Charity serves up 'Hope' on a plate

Christmas Day diners at Hope Kitchen got a big helping of warmth, friendship and festive food thanks to Oban generosity.

 

Top chef and forager Gary Goldie, who lives in the town, took charge in the kitchen to serve up six festive courses with help of donations and a band of volunteers.

 

Centre manager Lorraine MacCormick said: 'We started off with 32 people for dinner but more kept coming in through the door. We had over 40 in the end and about 10 volunteers - some were regular helpers and others who we had never seen before.

 

'Our chef for the day, Gary, was so chilled and relaxed in the kitchen. He said it was the easiest Christmas dinner he'd ever made and I said it was the tastiest I'd ever had. Everyone enjoyed it.'

 

The  festive courses included a prawn cocktail starter, beetroot soup, turkey with all the trimmings and a Vegan alternative, Christmas pudding with meadowsweet ice cream, homemade mince pies and finally cheese with oatcakes.

 

'We didn't quite make the cheese and oatcakes, we were all so stuffed! We had so many donations from the community to make this happen. The police also called in with a hamper for us on the day and one man dropped by with a card, a poem he had written about us and a Tesco voucher to help us out when supplies start to go down in the New Year. We are so  grateful to everyone. Thank you very much,'  added Ms MacCormick.