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
And end of year note from Iolanda Thank you for your support in what has been quite the rollercoaster year for Plateful Café. The biggest challenge ever remains the lack of a permanent venue. Despite an ever-increasing demand for our catering services, presence at pop ups and events, we continue to cook and deliver food from my house. In 2025
January / February 2024 – Food for Thought (Kick-ofc2024)
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter marks the start of 2024, outlining Plateful Café’s strategic priorities, including hiring a new volunteer coordinator, launching monthly volunteer days, and planning a regular supper club. It also previews February events such as Jazz Nights, volunteer socials, and a sushi-making class, while encouraging community involvement through newly formed working groups.
February 2024 – Consider Yourself a Sushi Chef?
https://mailchi.mp/
This email promotes a hands-on sushi-making class led by volunteer chef Riskon, combining public learning with skills development for refugee chefs delivering cookery courses in English. It positions the event as both a cultural experience and a way to directly support refugees through food and community participation.
February 2024 – Food for Thought (February Update)
https://mailchi.mp/
The February update reflects on a busy month, including submitting a four-year lease application, hosting the café’s first cookery class, and launching the Plateful Lates jazz and dining series. It also highlights upcoming March events, celebrates International Women’s Day, shares a message from the founder, spotlights Russian piroshki, and reiterates solidarity with Palestine.
March 2024 – Celebrate Nowruz at Plateful Café
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter invites the community to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with live jazz and a three-course Iranian meal. It centres on themes of renewal, cultural celebration, and supporting local refugees through shared food experiences.
April 2024 – Saying Goodbye to Parkside…
https://mailchi.mp/
This edition announces Plateful Café’s departure from Parkside Community Centre following an unsuccessful lease renewal, alongside news of a summer residency at the Star of Greenwich. It recaps March highlights, previews April events, shares a chef testimonial, reflects on global issues including Palestine and Rwanda, and celebrates Persian cuisine as the flavour of the month.
June 2024 – Here’s to New Beginnings!
https://mailchi.mp/
The June newsletter celebrates Plateful’s move to the Star of Greenwich and a busy summer programme of festivals, supper clubs, exhibitions, and Refugee Week events. It highlights the café’s one-year impact through key statistics, shares chef perspectives, reinforces solidarity with Palestine, and showcases Peruvian cuisine as part of its cultural programming.
July 2024 – Summer in SE10!
https://mailchi.mp/
This summer update reflects on a highly successful Refugee Week, vibrant community events, and a popular Peruvian supper club at the Star of Greenwich. It also highlights upcoming July events, shares stories of chefs progressing into new work and training, and encourages readers to support refugees through informed voting and continued solidarity with Palestine.
August 2024 – Why We Do What We Do
https://mailchi.mp/
The August newsletter responds to far-right riots across the UK, reaffirming Plateful Café’s commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers while sharing practical ways the community can help. It also pays tribute to volunteer Anne Higget, previews summer events and fundraisers, celebrates successful collaborations, and explores Syrian cuisine through an educational feature.
September 2024 – Food for Thought
https://mailchi.mp/
September’s update reflects on a busy summer of festivals, partnerships, and fundraising supper clubs as Plateful looks ahead to autumn. It highlights Pullens Festival, the Care for Calais Supper Club, features founder Iolanda Chirico’s inclusion in a leadership publication, and encourages supporters to nominate Plateful for the Lewisham Community Awards.
October 2024 – Regularity!
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter focuses on planning for the festive season, the return of supper clubs, and Plateful’s growing catering work. It features reflections from founder Iolanda Chirico, highlights participation in Love Music Hate Racism, shares upcoming October events, and spotlights chef Faten’s culinary journey from Syria to the UK.
November 2024 – And Into Winter!
https://mailchi.mp/
November celebrates Plateful Café being recognised as a Community Champion at the Lewisham Mayor’s Awards and the launch of its first English conversation sessions. It also recaps sold-out supper clubs, promotes Christmas hampers and markets, announces a giveaway winner, and shares an update on the ongoing search for a permanent kitchen.
January / February 2024 – Food for Thought (Kick-ofc2024)
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter marks the start of 2024, outlining Plateful Café’s strategic priorities, including hiring a new volunteer coordinator, launching monthly volunteer days, and planning a regular supper club. It also previews February events such as Jazz Nights, volunteer socials, and a sushi-making class, while encouraging community involvement through newly formed working groups.
February 2024 – Consider Yourself a Sushi Chef?
https://mailchi.mp/
This email promotes a hands-on sushi-making class led by volunteer chef Riskon, combining public learning with skills development for refugee chefs delivering cookery courses in English. It positions the event as both a cultural experience and a way to directly support refugees through food and community participation.
February 2024 – Food for Thought (February Update)
https://mailchi.mp/
The February update reflects on a busy month, including submitting a four-year lease application, hosting the café’s first cookery class, and launching the Plateful Lates jazz and dining series. It also highlights upcoming March events, celebrates International Women’s Day, shares a message from the founder, spotlights Russian piroshki, and reiterates solidarity with Palestine.
March 2024 – Celebrate Nowruz at Plateful Café
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter invites the community to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with live jazz and a three-course Iranian meal. It centres on themes of renewal, cultural celebration, and supporting local refugees through shared food experiences.
April 2024 – Saying Goodbye to Parkside…
https://mailchi.mp/
This edition announces Plateful Café’s departure from Parkside Community Centre following an unsuccessful lease renewal, alongside news of a summer residency at the Star of Greenwich. It recaps March highlights, previews April events, shares a chef testimonial, reflects on global issues including Palestine and Rwanda, and celebrates Persian cuisine as the flavour of the month.
