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Winnie Underdown, Denise O’Shea and Seamus Curran at Taobh Linn.
COMMIS Chef Apprentices at the Kenmare Further Education and Training Centre along with their Instructor Simon Regan are bringing some festive cheer to the community at Taobh Linn Social Centre in Kenmare this Christmas by providing a fantastic Christmas Feast on Tuesday, December 22.
Ingredients for the 6 course festive meal will primarily come from the centre’s 100% organic kitchen gardenalong with additional produce from the greater Kenmare area supplied by local producers who are guided by sustainable and ethical farming methods.
The group of seven Commis Chefs, who are coming towards the end of their two-year Culinary Apprenticeship are aware of the challenging times endured by many in their local community.
Denise O’Shea and Daniel Piznal in the kitchen garden.
The Apprentices are currently working between The Brehon Hotel Killarney, Maison Gourmet, Kenmare, Brooklane Hotel & Restaurant No.35 also in Kenmare, The Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kate Brownes Restaurant & Bar, Ardfert and Waterville Golf Links in Waterville.
The Taobh Linn Covid community response is about “collaboration; organisations and local initiatives working in partnership, providing essentials to those in need”. With this in mind the Commis Chefs decided to dedicate their capstone Culinary Event to the Taobh Linn community.
According to Winnie Underdown – Commis Chef Apprentice; “It was only fitting that we should keep it local and give back to the community and acknowledge the amazing service that Taobh Linn provides, bringing a boost to spirits after what has been a very difficult year for everyone”.
The Kerry College apprentice commis chef team in the kitchen.
Kenmare Community Care Charity was established in 1973 to fill a need in the community at the time and the opening of the Taobh Linn Social Centre in 2010 was the culmination of over 40 years of community drive.
The service now provides a 3 course dinner onsite 6 days a week and a ‘Meals on Wheels’ service to the Kenmare area.
The centre is a welcoming comfortable space where we also focus on social inclusion and engagement through, classes, activities, cards and trips away. The staff are provided through Community Employment Schemes, so the community ethos is at the heart of the centre’s work.
Centre Manager Tanya O’Sullivan explains more about the event: “Taobh Linn is nestled firmly in Kenmare on Railway Road where we are able to reach out to our seniors and more vulnerable people. We strive to provide this vital service through ongoing fund raising and HSE contributions. To be approached by Simon and his culinary team was fantastic to know that someone else has our service on their radar! To me there is no better way to give back than providing a beautiful Christmas meal, which our volunteers will deliver to their door. Our clients have certainly felt the effects of Covid and this will surely put a much needed glow back in their cheeks.”
