Community Comfort – A Charity Cookbook With a Difference
The first lockdown was a time of chaos and upheaval but also a time for revolution and change.
It gave time to pause and think, humanely, politically, and when world events forced us to look at ourselves more carefully and unite in mourning for the Black life of George Floyd, it brought into relief the huge discrepancies in everyday lives that people of colour were still subject to.
The first six deaths of health professionals treating those with Covid were all people of colour. A government report confirmed that due to many factors including coming from lower income backgrounds, not having the same access to healthcare and working in frontline jobs, the chances of people of colour contracting and dying from Covid was also significantly higher.
Riaz Phillips, a food writer, author and activist, wanted to help raise awareness and money to go towards those communities of colour who would be in need of funds for funerals, therapy, culturally sensitive counselling and support for victims and their families of Covid-19. He set about gathering chefs, restauranteurs, writers all from Black and Ethnic minority communities up and down the UK, to donate a recipe of comfort to compile a cookbook which would draw influence from around the world and the proceeds of which would go towards the Ubele Initiative, a charity that would do just that.
Sauce Communications worked to help Riaz source chefs to add to Riaz’s growing roster, including Great British Menu star, James Cochran who donated his famous fried chicken, Michael Caines MBE, and Evening Standard Magazine food critic Jimi Famuwera amongst others. Together they launched a publicity campaign to make sure as many people heard about the project as possible, flooding social with the front cover of the book and highlighting so many amazing food and drink talents who might not have seen mainstream recognition yet.
Including a Sunday Times Food national exclusive with a four page spread on date of publication in print, BBC GOOD FOOD recipe exclusive, hitting the Channel 5, Channel 4, ITV and BBC London news, in addition to countless profiling opportunities, Community Comfort was a resounding success and a must-buy collection for any foodie who wants to extend their cooking repertoire and discover truly amazing recipes.
It has also been selected as a perfect Christmas gifting option in BBC’s The Food Programme, BBC Good Food, Vittles and Tatler Magazine, being described as “The most important cookbook of the Year.”
To date the Manjozi Bereavement Fund in partnership with the Ubele Initiative and Community Comfort cookbook has beat its initial first target of £50k with its next target of £100k.
To download Community Comfort containing over 100 wonderful recipes of comfort and joy from around the world, by people of colour, head to Tezeta press and donate a minimum of £10.
With recipes including Fish Wings and Ting’s famous chicken curry, to a delectable chocolate fudge cake from Bake Off’s Benjamina Ebuhi, drool over their Instagram here.