Turn out for tonights task at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat Gudwara was great as 11 Luton goodgymers came to the penultimate cooking class as part of the temples near neighbours project, helping to integrate communities. The whole team got stuck in with cooking, washing pots and chatting to the guests from the Roma trust and the Irish forum. Mayra was especially pleased tonight as she got to wear her Red GoodGym shirt for the first time, Adrian also looked splendid as he wore his for the first time too. We look forward to seeing you guys out in those shirts again soon. After helping the aunties cook up some delicious treats, Sanjeev from the temple thanked everyone for their support over the 12 sessions and presented a cooking book with all the recipes we've helped to cook. I really feel like our support with this project has made a difference and I appreciate the opportunity afforded to us to be able to help. Well done team. you were great tonight

We had a great evening supporting the Mear Neighbours project at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat Gudwara on Thursday evening. 6 incredibly focused members of the Goodgym Luton team helped to host the event where the temple welcomed members if the Roma trust and Friends of the temple. The team helped to prep, cook and clear down on the night and were able to share the delicious food that was prepared as part of the project. We had great fun and look forward to our next session. Well done team

Tonight 6 Goodgymers got stuck in at the temple cooking classes. Supporting the evening event, put on for the Friends of the temple and the Roma Trust. Adrian took up the rolling pin and headed up the chapati production line. Lukyamuzi joined the team for his first experience at the temple and got stuck in buttering chapatis. Musa and Derrick were flipping the breads and making sure they were cooked before passing them down the line. The meal being prepared was Sweet pepper curry 🍛.
Gill, mayra and myself joined a little into the session as we'd been at another task, but we all got stuck in with the cooking and serving of the food. Everyone enjoyed the evening and we look forward to supporting again.

Although there was less food available than usual, there wasn't any less enthusiasm form our three GoodGymers who joined the cooking team at FoodCycle this evening.

Gill was on the scene first as she had to open up the church, do the safety checks and also do a stock take ready to do an order later in the week. When her other half delivered the surplus food from the supermarkets they were both rather disappointed by the lack of food available. Fortunately, however, at the task on Sunday Gill had been given two large cream cakes, some double cream and some surplus veg, and this would help bulk out what was on offer.

Ideas were gradually developing and by the time Mayra arrived Gill and Cecilia had pretty much settled on the menu. The main event would be a vegetarian shepherd's pie and for this we would need a ton of mash. Cecilia and Mayra got stuck into peeling a mammoth pile of potatoes, and soon had them boiling away, ready for Cecilia to turn into a monstrous amount of mash.

When Martin arrived he joined Gill in prepping peppers and noodles for an Asian inspired mango, pepper and noodle salad. Harrison (who we are trying to persuade to join GoodGym) was given a brief to create a meat free filling for the shepherd's pie.

The cooking was cool, calm and collected and the whole team. worked well. Our menu was ready on time, plated elegantly and served up swiftly by the hosts. We even had time to do the bulk of the washing up before hot footing it to our next task at the temple.

4 Goodgymers helped the Sri Guru Ravidass Sangat Gudwara to host another cooking class with the Friends of the temple. The team helped prep, cook and tidy up. The Aunties were cooking Muttor Paneer, with rice and chapatis. Adrian has become the Chapati king, its like he's been making them for years and Mayra was butter girl for the evening, covering the lovely flatbreads in a cheeky bit of buttery sweetness. Kamal gave the eating area a good clean down before everyone sat down to sample the delicious food made. The temple were really appreciative of all the teams help. Well done guys

That was a mammoth task at Farley Community Centre but what a hoot.

Vera from Farley Big Local had asked Gill and Mayra to arrive at 10:30 and she soon had them making about 80 or more stuffing balls, carving the turkey and gammon and getting the vegetables ready to cook. At 11:30 Yasin, Musa , and Kamal arrived and soon got busy making sure everything was ready in the hall. Musa and Yasin were given the onerous task of mashing the potatoes, which they did with aplomb. At around 12.00 the guests started to arrive, and the whole team was busy serving drinks and making them feel welcome. Then it was on to waiting service to make sue that everyone was served with a steaming bowl of vegetable soup. The main course followed, a sumptous roast dinner and we were kept busy either dishing up or waiting. Fortunately between the main course and the pudding the guests had a game of bingo so we had a slight break - but then Vera asked if we could start the washing up - well Yasin took to his Marigolds like a duck to water. When the bingo was done we then served up the desserts and made sure everyone had top ups to their drinks. By the time dessert was over many of the guests were in a party moood and the dancing soon started. Little did we know that we were expected to join in and make some shapes. But being dilligent GoodGymers and not wanting to disappoint, we left Mayra with the washing up while Kamal, Gill and Mus joined the throng on the dance floor. Fortunately before we got too exhausted there was another break for more bingo and we were able to take a breather. After the last couple of dances the guests left with many of them stopping to say how well looked after they had been and how much they appreciated our help. Vera gave us all a bag of chocolates, but I think that was to bribe us to stay longer to help with the washing up and clearing up.

By about 4.30 the hall was empty and pristine, some of us were given our own dinner to enjoy in the peace and quiet before saying goodbye and heading home for a well deserved rest.

Well done team, you worked so hard for so long, but really made the event an absolute success.