Community kitchen?

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

I feel like there's an obvious answer for this that I'm totally missing, but I've wracked my brain and can't see the forest for the trees.

Is there a community kitchen or something like it in the area? I'm talking about a large industrial kitchen that an individual or group can rent/reserve to do big cooking projects. I imagine I could call around and ask a couple of the churches but since I'm not a member of any church I think I'd feel weird doing that.

This isn't for any official group -- I just have a few friends who would like to all have a pre-holiday cooking get together.

Comments

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Masonic Temples/Lodges often have something like this. I am not a Mason, so I don't know what the requirements would be to use it (likely there's a price), but it's an idea. Nearest Masonic Lodge: 1950 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA‎ - (617) 354-1336‎ (Google Knows All).

[thespian.livejournal.com]

Not what you're thinking of, no. FoodShare in Toronto used to have one, and it was *wonderful*...people who had skills would teach there (I learned how to make tofu there once, which was grand), it was used by women (mostly) starting food businesses (ie, you make some really good soup, and you want to sell it at the market, but you need a Board of Health certified kitchen to do that in, and you're on welfare; FoodShare would provide you with the space and tools and training in the Board's practices).

I miss it a lot (asked about this here once, a year ago, I think), and have frequently wondered if it would be a practical non-profit thing to start.

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

There's a Kitchen Incubator (http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/dec2007/sb20071214_603976.htm), but that's for startup food businesses - doesn't sound like it's for one-offs.

Churches sound like a good plan - here's one (http://www.stgeorgeofboston.org/contact/hallrental.html) (though not Davis)

[lionofgod.livejournal.com]

Is there actually a kitchen incubator in Davis? The only one I'm aware of nearby is in Jamaica Plain, and I am desperate for a closer one, since JP is much too far too be feasible for me for my hobby business.

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

The only one of which I'm aware is the one in the article I linked And also mentioned below), in JP.

[turil.livejournal.com]

There was some talk a year or so ago by the Somerville Community Corporation, I believe, about creating one in Somerville, but to my knowledge it never happened.

[annalauwa.livejournal.com]

i think health dept rules are going to be where you have the most problems with renting an industrial type kitchen.... although i could be wrong since this would just be making food for yourselves... but my church makes food every sunday for everyone/anyone who comes to church that week for free, and the health dept has some pretty strict rules for us on who's allowed to use the kitchen or not.

[siderea]

although i could be wrong since this would just be making food for yourselves...

Yeah, if you're making food for your own consumption, it's absolutely no problem. I belong to an organization which has been renting churches and cooking in their kitchens, a whole lot, for a long time.

(The real question is whether any of the local churches' kitchens are any good. "Church kitchen" is not a phrase which conotates a quality industrial kitchen to me.)

[annalauwa.livejournal.com]

hehe i guess it depends on the church. we're able to cook for over 200 people each sunday (not saying it's the best kitchen, but everything works), and i know that st atheineasius in arlington heights has a ridiculously good kitchen. crazy greeks.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

It is possible that you might be able to buy time at Nuestra Culinary Ventures (http://www.nuestracdc.org/ncvweb/index.html) in Jamaica Plain if they have an unbooked spot or cancellation. They're really for micro-businesses and vendors, though.

It's also possible you could do this as a private event (http://www.cambridgeculinary.com/privateevents.aspx) via Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Last March I went to a For the Love of Food dinner, sponsored by Shape Up Somerville. It was a really fun, communal cooking event, where we met families from all over the city, and we cooked an enormous meal together. I hope they do it again this year.

These events were held in a couple of different places. The one I went to was at the Family Center in Union Square, near Market Basket. I have no idea whether or not they would consider renting that kitchen out to a private party, but you could call Nicole Rioles, the Shape Up Somerville coordinator. She might know if there's a kitchen available somewhere in the city. She's a really nice person, and I'm sure she won't mind if you call to ask.
617.625.6600 Ext.2414
nrioles@somervillema.gov

[siderea]

I imagine I could call around and ask a couple of the churches but since I'm not a member of any church I think I'd feel weird doing that.

For what it's worth, many churches rent out their facilities as a way of earning some spare cash and they don't care if you're a member or not.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

I agree, the churches I've known have generally been welcoming of outsiders in their space, especially a nice liberal church, so the question would likely be more whether they're interested in renting out their kitchen than if you're members.

[elizethesleaze.livejournal.com]

you could also try the cambridge center of adult education, who holds cooking classes in a multi-station kitchen type room.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Talk to First Congregational Church (http://www.firstchurchsomerville.org/) on College Ave. They have a full kitchen in the basement that you can rent for a fee (by the hour, I believe). Don't worry that you're not a member. Theatre@First has rented there many times and we're the biggest bunch of heathen riff raff you ever saw. ;-)