Feel-good food is on the menu
AS THE French authorities prepare to dismantle the Calais Jungle, London’s restaurateurs and chefs have committed themselves to the cause of refugees, devising fund-raising menus and organising trips to the camp. Now you can get involved.
Food Instagrammer Clerkenwell Boy’s #CookForSyria campaign has organised a (sold-out) feast on October 31, while there will also be supperclubs from restaurants such as Salon next month. In addition, 60 top restaurants will add a dish with a Syrian twist to November menus, with £2 from each one sold going to
Unicef ’s Children of Syria fund.
“It taps into the frustration people have in feeling helpless in the face of what they see happening in Syria,” says Clerkenwell Boy. Special dishes include Syrian beef tartare at Chiltern Firehouse and rice pudding with dates at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen. “We loved the cause and the people behind it and were keen to get involved as soon as we heard about this initiative,” says Karan Gokani, chef at Hoppers in Soho. For its charity special, Gokani “took inspiration from a traditional Syrian Christian beef curry and added a Hoppers touch, bringing in our favourite Sri Lankan ingredients”.
The result is a fantastic-sounding beef brisket kari with Ceylonese stretched roti, walnut, chickpea and pistachio sambol, smoked aubergine and pomegranate raita.
Arabica Bar and Kitchen is hosting a Syrian feast on November 27 for #CookForSyria and it is involved with the Soup for Syria campaign — £2 from every bowl of its chilled sweetcorn and tahini soup goes to the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. So far more than £2,000 has been raised. Then there’s “roaming kitchen” Mazi Mas, which cuts out the donations part by hiring female refugees as chefs.
You don’t have to eat out to get involved. World Vision is supporting Syrian refugee children by encouraging people to carve hearts rather than scary faces into pumpkins and sharing images on social media. Celebrities including the actress Elizabeth McGovern will compete to make the most creative heart and win a prize. You can also text HEART to 70060 to donate £3.
Today Matthew Carver and Tayler Groom set off to Calais with a van full of sleeping bags, tents and other camping equipment. Carver makes London’s best cheese toasties from his van The Cheese Truck, while at Groom’s Sloshed Sorbets it’s all about alcoholic slushies. “When we heard about the planned demolition of the Jungle we decided we wanted to do something to help,” explains Carver. “Tents, sleeping bags and the like are in demand. Having just done 26 festivals, our unit is full of unclaimed staff camping equipment so it felt like a natural fit.” Carver isn’t taking toasties to Calais this time but hopes to help in the future via One Small Something (onesmallsomething. wixsite.com/refugee).