TWO GOOD CO
Rob Caslick and Jane Strode
Christmas can be a difficult time of year for some people, but especially for those who have fled domestic violence. Which is why the team at Two Good Co go above and beyond when it comes to the festive season, helping to create new traditions and foster a sense of connection within their community.
“If a woman has the courage to leave an abusive husband, you still miss his parents, or his sister, or their nieces,” explains patron chef Jane Strode. “When they leave these situations, they have to leave it all. That can be devastating. Then they come into this space, where people have gone through similar things. And they feel heard and listened to.”
Founded by Rob Caslick in 2015, Two Good Co offers training and employment to women who have escaped domestic violence, through their catering business and food delivery services.
“We’re not just providing food, but love and respect,” says Caslick. “That’s why we work with top chefs and collaborate with respected brands. It’s to demonstrate to the women who come into this program that even if they’ve experienced hardship, here they’re loved and respected.”
Food is at the heart of what Two Good does and at Christmas time, it becomes the focal point as the company hosts two major events. The first is for anyone doing it tough in the wider community. “For our Christmas party at our soup kitchen in Kings Cross, we put on a spit-roasted lamb from Feather and Bone and Gelato Messina bring beautiful gelato and we do a really big spread,” says Caslick.
They also do a special Christmas party for the women in their training program, past and present. “They need that love and this is why we serve the best quality food. At Christmas time we’re going to be laying it on as thick as possible,” says Strode.
Going all in at Christmas time has been a long-running theme for Strode, whose mother owned a catering business and was known for welcoming as many people as possible on Christmas day, even if meant BYO seating.
“We’d have all these orphans, the neighbours, my mum’s best friend’s had people over, along with family. We never said no to anyone. People would bring their own chairs and cutlery, because we’d run out of those things. But there was plenty of food. You’d just make it happen – and that’s what Christmas is all about.”
The magic of making it happen on the day comes down to preparation, says Strode. “Practice the dish! Have things you can make the day before. It’s summer time so do a cold starter that can be done the night before.”
Practicalities aside, Strode and Caslick know the secret to making any shared meal special is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome. “I’ll always remember – I was at the soup kitchen, and a guy said to me: ‘What I love about this place is that for one hour each week, I don’t feel homeless.’ It reminded me of why we do this.” twogood.com.au