Anyone for ugali?

Kitumaini Bisoka and Djidji Sanvura are both from Congo, but they met some years ago in a refugee camp in Kenya. The friends both now live in Lismore.

"The best thing about Lismore is peace," Kitumaini tells The Echo, a huge smile flashing across her face as she ladles out ugali (a Congolese semolina dish) on to a plate. "It's very peaceful here."

Kitumaini and Djidji are dishing up a Congo-style lunch at the Winsome soup kitchen. As well as ugali there's mandazi (a sort of African doughnut), chapattis, beans and chicken. The women have been preparing this lunch for Lismore's marginalised folk since 9am.

"We're happy to do this for the community," Djidji says.

"Yeah, it's good," Kutimaini chimes in, handing another plate out to an appreciative diner. "It's good people here. It's an interesting place."

Sharon Dwyer who is a kitchen helper and team leader for Wednesday's lunch group (the soup kitchen serves a free lunch everyday) reckons the Winsome soup kitchen provides more than just food for Lismore's disadvantaged.

"It's a place to hang out and meet with other people. It provides a sense of belonging," she says as she cuts vegetables. "There's a lot of networking going on now with Centrelink, legal aid, and an outreach worker for St Vincent de Paul coming here."

Sharon wants Djidji and Kutimaini to prepare a special African menu for the Winsome Café and Restaurant which opens to the public every second Saturday of the month.

Judging by the smells in this lunchtime kitchen, that's a dining event not to miss.