The Cochrane CookHouse closed its doors and bid its supporters and shoppers farewell Oct. 30 with a small ceremony.
While some community members, headed by Valerie McCracken of the Cochrane Farmer’s Market and foodie Loraine Bon, aim to keep the CookHouse concept alive and expand it into the ‘Cochrane Agritourism, Food Hall and Culinary Hub Initiative’ — it was a bittersweet goodbye for those involved with the CookHouse project since its inception.
“There was so much good that came out of the CookHouse,” said Susan Flowers, manager of Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), who has been involved with the project through its conceptual phase prior to its 2012 opening.
“There was community building, relationship forming, so many great volunteers…it felt like home.”
Tara Anderson was the CookHouse coordinator. She was involved with the grassroots project since 2011.
Anderson said she hopes the community will keep the vision of ‘locally grown, locally sourced food’ alive. She said she is pleased that Leslie Swan, owner/operator of the Twisted Basil, will be taking over the former CookHouse space, commenting that Swan was a ‘great supporter’ of the CookHouse.
“It’s all going to be local,” said Swan, who is headed into her ninth year of business, focusing on ‘healthy, prepared meals to go’.
While Swan, who used to have a storefront along Third Ave. West several years ago, has spent the last few years building her catering business for her clientele largely based in Calgary, the Cochranite is thrilled to have the opportunity to re-open a Cochrane space that will include a fresh, organic market and a café open for lunch.
“We’re going to be focusing on local farmers, ranchers and we’re opening our doors Nov. 15.”
The Twisted Basil offers a variety of gluten free and vegetarian options.
For Anderson, what stood out from the CookHouse legacy was the awareness and community building that resulted from their ‘Food Connect’ program.
“During our time we not only connected Cochrane residents to 30 different local producers that were not available here in town, but we implemented a larger program called Food Connect, meant to inspire and encourage citizens to think deeply about where food comes from, how it’s produced and the role it plays in a healthy, vibrant and sustainable community.”
The program, funded through the Calgary Foundation, the United Way and the Cochrane Activettes impacted some 800 participants and resulted in numerous volunteer opportunities over the last two years.
Opened under the town’s umbrella in 2012, the CookHouse was to become self-sufficient in two years and fell short of doing so.
