A local kitchen community group has started a donation-based luncheon service in Tolworth.

Kitchen Roots Community (KRC), which is part of the not-for-profit The Community Brain (TCB), is running its service from Baking Ideas, located next to Tolworth Station, from 11.30am – 2.30pm every Wednesday.

KRC, which is run by Manny (owner of catering company, Manny's Kitchen), started in July 2023 with Little Ginger on Surbiton's Brighton Road.

Already running a food business and having a degree in Health Nutrition, Manny was approached by TCB to start KRC due to the cost-of-living-crisis making it harder for people to buy food and local refugees not having the facilities to cook.

KRC is run by Manny (middle) along with co-worker Ruby (right) and volunteer Ramiya (left) (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

"The Brighton Road service was adjacent to a food bank," Manny told Nub News.

However, in January 2024, the Surbiton venue was flooded, so Manny was forced to move KRC to St Mary's in Chessington where she began offering a dinner service.

KRC's luncheon service in Tolworth offers two sandwich flavours (chicken and sweetcorn or roasted veg panini), soup (which changes weekly), or a hot meal (vegetarian or meat options available), which comes with salad, and sambal, and again changes weekly.

Chicken and sweetcorn sandwich (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Today's menu (Wednesday, 19 November) offered broccoli and cheddar soup, and chicken or dhal curry with rice, which I can say was absolutely delicious.

Manny says that the lunch usually costs £6 and it can either be bought online through KRC's delivery service or at the Tolworth premises where the meals will be paid for in donations to help fund the ingredients used.

Today's menu (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Those using the online service must order by 6pm on Tuesdays and can do so either through the QR code in the image below or online here.

You can order from KRC's luncheon service using the QR code in this image (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

All KRC's meals are homemade and not shop bought with some of the produce coming from Kingston Surplus Hub.

Manny, along with co-worker Ruby and volunteer Ramiya, cook the luncheon meals every Wednesday morning so that they are fresh and ready for the day's service.

KRC's team prepare's the day's meals in the Baking Ideas kitchen every Wednesday morning (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

When coming up with KRC's weekly meal ideas, Manny says that she likes to be "cost-effective but creative".

Speaking about the current economy, she said: "I don't know how people afford to eat."

Manny explained that when she first started KRC, her usual weekly ingredient shop would cost around £50, but now it is closer to £85 or £90.

Speaking about running a community kitchen, Manny said: "I love bringing the community together, it's not just about food, but about bringing the community together, socialising, and reducing social isolation.

"Our clients love it and love being surprised with what's on the menu each week. They are very appreciative."

As a volunteer-run service, KRC is always looking for volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering for KRC, you should email [email protected].

KRC also hosts various workshops, teaching the community to cook. For example, it will be hosting a samosa workshop soon.

You can find out more about KRC's services via its Instagram here.