One World Cafe
Storefront in April 2007
Restaurant information
Established2003 (2003)
Closed2012 (2012)
CitySalt Lake City, Utah
Coordinates40°46′05.5″N 111°52′56″W / 40.768194°N 111.88222°W / 40.768194; -111.88222

One World Cafe was a nonprofit community kitchen, and predecessor to the One World Everybody Eats (OWEE) foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah.[1] Its motto was "a hand up, not a hand out." The community kitchen concept is a restaurant based on a gift economy, allowing patrons to "pay what they can" and serving all members of the community regardless of their ability to pay. The Cafe incorporated volunteer and common-effort aspects similar to those of a community garden. The organization's stated goal was to provide all who eat high quality, all natural, simple food and to ask patrons to give fairly in exchange so that all could partake. In 2012, the cafe would close as the owner chose to focus on helping other communities, replicating their One World Cafe model in their larger foundation.[2]

Operation

The cafe served food according to a "no-menu, no prices" model. A pay-what-you-want model was used.[3][4]

If customers could not afford to pay, they could volunteer at the cafe doing dishes, cooking, or working in the garden, and receive meal vouchers in exchange for the work they performed. Patrons could also pay for a meal by donating supplies or organically grown produce to the cafe. A wish list was maintained in the cafe for those interested in donating specific supplies. One World did not turn anyone away for inability to pay. All patrons were asked to give fairly in exchange for their meal, but ultimately relied on a gift economy.

Fare

The cafe served an organic, natural, and local cuisine that includes vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes.[5] There was no standard menu,[5] the fare changes daily based on the availability of local food (often donations from patrons) and the Chef's inspiration. Although there was no menu, One World Everybody Eats specialized in "home-style" dishes from around the world featuring staples such as bread, soup, salad, entree, organic coffees and teas, dessert, grains, quiche, and dal and rice. The cafe purchased foodstuffs locally whenever possible.

History

The One World Cafe was founded by Denise Cerreta in 2003, and is one of the first pay-as-you-can cafes in the world.[3][6] The One World Everybody Eats Foundation[7] grew out of the concept of the cafe, to promote the social goals the cafe epitomizes.

Many in the food-service industry were skeptical that a restaurant business model that did not include set food prices would actually work, but One World Everybody Eats maintained the model since its inception. Since then, OWEE has closed the original location and is now focused on helping people start their own community kitchens.

In 2006, the founders of the SAME Cafe ("So All May Eat") in Denver, Colorado used the One World Cafe model as a basis for their own community kitchen.[6][8]

In 2008, the founders of One World Spokane opened using the OWEE model.

In 2009, One World founder, Denise Cerreta, stepped down from daily operation of the cafe, in order to focus on helping other communities open restaurants using the OWEE model.

In 2009, A Better World Cafe in Highland Park, New Jersey opened using the OWEE model.

In 2010, the OWEE Foundation began hosting a yearly summit in January for entrepreneurs with restaurants based on One World's model as well as those interested in starting one.

On October 19, 2011, The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation) opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant where patrons pay what they can afford for their meal, either with money or by volunteering work.[9]

In Nov 2011 One World Spokane closed.[10]

In 2012, the original Salt Lake City location closed. [11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stephenson, Kathy (2017-05-04). "Nourished in Utah, One World Everybody Eats movement earns top culinary honor for founder". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  2. ↑ "History". On World Everybody Eats. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Restaurant depends on kindness of strangers". Newsweek. NBC News. Associated Press. July 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  4. ↑ Mantzaris, Anna (April 2008). "Pay-what-you-like Restaurants". Budget Travel. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  5. 1 2 Ibarra, S.; Eggart, E. (2007). Let's Go USA 24th Edition. St. Martin's Press. p. 762. ISBN 978-0-312-37445-7. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Owens-Liston, Peta (2006-12-26). "Where 'Check Please' is Your Call". Time. CNN. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  7. ↑ Edberg, Erika (2007-06-29). "Salt Lake restaurant makes no profit, just feeds the hungry". ABC 4 News. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  8. ↑ Gergen, Chris; Gregg Vanourek (December 3, 2008). "The 'pay as you can' cafe". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  9. ↑ "About Us". Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  10. ↑ "One World Spokane closing - Too Many Cooks - Spokesman.com - Nov. 1, 2011". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "About Us". One World Everybody Eats Foundation. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
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