Pomegranate kitchen
A catering business of global flavours is also enriching lives.
Warm falafel, flaky baklava, fresh fattoush – a meal from Pomegranate Kitchen is as tasty as it is impactful. The food of this social enterprise is made by people from refugee backgrounds, giving them employment and a connection to their new country.
The idea came about when Rebecca Stewart worked for New Zealand Red Cross, meeting refugees who wanted to work but faced a lack of local experience, language barriers and childcare needs. “At the same time, my business partner (and step-mum), Ange, was worried they might not be able to get the ingredients they needed to connect with each other and their new community through the sharing of food,” says Stewart.
They put their heads together and came up with the concept of a catering service. They planned for six months, researching similar overseas models, running a PledgeMe campaign and holding a pop-up stall at Moore Wilson’s.
Pomegranate Kitchen launched in Wellington in October 2016, with the motto ‘no decisions about us without us’.
“The team are mostly Middle Eastern but there’s one Ethiopian chef,” says
Stewart. “They’ve gotten to know one another across cultures and tried each other’s food. Genet makes Ethiopian-style coffee for everyone for morning tea.” English is spoken as the shared language and relations are harmonious, although a humble dip causes some contention. “All of our cooks are the boss in their own kitchen – everyone thinks they know the proper way to make hummus!” says Stewart.
The menu is a team effort, with dishes workshopped to instill a sense of shared ownership. “Our cooks love sharing their food traditions,” says Stewart. “They get excited and often bring new ideas for our customers to try.” The Kuku Sabzi is a crowd favourite, a festive Persian dish similar to a frittata and filled with herbs, walnuts and cranberries. Organic and locally sourced ingredients are used where possible.
As well as on-the-job catering training, Pomegranate Kitchen teaches English, health and safety, and kitchen skills to their team members, who also assist with admin and can join the board of trustees.
“Kiwis want to help in the refugee crisis but don’t know how,” she says. “This is an easy way they can help people who have arrived in New Zealand,” says Stewart.