I must admit that I had no idea what an incredible organization Project Host was until tonight. I have driven by it on Academy St. and even heard of fundraisers for it, thinking that simply being a soup kitchen, it was great, but I learned tonight, that it is SO much more!
Project Host is a soup kitchen that, as they simply put, “uses food to nourish the hungry and train the unemployed.” They provide meals for approximately 150 people/day, 6 days/week to our less fortunate neighbors. They also help train underemployed people with the skills and knowledge needed to get a job in the food industry and to become more financially stable. And, I learned tonight, that they can make some phenomenal food.
Once a month they have a community dinner , which is open to all for $35/person. These community dinners provide advanced training, job skills, and income for their students. Last night I got a “taste” of what Project Host is all about.
The dinner is hosted at the soup kitchen and is typically a 3 course meal with beer and wine available. Since it is March, the dinner last night had an Irish theme to it, which honestly didn’t excite my palate from a glance at the menu, but it 100% exceeded my expectations.
1st course: Irish Stew with Braised Lamb and Spring Peas
This was honestly, hands down, the best Irish Stew I have ever tasted.
2nd course: Corned Beef, Sautéed Cabbage and New Potatoes with Herb Butter
Very well executed. Beef was incredibly tender and flavorful, and the cabbage and potatoes were an excellent complement.
3rd course: Chocolate, Almond, Ginger Cake
TO.DIE.FOR. It was definitely as good, if not better than it looks. The detail that went into this dessert is unbelievable. Lots of layers. Lots of ingredients. A few liquors. You had me at “bottom layer brownie”.
This community dinner was an eye opening experience. Not only did we have a phenomenal dinner with friends, but were able to shake the hands and personally thank and support these hard working students. This organization is doing way more in our community than we could imagine. Below is a summary of all the ways Project Host is impacting Greenville.
The CC Pearce Culinary School teaches unemployed and underemployed people the skills and knowledge needed to get a job in the food industry and to become more financially stable. We met some of these students, and they did a great job at the community dinner!
Cooking for Kids utilizes culinary students to make freshly prepared meals for children of low-income families. The goal of this program is to ensure that all children have access to delicious and nutritious food outside of school. They provide approximately 500 meals per day for kids! This is AMAZING!
The Soup Kitchen offers a balanced, nutritious meal each day in a safe, clean, and caring environment to all who are hungry. The soup kitchen is a great opportunity for volunteering with this organization!
The Bakery provides additional training and creates jobs for the culinary students and graduates through custom catering and baking. By using this service or purchasing prepared foods you will be directly supporting students on their path to financial stability. They have some serious talent in their bakery!!
The onsite garden and greenhouse has grown into Gardening for Good, a place for gardening resources and partnerships. The garden provides food for each of PH’s programs and serves as a teaching space for community gardens.
If you want to learn more, I highly encourage you to visit their website, www.projecthost.org.
Also, you should definitely save the date for their annual BBQ Cook-Off & Festival. This will be our first year attending, but this is their largest fundraiser, and we have heard great reviews about the BBQ and the wings! Who doesn’t love BBQ, beer & wine, and live music?
HAPPY FRIDAY and HAPPY ST. PATRICK’s DAY!
