Thurrock 100 Recipes launched Welcome to the Kitchen Table, a two-year project to explore the stories of diverse communities who have settled in Thurrock and along the Thames Estuary. Through a proTilbury on the Thames Trust; One Community Development Trust; Elite Dancers; BB’s Dance Academy; Teatro Container; Southend Hindu Associationcess of gathering recipes from local people in writing and drawing workshops, we created hand-printed tablecloths that reflected the many cultures that make up this vibrant community.
The programme was curated by local volunteers who made connections with a wide-range of café owners, chefs, cultural associations, church groups and shop-keepers. We embarked on a series of walks around Thurrock, Southend, Gravesend and Dartford, carrying with us our specially printed tablecloths in search of new recipes.
We were invited to learn about a variety of ingredients and sample different foods. Highlights included Jolof Chicken from Laredos Suya Grill in Grays, Fish and Chips from George’s in East Tilbury, Gujarati Samosas from 10 Dining in Tilbury, Rossi’s Ice Cream in Southend, Turkish Mezze at Efe’s in Dartford, Dhal and Roti at the Gurdwara in Gravesend and a Bollywood Picnic hosted by the Southend Hindu Association on East Beach at Shoeburyness.
T100 recipes culminated in a spectacular finale. 2018 was the 70th anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving at the Port of Tilbury and to mark the occasion Kinetika worked with Gateway Academy students to design a 4m high Tilbury Docker puppet. He led us on the last walk, accompanied by costumed dancers from Elite and BB’s Dance Academy, down to the International Cruise Terminal for a final celebration.
Visiting Chilean arts organisation Teatro Container had engaged local people to devise and cook a community feast in La Cocina Publica, the Public Kitchen built inside a shipping container. Along with our group of T100 walkers, over 200 people sat down to share a meal and listen to each other’s stories.
See the 2018 walk archive HERE
“I got involved with T100 in 2018 as a volunteer leading walks and events in Grays. I felt the concept resonated perfectly with mine. It animates cultural diversity in a unifying, vividly participatory way within the local community through arts and heritage.”
Hi Ching
Artistic Director, Anglo Asiatic Arts & Heritage Alliance (AAAHA)
2018 CREDITS AND THANKS
FUNDERS Arts Council England; Thurrock Council; Active Travel & Forward Motion
DELIVERY PARTNERS Tilbury on the Thames Trust; Port of Tilbury; One Community Development Trust; Elite Dancers; BB’s Dance Academy; Teatro Container; Southend Hindu Association
KINETIKA Ali Pretty, Artistic Director; Jo Beal, Project Manager; Edwina Rigby, Marketing; Jules Easlea, PR; Donna Plakhtienko, Business Manager; Mark Forrest, Flyer design; Scott B Sullivan Associates
ARTISTS Lisa Meehan; Jane Ford; Ray Mahabir; Tony Mason; Sofie Layton; Teatro Container; Jeanefer Jean-Charles
WALK LEADERS Peter Aylmer; Christof Bull; Nina Chavda; Sally Chinea; Hi Ching; Phil Edgar; Ruth Howard; Hazel Huber; John Kent; Renae Laybourn; Mike Ostler; Ali Pretty; Lesley Robinson; Colin Saunders; Yolande Simmons; Manji Solanki; Aisling Woodhead
SCHOOLS Gateway Academy and Primary, Chadwell St Mary; Beacon Hill Academy; Gable Hall School; Herringham Primary; Gateway Primary; Lansdowne Primary; Stifford Clays Primary; Thameside Primary; Tilbury Pioneer Academy; Chase High School; Westborough Primary
LOCAL VENUES Salvation Army Tea Rooms, Hadleigh Training Centre, Hadleigh; Osbornes Cockles, Leigh on Sea; Southend Hindu Association; Tomassi’s Ice Creams, Southend on Sea; Southend Pier; Oysterfleet Hotel, Canvey Island; Joel Friedman JCOCI Educational Foundation Ltd; Benfleet and District Historical Society; Canvey Island Sewing Group; Wagamama, Intu Lakeside; The Land Trust; National Trust, Rainham Hall; RSPB, Rainham Marshes; Café in the Park, Dartford; Dartford Museum; What If…? Gallery; Twin Noodles; Efes Restaurant; Tiptree Jam; Gravesham Council; Vegan Antics; Marie’s Tea Room; Masala Shack; Pad Thai Live; Sultan Sofresi; Morrisons, Grays; Tasty African; Spice of India; Laredo Suyos; New Delhi; China Phoenix; Mumford and Sons; Thameside Café; St Catherine’s Church, East Tilbury; George’s Fish Bar, East Tilbury; Tilbury Hub, East Tilbury; 10 Dining, East Tilbury; Lightship Café, Grays
THANKS TO Les Morgan; Winnie Nyamu; Melvin Ndebele; Tilbury Sewing Group: Gwen Perkins; BBs Dance Academy; Elite Dance; Royal Opera House Thurrock Community Chorus: Alex Godfree; Arc Sound; Mrs Volante; Puppeteers: Smoking Apples
PHOTOS Mike Johnston; Peter Bolton
“It was a fantastic experience for everyone who went along to the Teatro Container for the community feast at the weekend. The atmosphere they created was unique and there is something very special about hundreds of people eating and socialising together in one place. It was great to have this as part of the Port Open day, which has been a great success again this year.”
Peter Ward
Commercial Director, Port of Tilbury
