Christmas Lunch done right

Finally, after being locked up for months the members of the Men's Kitchen Northern Beaches were able to gather and celebrate the end of 2021 and the beginning of the Christmas period. Around 100 members and guests gathered at the Community Rooms in Warringah Mall and enjoyed a four course meal prepared by our Head Chef Chris C. and several of our cooking instructors.  We are very grateful of the effort Chris and her team put in to make it a fantastic day.  

We would like to acknowledge the donation of fruit and vegetables from Fruitezy at Chatswood Chase and hams and drinks from Woolworths at both Glenrose and Forestway shopping centres.

For your copy of Reflections of our Christmas Lunch, click on this link.

First Men's Kitchen Life Member

During volunteers’ week in late May, when the committee hosted all our cooking instructors to thank them for their contribution to the Men’s Kitchen, we surprised Peter Rudland by awarding him with life membership to the Men’s Kitchen Association.

Life membership of our association may be awarded to someone who in the view of the board has both contributed substantially to the success of the organisation and has made an ongoing contribution for a period of approximately ten years.

In 2013, Peter Rudland and several other blokes joined a Male Carer cooking group run by the NSW department of Health in Narrabeen. When that program was forced to close due to the renovation of the Narrabeen Tram Shed community Centre, Peter was a key driver in the decision to “do our own thing” rather than to cease learning cooking altogether. Peter and five others were the initial members of the association when we incorporated in 2016, and since that time he has continuously been the public officer and secretary of the association. In fact, when we were forced to incorporate in order that we continue cooking, we only had six members and were required to have a public officer and secretary. Had Peter not put his hand up with experience and a willingness to do the task we would simply not be the organisation that we are today.

While we were locked up during 2020, Chris and Trish ran online cooking sessions on a weekly basis. During this time Chris developed all the new recipes for our 2021 recipe book and had the boys on the virtual cooking sessions test them out.

Such was the enjoyment of this the boys presented both ladies with floral arrangements just prior to Christmas last year by way of saying thanks for their considerable efforts during the year.

And as a bonus we now have a fantastic additional compilation of additional recipes in our member's folder. Have you got yours yet?