Food, Friendship & Sharing Home

Food for Thought: A Taste of Zimbabwe with Evelyne 🇿🇼Food, Friendship & Sharing Home

“I cannot be home, so let me share home with those around me.”

For our next Food for Thought, we’re heading to Zimbabwe through food, stories and the simple tradition of gathering around one shared plate. Our guest cook, Evelyne, moved from Zimbabwe to Penzance in December 2022. While Cornwall is now home, food remains an important connection to the country and culture she came from.

For this session, she’ll be preparing a popular Zimbabwean mixed-meat dish commonly enjoyed in urban areas, particularly among friends and co-workers.

Different meats are fried together with tomatoes and shredded leafy vegetables and served with sadza, a staple food in Zimbabwe. But what makes this meal special isn't only what's in it; it's how it's eaten.

The food is traditionally placed on one plate and shared between a small group of people, often standing around a table, eating, chatting and having a laugh together. It's informal, sociable and rooted in everyday life.

As our guest cook says:

“In our culture, food brings people together.”

So this Food for Thought will be about more than learning how a Zimbabwean dish is made. We'll talk about food, culture, migration, memories of home and the traditions we carry with us when we move somewhere new.

Together we'll explore:

🇿🇼 Everyday food and life in Zimbabwe

🥣 Sadza and its place in Zimbabwean food culture

🍲 The story and tradition behind this shared meal

🤝 Why sharing food matters

🏡 What food can mean when you are living away from your home country

💬 Friendship, community and belonging

And, of course, we'll share food and conversation together.

Meet our guest cook

Originally from Zimbabwe, our guest cook moved from Zimbabwe to Penzance in December 2022.

She is a nurse and particularly loves working with older people and listening to their stories. As she beautifully puts it, “Nothing beats living in an era you were absent.”

Since moving to Cornwall, she has fallen in love with its relaxed atmosphere, the sea and clean air, and the warmth and respect she has experienced from Cornish people.

She volunteered to lead this Food for Thought because she wanted to share a little of her home country with the community:

“I cannot be home, so let me share home with those around me.”

And we think that captures exactly what Food for Thought is about.

Important dietary information

Please note that this particular dish is meat-based and cannot be adapted for vegetarians or vegans.

The meal may include beef, pork, sausages, chicken feet, chicken gizzards and chicken livers. Please let us know about any allergies or dietary requirements when booking.

About Food for Thought

Food for Thought is a community-led series celebrating the rich cultures, traditions, stories, and lived experiences within our communities. These aren't formal cookery classes. They're an opportunity to gather around food, learn from one another, ask questions, share experiences and discover a little more about the people and cultures that make Cornwall home.

One dish. One story. Lots to talk about.

Everyone is welcome, whether you come for the food, the stories, the conversation, or all three.

🎒 Please bring:

A notebook for the recipe and reflections

An appetite for learning (and eating!)

Spaces are limited – don’t miss this beautiful opportunity to honour culture, community, and culinary wisdom.

We can’t wait to share this powerful, delicious experience with you! ✨

Food Allergy & Intolerance Disclaimer

Food for Thought is a community-led food demonstration and shared food experience. IWN is unable to cater for individual food allergies or intolerances and cannot guarantee that any food served will be free from allergens or cross-contamination.

Food may be prepared in community or home kitchens where a range of allergens are present.

If you have a food allergy or intolerance, please tell us on this form. We will share any available information about the food and ingredients where possible, but you are responsible for deciding whether it is safe for you to prepare, handle or consume any food during the session. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us before attending so that we can help you understand the nature of the session and decide whether it is suitable for you.

Description supplied by the event organiser.