What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10am - 3pm Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

FoodWorks Ottawa

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Ottawa, ON
FoodWorks Ottawa

We recruit youth via OCH Ottawa and teach kitchen skills under the supervision of a red seal chef. Please send us an inbox.
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FoodWorks is a social enterprise via Operation Come Home that delivers fresh, healthy, prepared meals three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). These meals are brought to you for only $8 a meal, including delivery. FoodWorks employs at risk youth and puts them under the supervision and mentorship of a world class chef- currently, Chef Bruce Wood. We teach viable, real world kitchen skill

s and cooking so our youth can gain employment upon completion of the program. These high quality meals are then delivered to lucky subscribers 3 days a week. The food is prepared in a certified inspected kitchen at Centertown United Church. About Operation Come Home:
Operation Come Home is an employment, education, and support center for homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 30. Their programs focus on what works and what matters to youth, as well as encourages personal growth of everyone as an individual. Are you a chef who would like to teach us a new skill or pitch in at our kitchen? Are you a food business owner or manager who would like to hire from our program?

05/14/2024

The golden perfection of our homemade Focaccia bread! 🍞. Who else loves Focaccia? 😋

05/10/2024

Indulge in a delightful journey of flavors with our exquisite wedding tastings! ✨ If you've got a wedding on the horizon and are looking for a caterer that combines mouth-watering cuisine with a passion for youth development, look no further than FoodWorks! Reach out today to learn more about our amazing wedding menu and let us bring an extraordinary culinary experience to your special day. 💍🥂

05/07/2024

Last week, our talented youth staff whipped up these mouthwatering cinnamon buns for our café.

04/25/2024

Thank you Leiah for the kind words! Have you ordered catering from FoodWorks recently? consider leaving us a google review! Reviews help us bring in more customers and supports our mission to provide supportive employment to our youth employees.

04/19/2024

Check out Sous Chef Ashlea's happy accident! She unknowingly arranged her workstation into the perfect social media-worthy photo! Prepping our fresh fruit platters has never been more visually appealing. Remember, reserve our services for your summer events to serve these delectable delicacies to your attendees!

04/16/2024

🚨Caution! Our staff are armed with torches and not afraid to use them...🚨for our desserts, of course! We made delicious celiac-friendly lemon tarts for a wedding tasting last week, and our youth definitely had fun handling fire! These tarts are exclusive to our wedding menu and perfect for spring and summer weddings.

04/11/2024

Take a look at that! Our youth employees cooked and packaged breakfast pastries for an early-morning event yesterday, and we're definitely jealous of our customers. Remember, we deliver between 6 AM and 10 PM, and pick-up orders can be arranged between 8 AM and 5 PM- so get your orders in today!

04/08/2024

When you ask the team to pull out the bacon tray, of course they can't help but make it a bit fun! Not pictured are the four to six times they pointed at the bacon tray. Candid photos are a thing of the past with this bunch!

04/05/2024

Who says April showers bring May flowers? Mother Nature has surprised us with another snow day! But fear not, soup lovers! We've got your back (and your taste buds!) with our stock of cozy soups to keep you warm during this unexpected third winter.

03/29/2024

Spring is (mostly) here, summer is coming, and it's a perfect time for a fruit platter! We offer two sizes, large- serving 15-20 and small- serving 8-10
A fantastic addition to your catering spread.

03/27/2024

It's no secret that our White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are our customers' favourite 😉 Cooked to perfection, fresh before your event, and sure to impress your guests!

03/25/2024

Beep beep! With Ashlea behind the wheel, you know we'll deliver your catering on time! As our customers have said, FoodWorks has always proven itself to be prompt, professional, and accommodating.

03/21/2024

Check out the incredible pizzas crafted by Mark at Flatbread Pizza co. Even if you couldn't catch him at farmers markets, don't fret - you can find his delicious creations at our store located at 571 Gladstone Ave.!

03/19/2024

Struggling to find affordable catering options? Feeling overwhelmed with coordinating rentals, bar service, or servers? Let us handle everything for you! Simply submit a catering request through our website, and our dedicated coordinator, Cecil, will take care of the rest.

Sit back, relax, and trust that we'll not only meet but exceed your expectations while staying within your budget!

Join us in making a positive impact while enjoying exceptional catering service.

03/15/2024

Thank you Jay for your kind words!

Have you used FoodWorks as a caterer? Leave us a Google review! Your review can help us reach even more people and make a positive impact in our community.

