Food for Soul announces next London community kitchen

Massimo Bottura’s non-profit organisation, Food for Soul, and the London Evening Standard have named St Cuthbert’s Centre in Earl’s Court as the site of its new community kitchen, Refettorio Felix.

The historic community space, which has played a pivotal role in helping to alleviate hunger and poverty for 25 years, will undergo an ambitious six-week makeover in order to reopen its doors on 5 June. In partnership with London Food Month festival, the venue will serve delicious meals created from surplus ingredients provided by The Felix Project.

With a mission to ‘prove the community cares’, St Cuthbert’s has acted as a drop-in centre for vulnerable people including rough sleepers, homeless and those facing issues of addiction and mental health. Not only providing a subsidised lunch service, the centre also offers support such as counselling, showers and clothes donations.

Charles Wainwright will be overseeing the centre’s extensive renovation which includes the installation of a brand new professional kitchen. Curating the interior design will be the award-winning Studioilse headed by Ilse Crawford. Her London-based studio is known for its human approach to design, creating environments where humans feel comfortable and at home.

This transformational project will allow Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert’s to provide an enhanced dining service in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Creating a beautiful space infused with art and design will help bring a new sense of dignity to the table, showing how aesthetics and ethics go hand in hand.

Stephen Milton, centre manager at St Cuthbert’s, commented, “We are incredibly excited to have been chosen as Food for Soul’s first pioneering Refettorio in the UK.

‘Witnessing the transformation of what was a rundown building in disrepair into a creative and beautifully designed kitchen space that’s modern and practical has been both stimulating and motivating.

‘This will have a fundamental impact on all those associated with the centre, not least our guests, and leave a legacy for our future by raising our profile and visibility in the community.”

A long list of eminent guest chefs will join Massimo Bottura (pictured) to cook at Refettorio Felix throughout London Food Month, in an effort to highlight the value of the space, the surplus ingredients and its daily lunchtime guests. Although the dining service is not open to the public, Refettorio Felix is calling on Londoners to help volunteer throughout June and beyond. There will also be an afternoon slot allocated to visiting the new space.

Thanks to its collaboration with London Food Month, Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert’s will gain £1 from every ticket sold for the festival’s Night Market held from 7-18 June at Perks Field, Kensington. The outdoor market will feature 50 diverse and exciting food stalls from London’s favourite chefs, restaurants and street food stars. Tickets are on sale from www.londonfoodmonth.co.uk.

After June, the combined impact of St Cuthbert’s long-standing experience, the food supply from The Felix Project and the ongoing support of Food for Soul will allow Refettorio Felix to provide a vital community service for years to come.