Cosmic Kitchen - Plymouth Climate Challenge

Aim

Back Cosmic Kitchen founders, Gabriela and Lucia to help Plymouth become healthier, happier and meet its climate change obligations.

Cosmic Kitchen is running a crowdfunder campaign to grow their business and in turn, help the city of Plymouth become healthier, happier and hit its climate change targets. 

Founders Gabriela and Lucia have taken a large step towards their target, winning the £20,000 first prize in the Plymouth Climate Challenge. They need your help as they aim to raise £60,000 to create a low-carbon, sustainable business that can inspire the city and region to reduce its meat consumption, and in turn increase the health and well-being of the residents. 

BEST VEGAN SPOT IN THE UK, 3RD IN THE WORLD!

Cosmic Kitchen, which started as a pop-up in Plymouth in 2019, recently received the top accolade of No1 Vegan Spot in the UK and 3rd in the World from TripAdvisor.

After navigating the lockdowns, Cosmic Kitchen founders, identical twins Gabriela and Lucia are committing to a long-term lease of their historic Plymouth building.  

WHAT THEY NEED

If they raise £60,000 they will be able to invest £40,000 in renewable heating systems and new cooking equipment, to shift the business away from a reliance on fossil fuels. Extra funding will create working capital needed to help develop a sustainable and resilient business together with aiding the diversification into a live entertainment venue operation that can thrive in Plymouth for the longterm. 

THE COSMIC CONCEPT 

The 100% vegan ‘good mood food’ concept is the brainchild of Plymothian/Greek Cypriot twins, Gabriela & Lucia Evangelou. Utilising local and seasonal produce, their easy to access food offer is at the vanguard of climate change catering; feeding and inspiring the residents of Plymouth on their journey to a future of lower meat consumption.

Cosmic Kitchen is committing to Plymouth, entering a long-term lease in an historic former Seaman's Mission, once the studio of reknowned Plymouth artist Robert Lenkiewicz. If they raise £60,000, they will reduce the carbon footprint of the historic building through insulation and investment in renewable energy sources. They will look to replace the gas boiler, install a renewable heating system and replace gas hobs with induction. They will also create working capital to enable the business to continue to grow, promote low-carbon food practices and become Plymouth zero-carbon businesses pioneers.

ALSO A GRASSROOTS MUSIC VENUE

Like cities UK-wide, Plymouth's live music scene has suffered over the last decade, as 35% of grassroots music venues closed nationally. Small-scale venues are key to the culture of a city, and Cosmic Kitchen has already launched the hugely popular Cosmic Sessions. Alongside their successful food offer, Cosmic Kitchen proposes to expand to offer a diverse programme of live entertainment. This growth aims to build community engagement, cohesion and in turn improve the health and well-being of Plymouth residents.

Back Cosmic Kitchen founders Gabriela and Lucia to help the city of Plymouth become healthier, happier and meet its climate change obligations.

THE BACK STORY

The twins have an impressive background in catering. Training as Chefs they gained diplomas from Plymouth City College, winning a national award in the process. Once qualified, they built extensive experience both locally and internationally. Whilst still in their early 20s, and after honing their skills at The Four Seasons Hotel in Cyprus, they embarked on their first business, opening a fresh juice and sandwich bar in Limassol. On selling the business, they returned to Plymouth, where they were involved in the launch of Marco Pierre White's restaurant. It was whilst working at MPW's Steakhouse that the twins became vegetarian, then vegan! That step helped them define their next challenge - to create an innovative, healthy and vegan restaurant concept. The idea of Cosmic Kitchen was born.

Initially created as a pop up for festivals, Cosmic Kitchen opened in the Old Morgue for 'Meat Free Mondays' in April 2019. The offer of healthy vegan wholefoods was an instant hit. Inventive dishes, such as their hugely popular vegan scotch egg, moussaka and rainbow salads created a strong customer base and the openings quickly extended to take in weekly Sunday roasts. Now rated as the No1 Vegan Spot in the UK and 3rd in the world, Cosmic Kitchen will be able to inspire residents of Plymouth to reduce their meat consumption by the government target of 30%.

Creativity and entrepreneurial spirit run through the girls' DNA. They are from the family that founded the legendary Van Dike Club, which introduced a rock'n'roll hall of fame to the region from the late 60's and through the 70's, and decades later their parents set up Plymouth's Club Fandango and were also involved in creating cabaret venue Annabel's. Alongside their passion for catering, the Evangelou Twins have become DJs, with Gabriela gaining a residency at the South West's biggest house and techno event, Casa, whilst sibling Elani is an active singer/songwriter, well known and admired on the Plymouth scene.

Now you have a chance to help build this exciting young business further enhancing the culinary and cultural landscape of the city. Support the Cosmic Kitchen crowdfunder and you will be rewarded with delicious helpings of their 'good mood food'. 

Go on. Back the girls, the future of food and a truly innovative venue. You know it makes sense!

This project successfully funded on 15th December 2021