03/13/2024

We have lots of vendors in stock, and you might recognize a some of them from your local farmer's markets! As a community-based social enterprise, we only select vendors from the Ottawa Valley to feature in our storefront. It creates a cycle of giving that benefits all community members. Interested in seeing all we have to offer? Find us at 571 Gladstone Ave. Tuesday to Saturday!

03/11/2024

Book now for summer catering!

03/08/2024

Didn't get a chance to try the Mac n' Cheese at our pop-up with ? Not to worry, we've made more! Now available in-store for frozen takeout! Come visit us at 571 Gladstone Ave Tue-Sat 10-3.

03/05/2024

At FoodWorks, we make cooking fun! Often for youth participants, this is their first kitchen job, and we want them to fall in love with cooking. We mentor youth to succeed on all fronts, to give them the best chance of finding and keeping meaningful employment in an industry they love.

03/02/2024

Now that Spring is approaching, now is the perfect time to buy some native wildflower seed bombs!
These are made by Radical Roots, a Canadian company that started to encourage individuals to help the environment by providing food for pollinators. We carry a few different products of theirs, a DIY kit that's fun for dates or kid-friendly crafts, and ready-made seed bombs in packs of 2 or 30.
Only available in-store, so come on down to 571 Gladstone Ave. to see them for yourself!

02/28/2024

Looking for great ways to support your community? Need catering for your meetings or work events? Open to trying new options? Come try us out at FoodWorks!
We're a social enterprise hiring at-risk youth and teaching them vital skills to forward careers in the culinary industry. More than that, all proceeds from catering orders go directly to Operation Come Home, an Ottawa charity working to end youth homelessness since 1971! Book now to secure March 2024 timeslots.

02/16/2024

FoodWorks Ottawa is a social enterprise powered by the Charity Operation Come Home. Operation Come Home has been helping homeless youth in Ottawa since 1971- that's 53 years of care!
100% of proceeds from FoodWorks Ottawa go directly to Operation Come Home, supporting their mission of preventing homeless youth from becoming homeless adults. Every order from us is funds for education, employment programs, food, and clothing for Ottawa's most vulnerable populations.
It's no wonder our mission statement is Amazing Fod For An Amazing Cause!

02/10/2024

FoodWorks' freezers are stocked up! Come in-store or order online to bring these meals home with you.
Currently in stock:
Beef Shepherd's Pie
Butter Chicken with Brown Rice
Coconut Mushroom Curry with Jeera Rice
Classic Meat Lasagna
Chickpea & Mushroom Lasagna
Piri Piri Chicken
Vegetable Pot Pie
Individual Chicken Pot Pie
Individual Vegetable Pot Pie
And eight types of soups!
Have any questions? DM us or come to the store at 571 Gladstone Ave.

02/05/2024

1. A sharp knife is a safe knife! Dull knives are actually more dangerous, more effort is required and there's less control over the cutting path. You can end up repeating a sawing motion to try and cut something, which can easily lead to accidents. Sharp knives offer more precision and predictability, and faster chopping!

2. Preheating your pan definitely levels up your cooking game. Instead of the food sitting in a cold pan, preheating the pan leads to a faster cooking time, even heat distribution, and controlled cooking. Preheating is imperative for dishes like stir-fries and sauteed vegetables. ⁠
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3. There are multiple types of cooking oils, the most common being canola and olive oil. Some cultures also use peanut oil, palm oil, or sesame oil. Knowing the cuisine's preferred oil makes a huge difference in the dish! You should also be aware of the smoking point of the oils you use, using cooking oil above the smoking point could result in a burnt taste, lowered cooking efficiency, and potentially lower the nutrition level of the food. It's best to be avoided, and conscious of the temperature of your oil.⁠
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4. Seasoning in layers means adding seasoning at different stages of the cooking process to avoid over-seasoning too early in the process. For example; season the base ingredients first, then season while cooking the dish, tasting as you go along. Season the sauce/broth separately, adjusting the flavor before adding in the base ingredients. Final adjustments come right before serving, taste the dish and add any final seasoning. By seasoning in layers, you have more control over the final taste of the dish.

02/01/2024

Throwback Thursday! In 2019, our Team Lead Shlomo was just a summer student at FoodWorks, helping with marketing and delivering catering orders. My, have times changed. Now Shlomo leads both BottleWorks AND FoodWorks- and he does a great job at it! Cheers to Shlomo 👏⁠

01/29/2024

Today our youth are making our Traditional Cheese and Crackers Platter for a catering event!

01/24/2024

Soup Season has been upon us for quite some time now, making this the perfect opportunity to showcase our soups! Try our Italian Beef and Vegetable Soup (pictured below) and our 10+ other soups today!
Order in store or online through our website.

