Community Kitchens consist of a group of people who get together on a regular basis to cook healthy, low cost meals. Each kitchen is set up a little bit differently, to whatever best meets the needs of the participants. Groups may focus on basic food skills, while others may focus on a certain type of food or cooking technique. Kitchens can be based around the interests and needs of the group as well as food preferences or dietary restrictions.
Benefits of Community/Collective Kitchens:
Community Kitchen workshops are a great way to learn skills that may seem a little intimidating to try on your own. Follow along with an experienced instructor as they teach you skills that you will be able to then use at home to feed your family and friends. You will be able to take home a portion of what you have prepared at the workshop.
Workshops are typically held on Saturdays. The average cost to participate in a workshop is $10/person.
Workshops:
Make a plan to attend with friends for a fun and informative outing! Check our website homepage and Facebook page to find out when our next workshops are running and be sure to register early if you are interested in participating as space is limited.
CFCA COMMUNITY KITCHENS - THESE KITCHENS ARE OPEN TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY
Community Kitchens are held at the Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub located at 440 Maple Avenue SE. Community Kitchens are open to anyone in the community. You can expect to prepare 2-3 recipes and food is taken home in containers that are brought by the participant. There is no cost to participate in this kitchen. Children ages 10+ are welcome to participate providing they are supervised by a parent or guardian. You must contact the kitchen leader to let them know you are planning on attending so that they have adequate ingredients for recipe preparation.
Stacy & Kelsey's Community Kitchen
Dates & times: 6-8pm on the dates below
April 11
May 9
June 20
Contact: Stacy Bowery stacybowery38@gmail.com or Ph. (587)253-1724
Jocelyne & Jill's Community Kitchen
Dates & times: 4:30-6:30pm on the first Tuesday of each month.
Contact: Jocelyne Bouvier joce.bouvier@gmail.com or Ph. (403)502-0986
Cooking with a Councillor
Dates & times: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesdays from April 19th to May 17th
Join retired MHPS Police Chief and current City Councillor, (and cooking enthusiast) Andy McGrogan, to learn basic kitchen and cooking skills. This kitchen will run for 5 weeks and will include topics such as cleanliness and safety, knife skills and care, basic flavours for cooking, how to carve various cuts of meat, basic sauces, and various cooking methods. There is no cost to participate in this kitchen but we do require you to commit to all 5 weeks as space is in demand and limited to 8 participants. To register, please contact Alison with your name, phone number, and email address at communityfoodconnections@gmail.com.
Smoking Hot Cooks! Big Cook Kitchen
Dates & times: 2-3 Saturdays per year. There is a significant cost associated with this kitchen. For more information click through the link or contact the coordinator, Annie Anderson at annieanderson@telus.net
AGENCY LED KITCHENS - THESE KITCHENS ARE OPEN TO CLIENTS AND USERS OF THESE AGENCIES OR PROGRAMS
Bridges Family Programs Kitchen
The participants take home multiple servings as well as having a chance to get to know one another better by having a sit-down lunch to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This kitchen is open to Bridges clients. Childcare is provided.
Location: Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church - 476 4 Street SE
Time: 9:30am-12:30pm on the third Thursday of the month
Contact: Ph. (403)526-7473
Nurture Pregnancy Centre
Menu planning, budgeting and cooking are all covered in a community kitchen open to those who attend the Centre. This kitchen is open to Pregnancy & Family Support Centre registered participants. Childcare is provided for children ages 0-2.
Location: Pregnancy & Family Support Centre - 321 6 Avenue SE
Time: 1pm on the third Tuesday of the month.
Contact: Ellen Webb mhpsc1@telus.net or Ph. (403)504-8560
Saamis Immigration Services Cultural Kitchen
This kitchen is for newcomers to Canada and community volunteers, who are interested in sharing their cultural cuisine as well as learning to adapt their recipes to readily available Canadian produce. This kitchen is open to newcomers to Canada.
Location: Saamis Immigration Services - 659-3rd Street SE
Time: Call the number below to find out when the next kitchen is being held.
Contact: Aide Hilsendeger aide@saamisimmigration.ca or Ph. (403)504-1188 ext.105
Food First Culinary Experience - Medicine Hat & District Food Bank
The Food First Culinary Experience is a community kitchen program that teaches families the skills needed to prepare healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. It also addresses poverty with innovation and long-term solutions.
Contact: The Food First Culinary Experience is open to all members of the community to apply, and can be done by filling in an application form at the Food Bank or by calling 403-528-4313 ext. 1.
Medicine Hat College Residence Kitchen
The student participants cook and share a meal and then divide the remaining food to take home. This kitchen is open to Medicine Hat College students living in residence.
Location: Medicine Hat College Residence Common Room
Time: 4-6pm last Sunday of the month during the academic year
Contact: Emily Johnson parahoniak@mhc.ab.ca or Ph. (403)394-5434
Miywasin Teen Kitchen
The Miywasin Teen Kitchen runs two Fridays a month from 4-7pm. This kitchen is open to new members.
Location: Miywasin Centre - 517 3rd Street S.E.
Contact: Carol Syrette carolsyrette@gmail.com or Ph. (403)526-0756
BeYouth Community Kitchen
The BeYouth Community Kitchen runs Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with food preparation starting at 4:30pm and the meal served at 5pm.
Location: BeYouth Centre, #102 1210 Kingsway Ave SE
Contact: Amanda Sears amanda.sears@beyouth.ca or Ph. (403)528-8068
Redcliff Youth Centre Kitchen
This kitchen is run out of the Redcliff Youth Centre and allows the youth who access the centre a chance to learn how to cook.-
Location: Redcliff Youth Centre - 19 Main Street S, Redcliff
Time: This program takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning at 4:30pm.
Contact: rasysocial@gmail.com or Ph. (403)548-2811
All of our Community Kitchens are graciously supported by the Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub.
If you have a love for cooking and want to share your passion with others we can help you start your own community kitchen! The focus, structure, timing, etc. is flexible. The Food Security Coordinator will help you get set up and be alongside you when you need help or have questions.
CFCA can help with:
We are always looking for volunteers willing to lead a kitchen or teach a skill! Please contact the Food Security Coordinator if you would like to participate in this way.
Alberta Health Services has compiled a Collective/Community Kitchen manual which can be used to start a new kitchen or run an existing kitchen.
If you are a Community Kitchen Leader, the following resources are available for you to borrow. Please contact the Food Security Coordinator to arrange pick-up: Community Kitchen Recipe Books
Good and Cheap is a collection of recipes for people with limited incomes by Leanne Brown. Eat well on $4/day!
From Scratch is a vegetarian cookbook intended for people just becoming comfortable in their own kitchens also by Leanne Brown.