Food for the soul

‘Behind every meal there is something more’. This statement sums up the ethos of Refettorio Felix, a drop-in centre and community kitchen that has been serving vulnerable people in London’s Earl’s Court since 2017. It has an open door policy and welcomes in people who might be struggling with loneliness, homelessness or mental health difficulties.

Each week some 1,350 guests use the centre, 2,476 meals are served, 1601 kg of food is recovered, and 145 people volunteer. It is too simplistic to suggest that a meal and the social interaction that comes with that can solve all problems. But Refettorio Felix is proof that these things are hugely important to overall wellbeing. Guests come for lunch and then stay for the warmth and companionship that the centre offers.

The impact can be lifechanging. ‘Over the years, Refettorio Felix has been like a loving family, at times when I needed a safe harbour in the storm,’ says Andrew, who has been a Refettorio Felix guest since 2022.

Ambassadeurs Group (AG) has been a supporter of Refettorio Felix for several years. The hospitality team often volunteer to work in the kitchen and produce meals, whilst the wider team help serve the food. Earlier this year an AG team moved into the kitchen for a day to prepare curry for the charity’s daily guests. It is a partnership that makes sense to AG, given Refettorio Felilx is just a few miles away from the organisation’s Central London building.

Refettorio Felix is part of St Cuthbert’s Centre, a registered charity, that has operated as a day centre in Earl’s Court for more than 30 years. It was transformed into Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert’s through a collaboration with Chef Massimo Bottura’s non-profit Food For Soul.

Refettorio Felix became the first Refettorio (Refectory) outside Italy. Everything it does is grounded in Massimo Bottura’s guiding philosophy around the importance of a shared meal. With the advent of Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert’s came a focus on hospitality and restaurant-quality food. Guest chefs, including those from AG, come to cook food. At the same time, Refettorio Felix began a partnership with The Felix Project – another charity that AG is closely involved with – to source nutritious food that would otherwise be thrown away.

It is only by working with partners, volunteers and with a shared aim that Refettorio Felix is able to deliver something more than just good, nutritious food: ‘The gesture of sitting down to a meal and breaking bread together is the first step toward dignity and creating community,’ says Massimo Bottura.

https://www.refettoriofelix.com