June 2024 – Here’s to New Beginnings!
https://mailchi.mp/
The June newsletter celebrates Plateful’s move to the Star of Greenwich and a busy summer programme of festivals, supper clubs, exhibitions, and Refugee Week events. It highlights the café’s one-year impact through key statistics, shares chef perspectives, reinforces solidarity with Palestine, and showcases Peruvian cuisine as part of its cultural programming.
July 2024 – Summer in SE10!
https://mailchi.mp/
This summer update reflects on a highly successful Refugee Week, vibrant community events, and a popular Peruvian supper club at the Star of Greenwich. It also highlights upcoming July events, shares stories of chefs progressing into new work and training, and encourages readers to support refugees through informed voting and continued solidarity with Palestine.
August 2024 – Why We Do What We Do
https://mailchi.mp/
The August newsletter responds to far-right riots across the UK, reaffirming Plateful Café’s commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers while sharing practical ways the community can help. It also pays tribute to volunteer Anne Higget, previews summer events and fundraisers, celebrates successful collaborations, and explores Syrian cuisine through an educational feature.
September 2024 – Food for Thought
https://mailchi.mp/
September’s update reflects on a busy summer of festivals, partnerships, and fundraising supper clubs as Plateful looks ahead to autumn. It highlights Pullens Festival, the Care for Calais Supper Club, features founder Iolanda Chirico’s inclusion in a leadership publication, and encourages supporters to nominate Plateful for the Lewisham Community Awards.
October 2024 – Regularity!
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter focuses on planning for the festive season, the return of supper clubs, and Plateful’s growing catering work. It features reflections from founder Iolanda Chirico, highlights participation in Love Music Hate Racism, shares upcoming October events, and spotlights chef Faten’s culinary journey from Syria to the UK.
November 2024 – And Into Winter!
https://mailchi.mp/
November celebrates Plateful Café being recognised as a Community Champion at the Lewisham Mayor’s Awards and the launch of its first English conversation sessions. It also recaps sold-out supper clubs, promotes Christmas hampers and markets, announces a giveaway winner, and shares an update on the ongoing search for a permanent kitchen.
January / February 2024 – Food for Thought (Kick-ofc2024)
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter marks the start of 2024, outlining Plateful Café’s strategic priorities, including hiring a new volunteer coordinator, launching monthly volunteer days, and planning a regular supper club. It also previews February events such as Jazz Nights, volunteer socials, and a sushi-making class, while encouraging community involvement through newly formed working groups.
February 2024 – Consider Yourself a Sushi Chef?
https://mailchi.mp/
This email promotes a hands-on sushi-making class led by volunteer chef Riskon, combining public learning with skills development for refugee chefs delivering cookery courses in English. It positions the event as both a cultural experience and a way to directly support refugees through food and community participation.
February 2024 – Food for Thought (February Update)
https://mailchi.mp/
The February update reflects on a busy month, including submitting a four-year lease application, hosting the café’s first cookery class, and launching the Plateful Lates jazz and dining series. It also highlights upcoming March events, celebrates International Women’s Day, shares a message from the founder, spotlights Russian piroshki, and reiterates solidarity with Palestine.
March 2024 – Celebrate Nowruz at Plateful Café
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter invites the community to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with live jazz and a three-course Iranian meal. It centres on themes of renewal, cultural celebration, and supporting local refugees through shared food experiences.
April 2024 – Saying Goodbye to Parkside…
https://mailchi.mp/
This edition announces Plateful Café’s departure from Parkside Community Centre following an unsuccessful lease renewal, alongside news of a summer residency at the Star of Greenwich. It recaps March highlights, previews April events, shares a chef testimonial, reflects on global issues including Palestine and Rwanda, and celebrates Persian cuisine as the flavour of the month.
June 2024 – Here’s to New Beginnings!
https://mailchi.mp/
The June newsletter celebrates Plateful’s move to the Star of Greenwich and a busy summer programme of festivals, supper clubs, exhibitions, and Refugee Week events. It highlights the café’s one-year impact through key statistics, shares chef perspectives, reinforces solidarity with Palestine, and showcases Peruvian cuisine as part of its cultural programming.
July 2024 – Summer in SE10!
https://mailchi.mp/
This summer update reflects on a highly successful Refugee Week, vibrant community events, and a popular Peruvian supper club at the Star of Greenwich. It also highlights upcoming July events, shares stories of chefs progressing into new work and training, and encourages readers to support refugees through informed voting and continued solidarity with Palestine.
August 2024 – Why We Do What We Do
https://mailchi.mp/
The August newsletter responds to far-right riots across the UK, reaffirming Plateful Café’s commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers while sharing practical ways the community can help. It also pays tribute to volunteer Anne Higget, previews summer events and fundraisers, celebrates successful collaborations, and explores Syrian cuisine through an educational feature.
September 2024 – Food for Thought
https://mailchi.mp/
September’s update reflects on a busy summer of festivals, partnerships, and fundraising supper clubs as Plateful looks ahead to autumn. It highlights Pullens Festival, the Care for Calais Supper Club, features founder Iolanda Chirico’s inclusion in a leadership publication, and encourages supporters to nominate Plateful for the Lewisham Community Awards.
October 2024 – Regularity!
https://mailchi.mp/
This newsletter focuses on planning for the festive season, the return of supper clubs, and Plateful’s growing catering work. It features reflections from founder Iolanda Chirico, highlights participation in Love Music Hate Racism, shares upcoming October events, and spotlights chef Faten’s culinary journey from Syria to the UK.
November 2024 – And Into Winter!
https://mailchi.mp/
November celebrates Plateful Café being recognised as a Community Champion at the Lewisham Mayor’s Awards and the launch of its first English conversation sessions. It also recaps sold-out supper clubs, promotes Christmas hampers and markets, announces a giveaway winner, and shares an update on the ongoing search for a permanent kitchen.
