Every month at Common Ground in Camperdown, Addi Road’s Food Pantry Cook-up brings the community together for a day filled with good food, warm company, and much-needed support. Whether people are dropping by to access services like housing assistance, NDIS support or grabbing groceries from the pantry, or simply passing through, this event offers something for everyone.
This month, about 30 volunteers came together to make the magic happen. Some helped assemble hampers for those attending the cooking demo, while others fine-tuned recipes to ensure they were both delicious and easy to recreate. It was a full Addi Road team effort, with everyone pitching in to cook, serve, and share in the joy of the day.
The Thursday before the big event was a day of preparation and baking, with the kitchen buzzing with warmth and laughter. A favourite ‘1950s housewives’ playlist filled the air, songs like ‘It’s A Good Say” by Peggy Lee and ‘Mama Said’ by The Shirelles adding a fun nostalgic touch to the scene. Diana’s famous apple cake recipe took centre stage this time, a family favourite she’s been making since before her kids were born.
With an abundance of apples available at the pantry lately, it was the perfect recipe to make use of the extra fruit. Our volunteers, as always, approached the recipe with their own flair—some following it to the letter, others improvising with creative twists. Lively debates over how to arrange the apples to perfection made the kitchen feel like one big family. By the end, the cakes were a triumph, just as they always are.
Friday, the main event, began at 8 a.m. with Addi Road Food Pantry volunteers bustling into our Camperdown kitchen. The pace was fast and energetic, a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere of the previous day. At one point, every surface was covered in chicken wings, and for a moment, we wondered if we had gone a little overboard. But as the day wore on, and despite the rainy, gloomy weather, the community turned up in full force. People gathered outside the pantry, sharing hot meals and conversations with their neighbours. It turned out to be just the right amount of food, and everyone left full and happy.
The cooking demo, led by Jane and Hel, two Addi Road heroes – was another highlight of the day. Both passionate about nutrition and acts of service, they poured their hearts into showing people how to cook nutritious, affordable meals.
Over time, more participants have begun engaging in conversations during the demos, sharing their own cooking stories and childhood memories. There’s something deeply comforting about these exchanges – something nostalgic and healing about connecting over recipes passed down through generations. Month after month, familiar faces return, not just to witness the evolution of The Cook-up but to be a part of it, contributing to its organic growth and spirit.
By 3 p.m., after a day filled with love, laughter, and delicious food, we packed up, already excited for next month’s Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown Cook-up. With new recipe ideas in mind and a deep sense of satisfaction from the day, we can’t wait to gather again and do it all over.
by Katie Scarf, Addi Road Camperdown Food Pantry Manager, 27 September 2024
Special thanks to the City of Sydney for funding and supporting our monthly Cook-Up at Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown. The Cook-Up takes place on the last Friday of every month.
Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown, September 2024