your arse in crocodiles, it’s difficult to remember that the original idea was to drain the swamp’.

I freely admit that my butt is feeling a little snapped at just now!  I put this down to two things:

1)      The fear of the unknown which is manifesting itself in my terror that I will actually have to use my recent first aid training during the pilot scheme!

2)      The rather more realistic reminder that being a full time Mum with a part time job is a very tricky juggle – not sure how I managed to forget that!

So here I am, blogging to remind myself of the ‘original idea’………….

We, the families of this side of the glorious borough of Haringey, do care about what we eat and are tired of having to schlep to Crouch End to get a kiddy friendly, healthy lunch.  We also don’t want to spend a fortune for the privilege.  Yes, that’s it, that’s the reason.

Throughout this pilot and beyond, Renee and I are setting out to create the kind of place that we would want to share lunch with our families and friends, eating healthy, reasonably priced food.  Now that I think about it, I really believe that Friday was the first step towards this dream becoming a reality.  There was a fun, friendly atmosphere; kids were playing, good food was eaten and enjoyed.

Naturally we are eager to fulfil our agreement with Fareshare and use food rejected by supermarkets to create our dishes, thus reducing waste and promoting seasonal eating.  It is all part of the dream, but sadly this will not be possible until we open our doors on a more permanent basis.  Yet, reflecting on it all, I am reminded that this is possible and the pieces of our seemingly unmanageable jigsaw are already beginning to fit together.  It’s good to remember who we are and why.  Ok, now I feel excited, so the crocodiles can get lost! 

We are still taking bookings for March 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd if anyone is interested.  We are at Terront Road Salvation Army Hall, N15, doors open at 11.30, food served from 12 – 2.

Here’s what we will be serving:

March 9^th: Healthy turkey burgers with Turkish bread and roasted vegetables or feta and courgette patties with Turkish bread and roasted vegetables.  Fudge cookies for dessert.

March 16^th: Butternut squash risotto with or without bacon, served with salad or green veg.  Cranberry muffins for dessert.

March 23^rd: Chicken casserole with bulgur wheat pilaf or tandoori tofu skewers.

Sponge pudding and custard for dessert.

We would love to see you there.

Totally Amazing

Last Friday afternoon I was left elated and emotionally exhausted after the first pilot session.  It all went rather well, if I do say so myself. 

The food was delicious, thanks to Renee and the clientele were the finest and most supportive local friends and family we girls could ask for.  THANK YOU.  Nothing would have worked without the mad skills and constant assistance of Julie, Giuliana and Jenai, who did anything and everything they were asked and more. 

Can’t wait to do it all again this week.