Kitchen Stories: Recipes of Belonging

Kitchen Stories: Recipes of Belonging is a participatory installation and series of drop-in sessions inviting Newham residents to share their recipes, stories, and memories that connect food with identity, migration, and belonging.

At the heart of the project is a beautifully curated table set up in different libraries in Newham during the festival. The table will be adorned with culturally significant props, ingredients, packaging, and fabrics that reflect the rich diversity of the borough and the local communities. It will remain in place as a living archive, a growing tapestry of personal narratives contributed by residents.

During the drop-in sessions, people will be invited to sit, enjoy a warm drink, and write down a recipe and a memory connected to it. These contributions will be made on specially designed recipe cards, available in multiple languages for accessibility. When I am present at the table, I will facilitate conversations, encouraging participants to share stories around migration, belonging, identity, and food. Even outside these sessions, the table will remain open for self-led participation: residents can use the provided materials and leave their contributions in a dedicated recipe box.

By the end of the project, Kitchen Stories will have collected a wide range of recipes and memories from across Newham, building a unique record of the borough’s cultural richness. The legacy of the project will be an archive that not only celebrates food as a bridge between cultures, but also creates space for reflection on how communities connect, remember, and care for one another.

13th-23rd November 2025

Commissioned by Newham Festival of Stories and Newham London.

Venues: Forest Gate Library, Beckton Library, Green St Library, Manor Park Library.

Facilitators: Veronica Revuelta Garrido y Elvira Fabregat Beltran

Photography: Christopher Hayes and Sylvie Belbouad

Collaborators: Newham Heritage centre

Festival of Stories is an innovative 12-day celebration that promises to highlight the different narratives within our community. Taking place from 13th-23rd November to 2025, this innovative festival promises to immerse attendees in a variety of captivating stories.

The festival aims to align with the borough’s cultural strategy of putting people at the heart of creativity and culture. By harnessing the power of storytelling, the festival seeks to break down barriers and biases, making cultural participation accessible and inclusive for everyone.

By celebrating stories, we not only recognise different voices but also encourage future generations to share their experiences and dreams. This festival shows that we are dedicated to making culture open and welcoming for everyone in our community.

https://www.newhamfestivalofstories.org/