A café in Smithfield raised over €1,500 in donations after hosting a Ukrainian inspired dinner event on Friday for an important charitable cause.
Third Space Café collaborated with Smithfield Boxing Club for this event to raise vital funds for the United4Ukraine appeal created by the Irish Red Cross. The dishes for the event were all inspired by traditional Ukrainian recipes.
The staff of Third Space Café, a business and social enterprise, volunteer their time and cooking skills every month through a charitable initiative called the Square Meal, which allows for guests of up to 60 people to dine on their premises. Every month a different group or charity is chosen as the recipient of donations made by patrons.
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Diners do not pay a routine bill after finishing their meal, but instead can make a discreet donation in a wooden box near the entrance based on what they think the meal was worth.
Lee Coates, the general manager of Third Space Café, says the Square Meal initiative, which has been going strong for over six years, has a keen following within the local community of Smithfield.
“We have regulars who come along regardless of what community group or charity is being promoted on the night. The reason we are called the Square Meal is because we’re on the Square in Smithfield. The staff love to volunteer for it,” she says.
Lee also makes a special request of her guests before the evening ends - to chat to someone they have never met before. The emphasis on the night is to have fun and celebrate the local community.
Another recent fundraiser facilitated by Third Space was a dinner in aid of One Family Ireland, a support group for single parents, which is also located in Smithfield. A total of €860 was raised for the advocacy group over the course of the evening.
Lee says that a total of €1,040 was raised on the night of the United4Ukraine dinner and a further €500 was donated online.
The mains for Friday evening included a crème fraîche chicken dish served with roasted vegetables and a barley, bean and mushroom casserole as a vegetarian option. The dessert was a delectable curd cake topped with caramelised apples.
The next Square Meal event is scheduled for April 29, although the chosen charity has not yet been confirmed.
You can follow Third Space Café on Instagram here.
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