African Caribbean Food Month

About the celebrations

The month will be launched with a special event featuring TV chef Ainsley Harriott.

It will include a fantastic range of council-led and community-driven activities, including:

• Workshops and storytelling sessions
• School activities
• Cooking workshops
• Live cooking demonstrations
• Panel discussions and interviews with local chefs and food entrepreneurs
• Food author readings

If you are hosting an African Caribbean Food Month event, please email details to acfm@wandsworth.gov.uk so we can include it in our schedule.

How to participate

We are encouraging local businesses, schools, community groups, and even non African Caribbean food businesses to participate in the celebrations.

Local food businesses

Local food businesses can patriciate by:

• Hosting a Caribbean themed pop-up to showcase authentic flavours
• Creating exclusive deals or themed menus throughout October
• Spotlighting their most popular African Caribbean dishes
• Offering tasters to entice new customers

Communities

Communities can patriciate by:

• Inviting residents to bring and share their favourite African Caribbean dishes at a community dinner
• Hosting a bake off
• Hosting a cook off to find out who cooks the the best African Caribbean dishes
• Hosting an open mic or slam poetry evening to celebrate food themed stories, poems, and performances
• Organising food storytelling sessions to share stories, recipes, and the rich cultural significance of African and Caribbean cuisine
• Hosting a junior cook off to encourage children and teenagers to showcase their culinary talents

Schools

Schools can patriciate by:

• Incorporating food history and culture into their lessons
• Adding African Caribbean food items to their harvest festival table
• Inviting local chefs to run a cooking workshop
• Organising a African Caribbean show and tell event
• Inviting young food entrepreneurs to share their stories
• Hosting parent and child cooking events
• Holding nutrition and wellness talks to highlight the health benefits of traditional ingredients

Non African Caribbean food businesses

Non African Caribbean food businesses can patriciate by:

• Hosting a pop-up restaurant or supper club if their venue closes in the afternoon
• Collaborating with local chefs to run special events or themed nights
• Working with local chefs to create an African Caribbean inspired menu
• Offering a local chef a residency or the opportunity to cook on their premises
• Partnering with African Caribbean food businesses for joint marketing efforts

Heritage recipe book

Do you have a cherished African or Caribbean recipe that brings back memories of home, family, or celebration?

We’re collecting recipes and stories for the Wandsworth African Caribbean Heritage Cookbook, and we’d love yours to be included!

Submit your recipes

To submit your recipes, email open4business@wandsworth.gov.uk or drop it off in one of our recipe boxes at local libraries or in the Marble Hall reception at the Town Hall.

Please include the following:

• The full recipe, including ingredients and method
• A short story or memory behind the dish
• A photo of your family or the person who passed down the recipe, along with where your family originates from

Contact us

If you’re interested in joining the celebrations or have ideas for events, workshops, or collaborations, please contact us at acfm@wandsworth.gov.uk.