Our operations manager Daylen has worked many kitchen jobs, as a line cook, sous chef, prep cook, and more. Zeal has a kitchen, and we thought the logical thing to do would be to put those two things together to provide a brand new program, and some free meals for our participants.

Every week at 4pm, Daylen will teach commercial cooking techniques from basic knife skills to menu creation, providing passing plates participants with actionable skills that they can take forward into the job market, and jumpstart hospitality careers.

Using donated and rescued ingredients, rangatahi will be mentored in conceptualising and preparing meals each week, which will then be served to Passing Through & Zeal West participants, as well as community members in need of a hot meal.

This program takes a holistic approach, utilising rescued kai to teach employable skills and provide free meals all at the same time. Our long term goal is to develop relationships with community gardens where our participants can assist their community members in cultivating kai, and our food waste can be used as compost to nourish the land, creating a fully circular kai relationship.

This program is currently not funded, so donations are greatly appreciated to ensure its longevity. Monetary donations can be made here and kai donations can be made by emailing us at info@artists4others.org

Join us this Wednesday, 4pm at Zeal West for the very first Passing Plates, and stick around after for Passing Through at 7pm!