On Saturday evening the Lyric Theatre on Barrack Street hosted the launch party for Kitchen Collective—a co-operative catering van that’s been newly refitted with £6,600 raised through crowdfunding.
The distinctive orange van bears the names of more than 160 crowdfunders who’ve made this innovative project possible, and many of them were there to be rewarded with the very first feast to come out of its new mobile kitchen.
The team of young chefs who’ll be using the van cooked up street food with a twist using fresh, local ingredients: bean and charred leek burgers with halloumi, carrot and beetroot salad plus Spring leaves – and on the side their own rhubarb ketchup and chilli sauce.
Chef Rosie Gilchrist said, “We’re passionate about using locally sourced seasonal produce. The beans for our burgers are called Badger beans, or Carlin Peas, and are UK-grown rather than the usual imported chickpeas. All the amazing veg we’ve used came from the organic Tamarisk Farm in West Bexington and the halloumi is from Monkton Wyld Court, near Axminster.”
Kitchen Collective will make its first public appearance at the Bridport Food Festival on Friday June 17 and Saturday June 18 – and it’s taking pitches at other Summer events as well as getting bookings for private parties.
Kitchen Collective also has ambitions to provide healthy takeaway food in Bridport as well as training opportunities for young chefs-to-be.
Project co-ordinator Jonny Gordon-Farleigh from Stir To Action said, “This is a community project, which has involved so much of the community from our crowdfunders to locals who have volunteered their skills to support the project. We are looking for new members to be part of the co-operative and get more local food on the streets of Bridport.”
Kitchen Collective can be contacted via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bridportkitchencollective/
