The recipe didn't call for a stone, but just like in the old folk tale about stone soup, everyone brought a little something for the pot.
And in the end, they all created a delicious meal of Fiesta Chicken.
At The Indianola Church in the University District, a new gathering that's open to all is one part cooking class, one part nutrition lesson, one part shared meal prep and a huge, heaping portion of community. The congregation that calls itself a "love first" church has created the Indianola Kitchen Collective, which invites participants to bring one ingredient each for a monthly recipe, share the work of its preparation and sit down together afterward for a communal dinner.
Eight people – from students to retirees, members of the church and
members of the community – came together for the first gathering in September. Another is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19.
"The best way I know how to show love to people is through food," said Leah May, a church member who came up with the idea. "It's not meant to be a churchy or religious thing. I want people to feel like they're coming to my house for a meal."
For the Fiesta Chicken dinner, those who signed up were assigned an ingredient such as rice, black beans, tomatoes, bell peppers or cilantro. (The church provided the chicken.)
People can participate regardless of their cooking skills, May said, so the gathering turns into an informal cooking class for some.
And as a registered dietitian, May offered nutrition advice at the first session on the benefits of brown rice vs. white.
She said she doubles the recipe – each person's share of ingredients costs between $5 and $10 – so everyone can eat together and take another portion home for a meal during the week.
Indianola Kitchen Collective gatherings take place in a church kitchen that was used by Coffee Underground. The church-operated coffeehouse closed in May after 11 years in business. People can register through the events page at theindianolachurch.com.
Follow Dispatch dining reporter Bob Vitale on Instagram at @dispatchdining. You can reach him directly at rvitale@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The Indianola Church brings community together through its kitchen
