FoodCycle Leeds Harehills is a weekly community meal based just off Banstead Park, out of St Aidan’s Church’s community hall, connected to the picturesque St Aidan’s Church, just a few short miles from the city centre, handily accessible by car, bus or on foot. (St Aidan’s Church, Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 5QD)
As you enter the place, at 6:30pm every Thursday, you will find a large community hall, with a decent-sized kitchen in the far corner, and large tables surrounded by chairs to encourage groups to gather and share and chat with each other. As restaurants go, it may lack the fine dining decor of a Michelin starred restaurant, but in its place is a genuine feeling of community and sharing, with graceful and gracious hosts who will do their best to take care of you and make your visit as pleasant and warm as can be. Anywhere you sit you have a wonderful view of volunteers bustling about preparing food, greeting guests, bringing drinks and listening and sharing.
Let’s discuss the menu, which is difficult because there isn’t one. Hundreds aren’t spent on fine goods that are really marginally better than what you could get at home, no money is wasted on truffles or gold leaf or anything else pretentious. No, instead they rely on food donated from shops, food that would otherwise have gone to waste, this means until the day they won’t know what they have to cook with. This is where the talented volunteers come in, they take what they have and divide a three-course menu on the fly, soups, stews, pasta, curries each week is different, but delightful, creative and generous. A lot can depend on the fates, as it depends on what they are sent.
I have eaten here several times, and have never left disappointed. I’ve tried things I might not have tried had I been presented with choices. I have met a multitude of different people from all walks of life, and many areas of Leeds, I’ve gotten to know several volunteers and I’ve been amazed by the community spirit of volunteer cooks and hosts and the guests that go there.
Rating: Five out of Five 🧡’s
Thought I’d have a little fun with a restaurant review style post for Leeds FoodCycle, as I’ve been going there regularly since January, and it’s a genuinely lovely experience, with lovely food, and lovely chat. I say this as someone with quite a bit of social anxiety, despite that I find it comfortable there. I’ve sat with different people every week and after two years of isolation, it’s lovely.
FoodCycle is open to everyone, you don’t need to be referred, no paperwork is required, your need might be you and your family need a good healthy meal, or it might be your soul needs the nourishment of community and compassion, or maybe you just want something to do – it is there and welcoming to all.
I covered FoodCycle briefly in the Harehills Good News Advent Calendar, and FoodCycle in Leeds is growing with an event in Beeston starting Wednesday 9th March at the Hamara Healthy Living Centre, another place you can get a healthy three-course vegetarian meal.
They are always looking for volunteers at both locations: cooking in the kitchen, helping to collect the food, or acting as hosts upfront. To find out about volunteer opportunities visit the FoodCycle site here: https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/
To find out more about FoodCycles in Leeds, or indeed anywhere in the country, visit their main site here: https://www.foodcycle.org.uk/
Harehills ❤️ Love 
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