Derbyshire restaurant gifts 120 meals to community care services for Christmas
Christmas came a few days early for staff and users of two Chesterfield care organisations courtesy of an Italian family restaurant who hand-delivered a traditional festive feast from the goodness of their hearts.
After a successful first year at the helm of Chatsworth Road institution La Dolce Vita Lambarelli’s, the Tufa family wanted to spread some seasonal goodwill to their neighbours.
With the restaurant closed on Sunday, December 21, the team went to work on preparing more than 120 meals for Chatsworth Lodge Care Home and a Christmas party at youth disability centre Fairplay.
Giulia Tufa, 19, who runs the eatery with parents Nicusor and Marina, said: “We just wanted to give back to the community. Christmas time can be hard for anyone, and so we wanted to bring some joy to people who are working so hard every day.
“We always try to do things for charity at Christmas but we’ve never had an opportunity like this before so it’s the first time we’ve cooked so much. It was quite a bit of work.”
The menu was prepared in advance to account for the range of dietary requirements, but everyone got to taste an authentic flavour of an Italian Christmas.
She added: “For Chatsworth Lodge we made some Sardinian gnocchi and garlic bread, which is a traditional comfort food for us at this time of year, and amoretto brioche. Then at Fairplay it was pizzas for their Polar Express party. It was so lovely to drop them off, and everyone was so welcoming.”
The meal was served as a surprise at the care home, so many visiting families got to share in the occasion too, and by the time dessert was polished off there were satisfied smiles all round.
Home manager Zenka Shires said: “It was a lovely experience for everyone involved. Our residents, visitors and colleagues really enjoyed trying something different, and it was great to welcome a new local business into the home and share the occasion.
“A huge thank you to the entire team at La Dolce Vita Lambarelli’s for coming down and letting us try your delicious cuisine.”
With a rare day off for Christmas itself before reopening on Boxing Day, Giulia and her family are set to announce the winners of a festive raffle in aid of Ashgate Hospice on December 27.
Giulia said: “We want to say thank you to everyone involved at the hospice for all they do, to our staff members for working so hard and most of all to our customers for coming in and having such lovely times.
“We’ve had so many nice interactions with customers, so many Christmas cards and felt so much appreciation for what we do every day, and that’s really important for us.”