<
https://www.positive.news/society/the-restaurant-staffed-by-people-whove-experienced-homelessness/>
"It’s 4pm on a Friday, and the staff at Home Kitchen, north London’s buzziest
new restaurant, are prepping for another busy evening’s service. Front of house
workers are scuttling around polishing silverware and, in the kitchens
downstairs, ingredients are being sliced and diced for a busy night ahead. The
air is thick with the scent of sizzling meat and punctuated by the clinking of
cutlery and the chatter of reservations being taken over the phone.
Watching the glowing tableau, you’d assume Home Kitchen to be a fine dining
establishment like any other. Once the home of long-standing institution
Odette’s, the Primrose Hill eatery certainly has the plush interiors and
expertly curated seasonal menu to compete with London’s best.
But there’s more to Home Kitchen than meets the eye – or tickles the taste
buds. Not only is the restaurant run not-for-profit, but nearly all of the
staff members have experienced homelessness: a first of its kind in the
fine-dining industry. The project is run by a five-strong team, which includes
two-time Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds and Soup Kitchen London director
Alex Brown. Home Kitchen partnered with homelessness charity Crisis and social
enterprise Beam to fill eight kitchen and eight front of house roles, when they
opened their restaurant in autumn 2024. Other partners include the Beyond Food
Foundation, the Only A Pavement Away charity and fellow charity, The Passage.
Funded by a £500,000 crowdfunding drive and social investment loans, Home
Kitchen provides staff with a comprehensive package that’s designed to help
them avoid returning to homelessness. The 16 staffers are employed on full-time
contracts, paid at London Living Wage, have their travel cards covered for
zones one and two, and receive catering qualifications in addition to in-house
training."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
