A taste of home at Kilkenny's Global Kitchen

Kilkenny Leader Partnership has, over the last 24 months, run a series of pop-up cafés in the Home Rule Club.

This series of cafés has been an attempt to highlight the diversity of nationalities and new community members living in Kilkenny.

The Global Kitchen celebrates international cultures and cuisines through food, providing the customers an opportunity to experience food which they may not have tasted before, the opportunity to meet newer members of our community in Kilkenny and for the chefs to meet new people too.

The cafés have served up the food of Lebanon, Malaysia, Poland, Ukraine and Romania as well as the Balkans.

As part of Savour Festival Kilkenny, the Global Kitchen brought the food of Nigeria, Jordan and Afghanistan, to the over 50 people who had booked to attend.

Such is the popularity of the cafés that people booked without knowing which countries cuisine they would be enjoying on the day!

The food was cooked by representatives of the Nigerian, Jordanian and Afghan communities, who are now resident in Kilkenny.

“It was a heart-warming and memorable experience, as a Nigerian that participated as one of the chefs at the Savour Festival Kilkenny,” said Akeem Olawale Lawal.

“Preparing one of my country’s popular dishes, jollof rice, allowed me to share a piece of my culture with others in the Global Kitchen event. Seeing people enjoy the unique flavours and ask about the dish filled me with pride. It was a joy to connect over the food, bridging cultures and creating an atmosphere of warmth, unity, and mutual appreciation through a shared meal,” he said.

Food is a cultural and emotional form of diplomacy, through the preparation cooking and sharing of food, in challenging times, we can meet and share conversations connections and experiences.

ABOVE: Some of the delicious food served at the Global Kitchen

If you are living away from your home sometimes unwillingly, sometimes what we need is the comfort of food that is familiar to us and sharing that food, with others, who may not have tasted it before can be a source of great pride and provide a space for conversations.

When we get to know each other and learn about each other, barriers are removed, and greater understanding is possible.

The cafés are run on an entirely voluntary basis, and the café prices reflect this as a two-course meal including coffee costs just €13.

The support of the Home Rule Club is key to the success of this series of cafés. The events are published on the KLP social media channels and booking are made through event brite. If you would like to register for the next café contact them via email or by phone

Community Forum
Kilkenny Leader Partnership is a member of Kilkenny Community Integration Forum, which is chaired by Kilkenny County Council.

The forum brings together representatives from agencies operating across county Kilkenny, to coordinate a community-led response and support for all new communities resettling in county Kilkenny.

The aim of the forum is to promote and support integration, equality, social inclusion, and civic participation for those families and individuals who come to Kilkenny.