Elsie'S Northampton

This week we have a few of our Saturday Boxes available to pre-order to collect from the cafe 10:30-11am Saturday 8th December. They come in two sizes Small (£7) and Large (£12) and are filled with a mixture of tinned and store goods along with whatever fruit, veg and other bits we rescue this week. We also ask you to take as much bread as you can use. All our food is pay as you feel, the cost of the box is to help cover our overheads which include interception and storage costs. Please email the address on the meme to pre-order your box, we cannot accept orders by phone, text or private message.

Vegan sponge with fig and blueberry sauce

todays menu at Elsie's cafe. Come and join us for lunch at 12-1:30pm

Thursday 6th December brings another hearty soup to Elsie's along with Jacket Potatoes, Quiche and Garlic Mushrooms. With Sponge Pudding or Figs for dessert, what more could you want on a cold December day! Come along for a pay as you feel lunch between 12noon and 1:30pm. We're open for tea, coffee, cake and our Boutique table from 10:30am until 2pm.

An opportunity to really help us for the price of a cigarette a day for a year. Log on next Tuesday from 10.00am to Localgiving.org/charity/elsies You can make the difference!

We need to fill a very important role within Elsie's cafe: VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Elsie's is very busy and someone is needed to organise the volunteer rota for the cafe each week. We are looking for an internet savy, well organised people person to work 15 hours per week. You would also be a volunteer. Contact us for a full job spec. Email coordinator@fruitfulabundance.org with 'Volunteer Coordinator' in the subject line.... If this is not the role for you there are other roles available, ask for details or come to the cafe for a chat.
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What is better on a miserable December day than a bowl of steaming butternut squash soup. Thursday 12.00-1.30 at Elsie's.

Wednesday 5th December brings some more winter warmers to the cafe. Heartwarming Bean and Vegetable Soup followed by Ham and Mash. Why not come and join us 12-1:30pm for lunch. We're open serving tea, coffee and cake from 10:30am until 2pm and will have our boutique table available for you to come and shop for a donation of money, time or skills.

todays menu

Today David Attenborough laid down a picture of the future unless we take action. At Elsie's and the other Fruitful Abundance Projects we are taking action but we need you all to help. Food sent to landfill is a major emitter of CO2. Send us your best ideas for reducing food waste for a sustainable future.
https://blog.liebherr.com/…/food-waste- an-excessive-problem/

It's getting colder outside, so here at Elsie's Cafe we're creating some deliciously warming menus. On Tuesday 4th December we have a rich Mushroom and Tarragon soup to start you off, a sumptuous Mexican Chilli to warm you through all washed down with Profiteroles no less. Don't worry if you're Veggie or Vegan, we always a vegan option. On Tuesday there's Houmous and veggies, Vegetable curry and Fruit salad. All our food is pay as you feel, we rely on your donations to pay for our overheads and the ability to keep rescuing all this food from going to waste. We're open 10:30am-2pm serving food 12-1:30pm.

Coffee and cake with a Christmassy feel, from 10.30. Tuesday 4th December.

Amazing profiterole dessert tomorrow at Elsie's. Come on down for a wonderful lunch.

Please all be aware of this when buying food for Christmas, support local producers, don't buy too much, make sure what you buy is eaten, and don't over indulge (well perhaps just a little bit) as you know you will regret it.

We are finalists....thank you to all who voted for us.

Fruitful Abundance is the Community Interest Company that Elsie's cafe is part of. Did you know we offer outside catering. Take a look at this short video which gives a little more info.

todays menu open till 11am

we need your help! if anyone has any empty egg boxes please can you donate to us! we are struggling with our stock and need to minimise it
many thanks

Went to volunteer there today with my girls, we all really had fun. The people are so kind there and didn't see the kids as a nuisance. Very well run and organized and the food was really lovely and made for everyone's needs. Would highly recommend this place. I'm sure we'll be back soon to help out. Thank you for having us x

Went into the cafe today with my son as they were hosting a Recruitment Day for volunteers and we couldn't have had a warmer welcome from everyone. We came away even more impressed by what you amazing people do. Thank you to James for showing my son around the kitchen and explaining everything so brilliantly. And thank you Karen for all your help and being so informative. Truly inspiring folk you all are.

