Cooking and sharing meals with others have been an important part of the human experience for centuries. There’s something special about gathering around a table with others - whether it’s family, friends, colleagues, or even new faces. Food has a unique way of bringing people together, and it's often at the heart of our most cherished social events, from birthday parties and weddings to national holidays and religious festivals.
While eating together has many wellbeing benefits, a lot of people live alone. Cooking for one can be challenging - many ingredients are sold in family-sized packs, and most recipes are designed for at least two people. It’s not always easy to know how to use up fresh produce before it goes out of date, manage leftovers, or even plan meals that create extras for later. Plus, it’s easy to get stuck in a routine, making the same few recipes week in week out, or feel like it isn’t worth making a special meal just for yourself. Additionally, food prices have soared in recent years, making it harder for many people to buy and prepare nutritious and delicious food.
Sometimes, all we need is a little inspiration and a new social environment to shake things up, and that’s where Dunoon Community Development Trust’s Sunday Lunch Club comes in.
When one of our Trust members, George, shared his experience of organising a local cooking circle and encouraged us to expand it across the community, we saw a wonderful opportunity for the people of Dunoon.
The Sunday Lunch Club will run monthly for the next four months, with each session accommodating up to ten participants. Led by friendly and passionate local chef Elena, the interactive sessions offer practical yet creative cooking and baking skills, with a focus on flavour and versatility. At the end of each session, participants will enjoy the meals they’ve helped create together.
Each month, the sessions will centre around a different topic, all under the overarching theme of using low-cost ingredients to prepare nutritious and delicious meals for one. Elena explains:
“I love how eating a good meal can make you feel better about your day. When you cook it yourself, you also get a great feeling of accomplishment. For me, food has always been a mood booster, and you can’t argue with the long-term benefits a balanced diet has on your physical and mental health.
Eating well doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I hope that Sunday Lunch Club workshops will build the participants’ confidence in the kitchen by showing how much can be done with simple ingredients and encourage them to share meals with others more often.”
On Sunday October 20th, we hosted the first of our monthly Sunday Lunch Club sessions, which focused on the theme "Love Your Leftovers: Using Up Potatoes." In a warm, relaxed setting, Elena demonstrated how to create a variety of meals using potatoes. The menu included:
Caldo Verde (a Portuguese potato and kale soup)
Potato cakes prepared three ways (spiced mackerel, bubble and squeak, and haggis), served with seasonal vegetables
A lemon drizzle cake with a twist to finish the meal
Our participants, who braved Storm Ashley to be there, provided positive feedback about the first session, with one person stating:
“I think it was great that everyone had the chance to be involved. It made the learning experience more enjoyable. I liked the casual environment; it made it fun to socialise”.
Our November session focused on simple air fryer meals, including crispy chicken thighs and cauliflower bites with buffalo sauce, sweet potato fries, and apple crumble for dessert. One of the participants, who is originally from Ecuador and lives in Glasgow, said afterwards:
“I had a great afternoon in everyone's company, I learned a lot from the talented chef and I got to know a little more about Scotland.”
Sessions are free, with a suggested donation of £5 or whatever is affordable.
Hosted at Dunoon Foodbank, you can book your place at the Sunday Lunch Club over the next few months by clicking the links below.
January Sunday Lunch Club
February Sunday Lunch Club
March Sunday Lunch Club
To find out more about the upcoming topics and menus, and to book your place, visit WhatsOnDunoon.co.uk
The Sunday Lunch Club is a Dunoon Community Development Trust project, supported by Volunteering for Wellbeing Coordinator Barbara Henderson and funded by the Community Lottery.
For more information about our volunteer opportunities take a look at our volunteer page>