2.0 General Information and advice on Kitchens

2.1 What to cook?

First of all it is generally recommended in the movement that kitchens cook VEGAN. This is not just an ethical stance about the environment and animal cruelty, it also keeps the health and hygiene people happy and off your back. It avoids the need for refrigeration, and is low risk for cross contamination.

2.2 Getting advice on food ordering and equipment needed

Other documents available from Lou and the ATC are a kitchen tat list, and a food hygiene guide. The anarchist teapot guide to mass catering is a must read, and veggies catering campaign are also experienced and helpful.

There are also copies available on request of the food order for Climate camp 2007 which gives some indication of food quantities for neighbourhood kitchens cooking for 250 people, and also the overall food usage of a 1000+ people camp over two weeks.

Gas at climate camp was ordered centrally, as were vegetables and bread. We recommended that each neighbourhood brought some gas themselves and spare regulators and piping. This gave us some extra capacity in case of an early influx of people.

Our dried food order was very basic, and it is best to keep it to that level. We suggested that if people wanted to bring nice luxury things like olives, pesto, favourite spices, fancy herbal teas, balsamic vinegar, chocolate and sweet things then they should feel free but it is their call and on their budget.

2.3 Budget

You should budget around 12,000 pounds for food at least.

To give some indication Climate Camp began with a 5000 pound credit from a wholesaler, plus what they spent on vegetables and bread. They spent at least the same again throughout the camp. They charged around £28 a week/ £4 a day for food and made a 5000 pound surplus that will fund the next camp. As mentioned above the actual food order is available for consultation, and a detailed break down.

You also need to budget for gas and spare equipment. Spare burners and pans are particularly useful.

2.4 Recipes and Menus

The kitchen team did not prepare recipes and menus but the anarchist teapot guide is great, and it is good to share ideas on site so you have as diverse range of food as possible. Or share with one another!

It can be discussed at a daily kitchen meeting if you want to avoid ten kitchens all cooking chilli.

2.5 Food Allergies and Special Diets

It is recommended that the medics team should be alerted to these things and gets anyone with severe food allergies to speak to their kitchen team immediately. In most cases we will try and find solutions, and if not the person will generally agree to take care of their own needs. Try and be tough with people who are simply faddy though. When cooking for hundreds you cannot be too delicate with people who don’t like things, or who have mild food intolerances.

At the kitchens meeting you can decide which kitchen will be
wheat free for the day. One kitchen should also be chilli free, and all kitchens should consider food suitable for children's palates be set aside.

I recommend that you ask raw foodies to help themselves to your veg store and to take care of themselves as much as they can. Or ask them to take over a whole meal!

2.6 Health and Hygiene

You should expect to be visited by people in white Wellingtons many times and to take health and hygiene seriously. There is advice included below about health and hygiene, and there is heaps of official advice available. Common sense practices of hand and veg washing, and surface cleaning are all important and there are other things that are more important in mass catering in a field. The main ones are to make people wash their hands before taking food, to make people wash their hands before washing up, and also to have only one or two people washing up rather than DIY. There were no mass outbreaks at climate camp 2007 and this can be attributed to great care being taken about this stuff.