We LOVE our boxes on a Saturday! The kids help unpack it, to see what’s in it, and then we work out what meals we’re going to make, the fact they have coeliac disease makes no difference. From a large box we can usually get 3-4 meals (for a family of 5) with just a few additions. When there are meat bags as well, we can do it with no additions other than the odd herb/spice (but even then we sometimes get those in the boxes!). The boys are eating a lot more fruit and veg, and trying foods they wouldn’t usually, understanding where these boxes come from. Healthier kids, healthier planet. Win win!

Volunteers are very friendly. food was lovely. great u can just pay how much u feel it's all worth. paid £5 for a starter of ginger and pumpkin soup and a vegetable risotto with parnisan ontop an apple crumble for afters. Would defo recommend

This place is fantastic . Not only do they 'rescue' food and then pass on to very willing locals for donations , but they also run a delicious cafe . The staff are friendly and helpful . A real asset to the local community .

Really enjoyed the curry yesterday and the Kulfi was delicious! I'm really glad I found out about Elsies!

Popped in yesterday after a hospital visit, it's an easy walk from there and from the town centre. Had a delicious cup of tea, lots of friendly faces and picked up a few bits to keep me healthy!

Don't forget to give as much as you can, in time, money or skills.

Left with the standard warm glow :)

My Niece went today for the first to get us both some bits and she came away totally in awe of you guys are doing. Looking forward to an m&s toastie. But she was horrified at the fact that some people don’t even put a donation in. I understand people don’t have money. But come on. Even a £1 that’s all it takes. Thank you and we will be back and we will donate x

Just popped in for the first time after having read about the project on facebook. I was greeted by Darren who immediately offered to show me around and explain how it works. Thank you Darren. I was very greatful cause I had no idea and looked a bit lost. I had a coffee and a chat, was very tempted by the banoffee pie. I picked up some pears, sweet potaoes and some bread to make dinner today. Next time I will be earlier and definately have lunch. It is a great project and all the volunteers are really helpful and friendly. Keep up the good work, you are amazing!

Just been for the first time and was stunned at the amount of good quality food there. All the staff are friendly and do an amazing job reminds you that humanity is not all bad thankyou xxx

It's a great social and environmental project that as a customer I can't fault - the meals are good and the availability of decent vegetarian/vegan food there makes it easier to make good meal choices at home. Sharing tables with strangers can be fun and makes the world a little smaller and friendlier.

Incredibly friendly and relaxed. The food is great. It's unbelievable that all the food served would have gone to waste if it wasn't for these volunteers.

You never know what will be on the menu, but it's always good. Fully recommend!!

I visited Elsie's caf on Seedy Saturday (Feb 14th) with a friend. We had hot drinks and some snacks and they were delicious. The range of food was very impressive, lovely home made dishes sweet and savoury, all created from perfectly good ingredients (that were otherwise destined for waste) from retail/wholesale outlets. You pay what you feel for whatever you have - you can pay with money or time (helping with some of the chores). The atmosphere was lovely and everyone was very friendly. I really hope it gets good support and will be a roaring success. Well done to all involved.

Elsie's are amazing! We were having a hard week money wise and they delivered us a box of food I can only describe as HUGE - it was Amazing and will help my family no end! Even the treats of cakes and yogurts! Brilliant service, lovely staff and a great idea - we would love to use this service again - we cannot thank you enough

Brilliant project. Saving food from landfill, doing good for the community, serving great meals in the cafe. You pay what you can, so anyone having hard times ( financially, loneliness or anything else that ails our modern society ) can have a good meal in company with friendly people. And of course its not just the cafe, check out the boutique table for some good food to add to your meals at home. Keep up the good work guys. Thanks for all you do.

Attended the Binner at the college. What an amazing evening. Incredible food, wonderful service and a lovely venue. Worth every penny and more. Support this amazing cause!

Amazing place with fantastic philosophy. Rescue food that would otherwise be put into landfill and sell it for a donation to the local community. Keep up the great work and big thanks to all the volunteers.

Amazing place & amazing people doing incredible things for such a great cause. We are regular supporters and never got disappointed, highly recommend

A fabulous place. As a population we waste far too much of everything so to be able to do just a little not to reduce our impact is fab