Creating bonds and Looking Ahead

cookingforgood1
Mar 21
5 min read

Welcome to a new edition of our monthly summary! This month has been a testament to how The Good Kitchen continues to become a key cog in the machinery of our beloved Mussomeli. As winter begins to fade, our kitchen is warmer than ever—not just because of the stoves, but because of the meetings, new sustainability projects, and the bonds we continue to strengthen with local institutions. Thank you for joining us for another month on this journey that is full of flavour and solidarity.

What’s been cooking at The Good Kitchen

Pro.loco “La Mussomeli Nascosta”

We participated in a fascinating talk organized by Pro.loco Mussomeli. Pro Loco Mussomeli promotes Mussomeli's cultural heritage, organizes local festivals and tourist events to engage residents and visitors. It was a visual and historical journey through a "Hidden Mussomeli," discovering corners and stories that are not visible to the naked eye. We value the the friendship and bond that we continue to strengthen with Pro Loco. We arrived at the event with a box full of oranges that had been donated to the kitchen, sharing the essence of The Good Kitchen.

Project "Mussomeli – Genius Loci"

We received a very special invitation from the Mayor of Mussomeli to participate in the launch of "Mussomeli – Genius Loci," an ambitious project funded by the Sicilian Ministry of Tourism. The goal is to promote sustainable tourism, gastronomy, and local culture. The big news: Within this framework, we were confirmed that our application for a grant (submitted three years ago) to be a part of the gastronomic tourism project has been approved! Although we are still waiting for final details regarding the start dates, we are excited about the prospect to invite more guests to the kitchen and to create new opportunities for the young volunteers of Mussomeli. More news for you all as the project evolves.

Community Impact – New Allies and Local Support

We are very happy to welcome CRAI supermarket, which has joined our food rescue network on an occasional basis. Every donation counts to keep building community and to provide surplus food to families. Additionally, thank you so much to the local families who supported us this month with donations of bread, vegetables, and olive oil. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

Workshop: Social Media and Gastronomy

Our founder, Danny McCubbin led a Social Media workshop for our young volunteers. The goal was to show them the importance of digital communication today and to open their horizons in the hospitality industry. We learnt that cooking and becoming a chef is one path in food but there are many others such a social media, food writing and marketing.

Hummus: The perfect dip for the sunny days ahead

As the good weather arrives and we are spending more time outdoor for an aperitivo, we are sharing our Hummus recipe. This recipe is featured in Danny’s book that he wrote about The Good Kitchen. This fantastic dip is the perfect companion for your spring gatherings. You can find the full recipe published in the book

Community Voices: Franco Amico

This month, our "Voices" section has a special touch. We want to pay tribute to Franco Amico, who has just celebrated his 70th birthday. Franco is the Vice President of The Good Kitchen, but above all, he is the one who believed in this project from the very beginning. He helped Danny to launch the kitchen, proving that passion has no age.

Although Franco usually expresses himself through the lens of his camera, today he shares a text written from the heart—a beautiful and solemn vision of what The Good Kitchen represents to him:

THE GOOD KITCHEN – NUTRIRE IL CUORE, NON SOLO LO STOMACO

The Good Kitchen è più di una semplice mensa: è un luogo dove la solidarietà prende forma ogni giorno attraverso piatti caldi, gesti concreti e sorrisi sinceri. Nata a Mussomeli con l'obiettivo di combattere lo spreco alimentare e sostenere le fasce più fragili della comunità, l’associazione si impegna attivamente a trasformare ciò che spesso viene scartato in una risorsa preziosa per chi ne ha più bisogno , perché il bene, quando è condiviso, ha un sapore ancora più buono.

Attraverso la cucina comune, The Good Kitchen garantisce pasti gratuiti e dignitosi a persone in difficoltà, creando uno spazio di accoglienza e umanità. Ma il suo lavoro non si ferma qui: grazie a una rete di volontari e donatori, organizza eventi solidali, raccolte alimentari e laboratori educativi, promuovendo una cultura del dono, della condivisione e della sostenibilità.

In ogni iniziativa, The Good Kitchen porta avanti un messaggio semplice ma potente: nessuno deve sentirsi solo e nessun cibo deve andare sprecato.

GOOD COOKING – NOURISHING THE HEART, NOT JUST THE STOMACH

The Good Kitchen is more than just a cafeteria: it's a place where solidarity takes shape every day through hot dishes, concrete gestures, and sincere smiles. Founded in Mussomeli with the aim of combating food waste and supporting the most vulnerable segments of the community, the association is actively committed to transforming what is often discarded into a valuable resource for those who need it most, because the good, when shared, tastes even better.

Through the community kitchen, The Good Kitchen provides free and decent meals to people in need, creating a space for welcome and humanity. But his work doesn't stop there: thanks to a network of volunteers and donors, he organizes solidarity events, food drives, and educational workshops, promoting a culture of giving, sharing, and sustainability.

In every initiative, The Good Kitchen carries a simple yet powerful message: no one should feel alone and no food should go to waste.

What’s coming up

Train the Trainers: How to Create a Community Kitchen

Exciting news as we have been invited by Nato and Dorothee, in collaboration with SUDWIND (Vienna), to participate in an international project that is about community kitchens. We will give an online talk for young people from all over the world who want to start community kitchens, sharing our challenges and experiences in Mussomeli. This came about as we welcomed the team from Sudwind to the kitchen last year for lunch.

Spring Festival (Il Parco che Vive)

Together with other local associations, we are planning a gathering with various activities in the beautiful park here that separates the new area of Mussomeli with the old town. We will be providing healthy snacks and drinks for the children and young people and we are excited to be collaborating with other associations and to bring life to our green spaces!

Main Square Event

We have had very positive meetings with STRAUSS and CUDDRIROOM to organize an activity open to the entire community in the main square, Piazza Umberto. The plan is to offer free food that has been prepared from surplus produce and also to collaborate with other associations in the town that are centred around sustainability. We have the full support of the Municipality and soon we will provide more information and further details.

How you can help?

Your support is the heart of everything we do:

Donations: You can contribute via PayPal to help us sustain our daily operations and continue serving the community.

Grants & Opportunities: If you know of any specific grants or subsidies (local, national, or international) that we could apply for, please let us know!

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