3,620 miles away from home

There is something about food that bring us together.

Redmaids' High have been working with Bridges for Communities and Westbury Welcome, who support families who have been resettled in Bristol. We invited five Afghan women to use our food tech room on Saturday morning to cook up a feast to share with their friends and family.

They cooked various stews with spinach, chicken, and lamb, including Kabuli Pulao which is made by cooking rice in a brothy sauce, topped with fried sliced carrots and raisins. Chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds may be added as well. The Qorma-e-Sabzi (Spinach Stew) looked and smelt incredible and was served with deep fried aubergines and a yoghurt dip.

The women had given us a list of ingredients that we bought, and they cooked their own dishes to take back to share with their family and friends. Rosemary Pearce, Food Technology Teacher, ran the session in terms of showing to our guests how to use the equipment, while Sarah Bramley-Dymond, Head of IT, and Lucy Malt, Compliance Officer, supported the women along with some Westbury Welcome volunteers.

Food is more than a mere biological need, and there is a good reason why everyone loves eating. It is a way to express emotions, to recall memories and to connect with friends and family. Furthermore, it is a way to share traditions and to gain a better understanding of other people’s cultural and ethnic backgrounds. At Redmaids' High we have always celebrated inclusion and diversity in all our activities and this event was the perfect opportunity to put those values into action. Watching our guests cooking in our food tech room, 3.620 miles away from their home, was a heart-touching experience that we will remember for a long time; it is the kind of experience that makes you reflect on the beauty and diversity of our world.  

Lucy Malt said: “It was wonderful to be able to offer the women a place where they could cook their favourite dishes from home and for us to learn about Afghan cooking. The women left with boxes of delicious smelling food, excited to share with their family and friends.”

We are looking forward to running some more sessions soon.