combining charity and cooking: wok for 1000

wok for 1000 london is a fantastic way to combine cooking skills for a good cause

Back in the fall I had the pleasure of attending Wok for 1000, a charity event hosted by School of Wok and Plan Zheroes at one of my favorite spots in London, Borough Market (you can view my recs for the top five eats at this iconic food market here). School of Wok founder Jeremy Pang created this phenomenal event to teach cooking skills while providing 1,000 meals to London’s homeless shelters and also raising awareness about food waste.

School of Wok head chef and founder Jeremy Pang talks about food waste and the importance of giving back to the community

In London, Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives are a part of many major company’s efforts to give back to the community and to raise awareness about important social causes. Wok for 1000 is one of the ways in which corporations can send their employees on a day-long mission to give back. School of Wok recruits several area chefs to lead groups of 10-12 folks into assembling meals during the course of one day. This isn’t a lighthearted challenge — as soon as folks arrive, they’re tasked with chopping vegetables, stirring curry and assembling one of the 1,000 meals that will be dispersed throughout the city later in the day.

Wok for 1000 is only in its second year, but it’s clear already that this is a fantastic way for corporations and their employees looking for a way to give back to have fun, learn some cooking skills and also provide a worthy service to those in need. Chefs guided around 160 volunteers through making a chicken green curry (and a vegetarian version of the same), along with several other tasty Asian recipes.

Corporations paid £100 per person to participate, and all profits from the day were also donated to London area charities. In total, 30 chef volunteers also pitched in. While next year’s Wok for 1000 hasn’t yet been scheduled, corporations can organize their own Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in partnership with School of Wok with their “Cook for the Homeless” class.

Alternatively, if you’re coming to London (or live here) and are interested in taking an Asian cooking class, School of Wok has a wide array of Asian cooking classes that also incorporate getting to know the city better, like the Chinatown Walking Tour and Cookery Class. I mean, cooking AND getting to know London AND Asian food? Sign me up!