Cook Like a Caribean

Key Details:

This project was designed to engage participants in a Caribbean food mapping exercise.

Project Overview

Cook Like a Caribbean was a heritage-focused initiative that documented and celebrated the rich culinary traditions of the Caribbean diaspora.

Far more than a simple cooking class, the project served as an oral history archive, gathering the deep-rooted knowledge, stories, and techniques of local residents to ensure these vibrant food ways are preserved for future generations.

Participants engaged in hands-on sessions where they learn to master iconic flavors, from the art of the perfect marinade to the history behind communal "one-pot" dishes, often using fresh ingredients grown right in the park’s greenhouse. By centering the expertise of the community, the project turned the kitchen into a space for storytelling, migration history, and cultural pride, reinforcing the park's role as a vital "edible landscape" in the heart of Lambeth.

This project served as a powerful bridge between culinary art and social history, centered on the belief that food is a "fantastic starting point to facilitate conversations about cultural heritage, map migration patterns, surface personal memories, and create a collective learning experience." Moving beyond the kitchen, the project focused on the creative co-production of a visual map that traces the global origins of ingredients and the complex historical influences that shaped Caribbean cuisine. This collaborative process resulted in a bespoke set of recipe cards, ensuring that the oral histories and technical expertise of local "Food Heroes" are preserved as a tangible resource for the community. By documenting these journeys from seed to plate, the project honors the legacy of the diaspora while fostering a shared space for storytelling and lifelong learning.

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