Cook Together

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“I learnt that although Canada is cold, its people are warm (and kind hearted) and that people from different countries can come together as a community around food which is a message and a shared language.”

— Recipes Together co-facilitator

At The Depot, cooking is a way to share nourishing food and strengthen community. Through workshops and shared meals, people come together to learn new skills, cook and eat side by side, and celebrate the diverse food traditions of NDG.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN WORKSHOPS

Community Kitchen workshops bring people together to cook and share a meal. Guided by facilitators, you’ll exchange tips and food traditions while preparing affordable, healthy dishes.

Workshops include:

Recipes Together: A workshop where participants prepare a traditional dish and enjoy it together while discovering the culture and stories behind the food
My Healthy Family: A 3-week series for families to involve children in preparing quick, affordable meals
My Family in the Garden: A 3-week series in the summer for families combining simple gardening and preparing meals from your harvest, cooking at home
Basic Food Skills: A hands-on series for youth to build essential cooking skills
Men’s Kitchen: A workshop where men connect, build confidence, and learn to prepare simple meals

Eligibility:

Most workshops are open to everyone, with priority for Marché Depot participants and low-income community members.

Contribution:

You’ll be asked to contribute $2–$20 per workshop at registration, depending on what you can afford. How much you pay doesn’t affect your spot in the program. If you cannot pay, please speak with a staff member — no one is turned away for lack of funds.

COMMUNITY CHEF SERIES

This series celebrates the creativity and food traditions of our community. Participants receive an honorarium to co-facilitate a cooking workshop or lead a meal at the Resto Depot. Each session is a chance to share knowledge, explore diverse cuisines, and bring people together around the table.

Series include:

Guest Chef: Take over the Resto Depot kitchen, and with the help of our chef, prepare a meal for over 200 people.
Recipes Together: Join the food skills team for two back-to-back community workshops on a Saturday. You’ll co-facilitate the group in preparing a menu of dishes, share a short presentation about your culture, and then enjoy the meal together.
Roots of Flavour: Join the urban agriculture team to prepare a menu from your culture and co-facilitate a workshop in the garden. Together, you’ll cook the dishes and then share the meal.

Eligibility:

Priority is given to individuals who would benefit from the honorarium. If you’re interested in co-facilitating, we especially welcome newly arrived community members, particularly those who have been in the community for less than two years.

BOÎTE À LUNCH PROGRAM

Boîte à Lunch helps children and teens build confidence in the kitchen, gain nutrition knowledge, and develop healthy eating habits. Programs run during the school year and include a 10-week series for children (grades 4–5) and a 20-week drop-in series for teens (grade 6+).

Through Boîte à Lunch, you will:

Learn basic cooking and food preparation skills
Explore healthy eating and build a positive relationship with food
Try new foods and recipes from around the world
Understand where food comes from and your role in the food system
Practice teamwork, sharing, and cooperation

Eligibility:

Registration takes place in September and February.

Contribution:

The Boîte à Lunch after-school cooking workshops are heavily subsidized so they can remain accessible to all families. You’ll be asked to contribute $10–$100 at registration, depending on what you can afford. Your contribution helps cover a small portion of the real cost, which includes ingredients, materials, and support from our trained facilitators. If you’re able, contributing at the higher end helps us keep the program open to everyone. If you cannot pay, please speak with a staff member — no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Boîte à Lunch Regional Program

Boîte à Lunch isn’t just in NDG — it’s a regional initiative. In partnership with five other community organizations across Montreal, The Depot helps bring cooking and food literacy workshops to youth in multiple neighbourhoods.