Steve Brine visited the Community Café at St Peter’s Pastoral Centre in Jewry Street, Winchester on Thursday 8th November to meet customers and sample the menu, cooked up by FirstBite, a local not-for-profit social enterprise.
The community café is run by FirstBite in partnership with St Peter’s Catholic Church and this November enters its third year of operation. The weekly café welcomes around 60 diners each Thursday lunchtime.
Customers last Thursday enjoyed freshly cooked fish pie, roast chicken and chocolate croissant pudding, creatively prepared on site by chefs Melissa and Richard (pictured).
Steve Brine said: “I first met Debbie back in the summer where she briefed me on this superb initiative, so I was delighted to be able to pop down to the café and speak to the team and their happy customers!”
The café uses surplus food that would otherwise be wasted which means that mains are available for under a fiver with deserts at £1.50 and delicious pay-as-much-as-you-feel soup and bread always available.
“The café has become a cornerstone of the city community,” said Debbie Lockett, co-founder of FirstBite. “We love feeding the great mix of guests – from mums and tots, local workers and the homeless - to the elderly and passing tourists.
"Firstbite is planning a community Christmas lunch. It is also looking for new city-centre locations to run its workshops and expand its community café operation", she added.
FirstBite food donations come from FareShare UK, Tesco, Waitrose, M&S and local suppliers such as Hoxton Bakehouse, Chalk Stream Foods, Rosary Goats Cheese, Alresford Watercress, Farmer Andrew Janaway among many others.
More information …
Follow FirstBite on Facebook or email [email protected] for more information on activities or volunteering opportunities.