Sharrow Community Forum

With the huge success of cooking and eating events being run by Shipshape staff and volunteers, Blend has been born: a joint project between Sharrow Community Forum, Creative Action Network and Shipshape that is all about cooking, learning and sharing together with friends, old and new alike. Have a look at the new website, or sign up to the blog, or visit their twitter page to receive regular articles on stuff they're planning. 

If you are interested in learning more or want to know about getting involved on the Shipshape side, either drop in to Shipshape at 222 London Road to see Chris or give us a call on 0114 2500222. Here are some of the things that have happened over the last few months and may be happening again in the near future: watch this space for news.

Chris also offers help to enjoy good food and good health through practical cookery groups plus 1 - 1 and group support sessions.

The Supper Club

Our February Supper club was a great success at the Harland Cafe! We had 40 guests that enjoyed some delicious tapas food. For more information about future supper clubs please have a look at Blend's website on the supper club page. 

Old Junior School Cafe

We have now re-launched our Cafe at the Old Junior School.

For more information please:

- email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

- Visit the cafe page on the blend website: http://blendcookeatshare.yolasite.com/café.php

- Or see the new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blend-Community-Cafe/339347212753593?ref=tn_tnmn

Big Lunch

Including cookalong activities, BBQ and salads, a best cake competition and much more! Sunday June 5th was the Big Lunch, part of a national initiative to get people out and having fun together in the sun. The event was a huge success, so there may be more similar things happening throughout the year... a Big Tea? A Big Christmas Dinner? Watch this space for news.

Community Cook Alongs - 

The first of these took place July 2010 as part of the Sharrow Fringe Festival, and after overwhelmingly positive feedback, we now run them monthly.

Come and spend an evening cooking with your neighbours! We will provide all the ingredients and recipes and create a couple of interesting and healthy meals together. All ages welcome, and there will be plenty of leftovers to take home. They will be happening the last Thursday of each month and will run from 6:00 - 8:00 in the evening at the Old Junior School on Sharrow Lane. Admission: £2 for adults, £1 for children.

Also, introducing new Advanced Cooking Lessons which will take place the first Tuesday of each month. These will be a chance to learn some more complex cooking techniques and make some exciting and exotic dishes together. Admission: £10, advance booking required. Contact Lu at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or Chris at Shipshape.

For a timetable of what we will be cooking together over the next few months click here. Also see their website www.blendcookeatshare.yolasite.com

Surestart Dads group

The dads group at Surestart is from 10:30 - 12:30 on a Saturday morning and are free to attend as long as you are a dad with a child under 4. About once a month Chris and some health champions will be there helping you to cook something fun together for your lunch. These sessions are a lot of fun and potentially very messy! Hopefully you'll learn something from the simple group recipes as well. Contact Chris at Shipshape on the number above, or ring SureStart on 2507373 if you would like more information.

Sharrow Chef of the Year 2010!

The first annual Sharrow of the Year competition has taken place!

Sharrow Chef of the Year was a big success with La Terrazza winning the overall competition by 2 points from East and West Restaurant. Their winning dish was Pan fried salmon with polenta and a tomato salsa, which they accompanied with a dry Italian white wine. The judging panel commented on the simplicity of the flavours in the dish along with the outstanding presentation as the main reason for choosing it over East and West.

The event was attended by around 300 people over the course of the day, with people being able to try a number of different styles of food and learning some of the secrets of the best restaurant cookery in the area. La Terrazza's chef Mario Cantelimi really went the extra mile by bringing alongan amazing Italian Ricotta and Fruit cake for the audience and judges to taste and at 23 showed to everyone present what a talented young chef he is.

The event ran alongside the Sharrow Flea Market, Big lunch events and a play by Side by Side theatre company, which proved to be very popular with the residents of Sharrow.

Sharrow Chef of the Year is going to be back in 2011, so if you are a restaurant in the Sharrow, Abbeydale or Sharrow Vale area and are interested in taking part, please contact Shipshape using the details at the top of this page for more information.

Cook and Eat Sessions

Our cook and eat sessions are 1 to 2 hour long sessions where you will learn to make a healthy, cheap, easy to re-produce in your own home, meal. You will also get a recipe to take away for everything that you make. The courses are generally booked in blocks of six weeks and fill up fast! Get in touch today and find out more about the next opportunity for you to come and learn to cook something new.