April Moments That Mattered As our previous edition noted, we proudly welcomed a new Operations Manager and Trainer! It has been just over a month since we welcomed Ismail Almatheab into this role, and we would like to report that he is getting well into the swing of things. April saw him begin to lead the Introduction to Hospitality course,
For founder Iolanda Chirico, food has always been about more than what is on the plate. Food creates community. Food represents support, family, and security. It is this belief that inspired Iolanda to launch Plateful Café, a charity that gives refugees the opportunity to build their lives through food. By providing training, employment opportunities and a welcoming community, Plateful Cafe helps
For Refugee Week 2026, we are celebrating the theme of Courage by sharing the story of our new Chef Trainer, Ismail Almatheab. Today, Ismail leads hospitality training at Plateful Café, helping refugees and other learners build skills, confidence and pathways into employment. But the journey that brought him here is one of extraordinary resilience, determination and courage. Growing
This month’s edition builds on a strong March, highlighting increased catering demand, community engagement, and key partnerships, including events with The London Unit and the conclusion of the Migration on Film series with Goldsmiths. It celebrates continued outreach through local stalls and storytelling from Plateful’s chefs, showcasing the cultural depth behind their food. A major milestone is the appointment of
This month’s newsletter reflects on a busy February of successful events, including a sold-out Sudanese Valentine’s dinner and continued catering at Goldsmiths’ Migration on Film series, alongside the ongoing Warm Space initiative at Blackfriars Settlement. Looking ahead, March brings culturally rich events such as a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Lewisham Irish Centre and Plateful’s first Eid community dinner.
This month’s edition marks a major milestone as Plateful Café secures its first operational base at Blackfriars Settlement, enabling the launch of its Warm Space soup initiative and laying the groundwork for expanded training, catering, and café services from April. The newsletter highlights a growing events programme, including Migration on Film nights at Goldsmiths and a Valentine’s dinner at Hilly
This New Year edition reflects on a demanding but impactful 2025, featuring a candid end-of-year note from founder Iolanda Chirico on the ongoing challenge of operating without a permanent kitchen despite catering 50+ events across London. It celebrates the dedication of 48 volunteers across eight teams, shares strong customer testimonials, and looks ahead to January and February 2026 events including the Warm
Plateful Cafe needs a home… As some of our readers may remember, Plateful Café was at Parkside from June 2023 to April 2024 – first as a hospitality training space for our refugees, and then as a vibrant community café serving a Syrian-inspired menu. For many of our chefs, Parkside was an extremely important space that allowed them to learn
The Christmas with Plateful Cafe! Dear Readers, As we reach the final chapter of the year, the Plateful Cafe team is filled with gratitude and festive excitement! With new experiences on the horizon for 2026, continued growth in our pop-ups and private catering, and more beneficiaries stepping into employment, there is so much to be hopeful for in the year
