Mens Kitchen was started nearly a decade ago to teach older men basic kitchen skills in a social setting. Mens Kitchen, a registered charity, is now launching in the Hills District in late September and is seeking some key volunteers to bring it to life.
How does Men’s Kitchen work?
At each cooking session, up to 10 men work together to prepare a two course-meal under the guidance of three experienced volunteer instructors. Everyone chooses the part of the meal they would like to prepare and once cooking is completed, everyone sits down together to talk about and enjoy the meal.
Why is it so important?
Good nutrition and strong social connections are critical to promote longevity and good health. Says founder and president, Peter Watson, “It has been proven that people live longer when they feel more connected. We are what we eat, so learning to cook and making new mates along the way is a win-win.”
In the Hills District, there are over 15,000 men aged 60 or more, many of whom have never ventured into the kitchen. Says Peter, “With retirement some men lose their sense of purpose and miss their interaction with work colleagues. In some cases, they lose their partners, or circumstances mean they need to start doing the cooking in their household. We fill that gap by positively increasing their life skills, along with helping them make some new mates.”
Says Men’s Kitchen Head Chef and lifelong cooking professional Chris Chandler, “Our men learn that with a little bit of patience and skill they produce pastry as good as any chef. The pride they feel at producing something they never thought they could achieve keeps me doing this. I‘ve had men who have never cooked a cake in their lives produce a stunning dessert on day one with an instructor by their side.”
Says Peter, “We started the first Men’s Kitchen in the Northern Beaches of Sydney in 2016. Since then we have launched on the North Shore of Sydney, Canberra, and the Gold Coast. The goal is to keeping growing, one area at a time to offer this opportunity to some of the two million older blokes around the country.”
Like to get involved?
The Men’s Kitchen is looking for help from a leader to become the local district manager, a bookkeeper as our district treasurer plus a district admin. If you would like to assist to get the Men’s Kitchen started in the Hills District, or would like more information about joining the Men’s Kitchen contact Peter Watson on [email protected] or 0411 476 532.