01/23/2024

Got a team lunch coming up? Consider FoodWorks Catering! Our boxed lunches include a sandwich, drink, cookie, and side salad. Visit our website to learn more!⁠

01/22/2024

We love it when we get to experiment with making different types of foods. Trying new things and moving away from comfort recipes is how our youth grow confidence in their work. This week, our youth made the pizza dough and sauce from scratch! These pizzas were brought to Operation Come Home's evening drop in for dinner. Yum!

01/20/2024

🌶️ Calling all spice lovers! 🔥 Looking to add some serious heat to your meals? Look no further, because we've got something hot and saucy for you! 😍🔥

Come try the legendary Haico's Hot Sauce, now available at our storefront!🤤💥

Whether you're a fan of mild or extra-spicy, Haico's Hot Sauce has got you covered! 😎🌶️ From tacos to burgers, wings to grilled veggies – it's the perfect companion for all your culinary adventures. 🍔🌮

Don't miss out on this tongue-tingling goodness – swing by our storefront today and grab your bottle of Haico's Hot Sauce! 🙌✨ Your taste buds will thank you later. 😉👅

📍 Address: 571 Gladstone Ave,
⏰ Store hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-3PM

See you spicy food lovers soon! 🌶️❤️

Address

150 Gloucester
Ottawa, ON
K2P0A6

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 3pm
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 3pm

Website

http://www.foodworksottawa.ca/

Alerts

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Videos

We asked Chef Tim the questions you submitted! Listen in to learn what Chef Tim's favorite recipes are and how he trains our youth. #foodworksottawa #cheftimstock #ottawacatering #ottawacaterer

Day in the life of a social media marketing & catering coordinator. #branding #business #advertising #dayinthelife #followme #vlog #ottawacatering #SupportSmallBusiness #CommunityImpact #GivingBack #OttawaCommunity #OttawaCommunitySupport #SupportLocal #OttawaCharity #OttawaSocialEnterprise

Prepare to be amazed by the incredible young chefs in our community who are taking noodle making to a whole new level 🍜 🤩 #asianfood #chinesefood #japanesefood #noodles #thaifood #comfortfood #causes #youth #giveback

Last weekend #bottleworks participated in the #KiwanisBedRace here in #ottawa This was us winning our first race!

Full house at the horticulture building for Operation Come Home 's SOLD OUT Breakfast on the Rideau!

Live from Operation Come Home's SOLD OUT Breakfast on the Rideau

From our home, to yours.

Our interview with Chef Bruce Wood. We discuss the program, cooking tips, and fun tales. (Please excuse the choppy connection, we didn't have wifi.)

All in a hard day's work. #workhardplayhard #kitchenlife #cook

FoodWorks purchases herbs & vegetables for our meals from Youth Now Farms, a local farm that employs and mentors marginalized youth. “It shows our youth the direct connection between the farm, the food, and the cooking. Vegetables that were hand picked two days before, in dirt, you can taste the difference." -Chef Bruce Wood #local #farmers #socialenterprise #healthy

Busy day in the FoodWorks kitchen today making some delicious jerk chicken tofu.

#timelapse of our kitchen superstars today ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh the weather outside is frightful.... and the roads don't seem to be much better! Foodworks thanks you for your patience and understanding regarding possible delivery delays and longer wait times today. #thankyou

Chef Bruce's #catsup in its infancy!

Meet Autumn- one of our kitchen superstars as they discuss what they've learned so far in our program and their challenges for future employment.

Sean and Layla - time lapse dream team! 😍 We're so very lucky to have a new home for our kitchen space- so much more room to bring you delicious food. 💻📲🥗🍕🥙🍗🌯🌮🥘🍲🍱🍰

Okey dokey gnocchi! Happy customer @thischarmingmandi enjoying her supper tonight! Yum!

Just hanging at #vegfestottawa today! Come by and check us out! Xo

Shortcuts

Our Story

FoodWorks is a social enterprise catering company under the Operation Come Home umbrella. We are dedicated to providing fresh and delicious chef quality catering services and meals for our local community.

FoodWorks is an investment into the future of at-risk youth. Our goal is to build and develop an inspiring and sustainable continuum of services to those who are at risk of losing their autonomy.

We understand that catering can be costly and add up quickly. FoodWorks offers affordable catering options to support a great cause.

FoodWorks employs youth recruited from Operation Come Home who are then placed under the supervision and mentorship of a world class Chef Bruce Wood. We teach viable, real world kitchen skills and cooking so our youth can gain employment upon completion of the program.