Last month, Crosby Close proudly partnered with St Luke’s Church to host a wonderful community food sharing event, and what a success it was.
The event was created to celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds of people connected to MacIntyre, alongside the wider St Albans community where they live and work. Food has a unique way of bringing people together, and the evening proved exactly that, with over 40 people coming along to share dishes, stories and conversation around the table.
Having regularly attended the weekly community meals hosted by St Luke’s Church, Crosby staff approached the church and its volunteers to explore the idea of hosting a special cultural food sharing event. The support and enthusiasm from everyone involved helped turn the idea into a truly memorable occasion.
We were also delighted to connect with the St Albans Community Pantry, who helped publicise the event to local families they support, helping make the gathering even more inclusive and community focused.
The food on offer represented cultures and cuisines from all around the world. Alex, the church vicar, prepared a delicious chicken curry inspired by his travels through India, where he learned how to cook an authentic curry dish. Blessings shared yam and curry from her Nigerian heritage, sparking conversations about the many different ways yam can be prepared and enjoyed.
Guests also enjoyed dishes representing Irish, Norwegian, English, Italian, Polish, Indian and African cultures. A particular highlight was Crosby Manager Antoinette’s signature Irish Soda Bread, which was enjoyed by many throughout the evening.
More than anything, the event created a warm and welcoming atmosphere where people could sit together, share food stories and learn more about one another’s backgrounds and experiences. It was a fantastic example of how community connections can be strengthened through simple acts of sharing and conversation.
We would like to thank everyone who cooked, volunteered, attended and supported the event. We hope this will be the first of many opportunities to celebrate the rich diversity within our community together.
A special thank you goes to photographer Dave Kotula, who generously donated his time to capture the evening with his fantastic photography.
