Restaurant obtains food from special needs scheme

14/07/2008 16:44:11

A group of people with special needs is getting actively involved with a food growing programme for a restaurant in Ardmore, in county Waterford in Ireland, in order to contribute to its local community and be challenged, according to a source.

The Irish Times has reported on the De Kas restaurant in Ardmore, whose head chef Martijn Kajuiter rates the collaboration with the local residential and day-care St Raphael's Centre for people with "intellectual disabilities" as integral to the running of his kitchen.

With Mr Kajuiter's help, the existing horticultural project at the centre developed from simply supplying lettuces for sale locally to including a range of fruit, herbs and vegetables to be used at the restaurant and hence vary its menu.

The chef told the publication: "It's good for the kitchen because it takes more effort to work this way and it gives us an extra dimension. Every chef gets produce from the same producers, whereas we always have something different."

Mencap, the charity for learning disabilities, says paid employment brings individuals "greater independence" and allows them to "take control of their lives".

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