Curry cook-off in the Yorkshire Dales
November 13, 2023
In July, our People and the DALES team welcomed mums from Bradford and our new Trustee Noreen Khan to the woods above Austwick Hall for a culinary competition by campfire – a curry cook-off in the woods!
The women are part of NEESIE, a community voluntary group that supports and seeks to empower single mums in Bradford. Our partnership with NEESIE helps to reach women who might not otherwise have the opportunity to access nature in the Dales, providing opportunities that improve their health and wellbeing and build confidence.
Ready steady cook!
Noreen asked the women of NEESIE what they would like out of their sessions with People and the DALES. They came up with the fantastic idea of cooking in the woods over open fires, which, for many of the women, is reminiscent of their early lives in South Asia, where cooking over open fires is commonplace. To add a fun competitive element to the day, they were split into teams, given the same ingredients, and a time limit to make as much food as possible in the style of ‘Ready Steady Cook’!
YDMT staff came along to judge the amazing food that was created, although everyone was a winner on the day and we were astounded by the skill that went into making the delicious food.
People and the DALES Officer Rosie said: “The curry cook-off was so much fun and a great opportunity for this wonderful group of women to come together in nature to cook in a way that many of them had grown up with.
This had a powerful restorative impact on many of the participants, who said they reconnected with lost, but important, parts of themselves. There were many tears all round! “This is at the heart of the work that we do in People and the DALES and it is a real privilege to be able to facilitate such transformative work.”
People and the DALES
People and the DALES stands for Diversity, Access, Learning, Education and Sustainability. We think that about sums up what we do – to enable people from diverse backgrounds to access the countryside, learn about nature and benefit from spending time in the Yorkshire Dales. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. Read about People and the DALES.
