Simon Shades Social serves up Syrian banquet!

Hayden (left) completely immersed in the master class delivered by Syrian cook Nahed

One lucky attendee of this year's Simon Shades Social was treated to a 1-2-1 cooking master class courtesy of Lewisham based registered charity The Refugee Café.

Student Hayden Williams,13, learnt how to make a sumptuous three course meal comprising pumpkin kibben, okra and lamb mussaqa and cakes courtesy of Nahed, from Homs, in Syria. Nahad has been been in the UK a little over a year and now has a job at The Refugee Café.

Three courses were expertly prepared from scratch... the results were sensational!

Speaking at the conclusion of the four hour cooking session, which took place in Hayden's home, Nahed said: "Thank you for introducing me through the Simon Shades Social to such wonderful and kind people. I was very happy to meet them and teach Syrian cooking."

"Thank you for introducing me through the Simon Shades Social to such wonderful and kind people. I was very happy to meet them and teach Syrian cooking."

Also attending the class in a supporting capacity was the founder of The Refugee Café, Iolanda Chirico, Hayen's Mum Zoyia and The Brun Bear Foundation's Edwin Lampert.

Iolanda Chirico (The Refugee Café): "Wonderful to see Hayden so attentive and willing to learn"

"It was such an immense pleasure to support The Simon Shades Social and also cook with Nahed and Hayden," said Iolanda.

"The Refugee Café creates delicious food while providing pathways to employment to local refugees in the catering industry. This was our first cooking demo with a young person and it was wonderful to see Hayden so attentive and willing to learn."

Menu highlights included pumpkin kibben. A time consuming process but well worth the wait

Mum Zoyia was in full agreement. "The class and meeting with Iolanda and Nahed has been a wonderful all round experience with the bonus of a fantastic meal afterwards!"

Hayden won the meal following the inaugural Simon Shades Social on Saturday 17 July. The event was organised by The Brun Bear Foundation and formed part of The Simon Shades Scholarship

Hayden won the meal following the inaugural Simon Shades Social on Saturday 17 July. The event was organised by The Brun Bear Foundation and formed part of The Simon Shades Scholarship programme. This year the event took place online and brought together Lewisham Youth, Lewisham Alumni, Lewisham Celebrities and Lewisham Businesses in open conversation on food and futures.

Following the pumpkin kibeh came the main course.... a sumptuous lamb mussaqa

Connections were made across generations, cultures and backgrounds. Stories shared, opinions exchanged, experiences compared and contrasted. Inspiration on future pathways was provided by the mix of Lewisham Alumni and Lewisham Celebrities participating on the programme and attending across the day.

Alongside The Refugee Café, the event enjoyed the official support of Lewisham Council, Youth First, The Alabany and The Young Mayor's Office.

Alongside The Refugee Café, the event enjoyed the official support of Lewisham Council, Youth First, The Alabany and The Young Mayor's Office.

The date for next year's Simon Shades Social - which the organisers hope will be a live event - is provisionally set for July 2022.

The Brun Bear Foundation uses the power of communities to build better futures...

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