Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Equipping the common kitchen - saga and questions

[sga1 (sga1]

On the topic of accomodating vegans,

The strategy that Marsh Commons has tentatively adopted is to have menus
posted ahead of time so cooks can cook what they want and vegans can
remove themselves from the dining list if they are not accomodated; to
post lists of ingredients and products that can be substituted for the
conventional product; to offer quick lessons after meals for those
interested in learning some simple tricks to make a meal vegan and for
vegans to stock the fridge with a few speciality ingredients that no one
else might know about (Earth Balance margerine, for instance).

Our vegans don't have issues with cooking pans or washers, so you seem to
have more strict vegans than we do.

Hope that helps, :)

Sean Armstrong
Marsh Commons
> Hi all -
>
> I'm part of the team at Eastern Village that is working on equipping  the
> common kitchen.  Remember, we have 56 units and it is becoming
> increasingly
> common for us to have 50 or more people at each meal (and  we still don't
> have a
> common stove yet!).
>
> As an FYI, we plan to split the difference on the great
> commercial/residential dishwasher debate and have one of each, with
> matching  stainless fronts.
> We want to keep a more residential look, so we plan to  get the Hobart
> under-counter commercial machine for general common meal clean-up  (and
> are working on
> taking Rob Sandelin's advice to raise it).  Right now,  we are planning
> for
> the residential machine to support our members who  are vegan or who keep
> kosher.
>
>
> We chose plain Corelle Winter Frost White plates (and got them at a  40%
> off
> sale) for their neutral design, light weight, break and chip resistance,
> and
> compatibility with either dishwasher. We splurged on tempered glass
> glasses
> that stack and we got inexpensive restaurant flatware from a restaurant
> supply
> place.  We don't have enough money for small tools and gadgets and linens,
> so we made a list of items we'd like to have in the kitchen and are
> soliciting
> donations from the community.
>
>
> Q: It looks as if we will have an electric stove due to some concerns
> raised
> by the fire marshal.  So, I am looking for recommendations for
> brands/types
> of large sauce and stock pans that are especially compatible with
> electric
> stoves.  Any thoughts?
>
> Q: For the ovens, we plan to use mainly stainless steel "insert" pans
> (half
> size, various depths) because they are cheap, versatile, easy to clean
> and
> fit four at once in each oven.  I am looking for a recommendation  for
> cookie
> sheets. Any other oven-related "must haves"?
>
> Q: Does anyone have a good source for a hardy and nice-looking kitchen
> cart
> to carry bus trays and or service trays back and forth between kitchen and
> dining room?
>
>
> Q: Are there any other communities that are trying to manage separate
> vegan
> or kosher dining issues?  If yes, do you have any tips for making it
> work?
>
>
> I don't know if the cohousing-L list wants these answers.  It is fine  to
> email me directly, using the same subject line, at dahako at aol dot  com.
>
> Jessie Handforth Kome
> Eastern Village Cohousing
> Silver Spring, Maryland
> "Where we celebrated Memorial Day with a big patio dinner in the courtyard
> using our new patio furniture and new common silverware. The rain stopped
> just
> in time!"
>
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>
>


Sean Armstrong


Project Administrator
31 South G Street
Arcata, CA 95521
707.826.1450
sga1 [at] humboldt.edu