Grounded Kitchen at Hogeschool Utrecht: a fresh flavour revolution

You may already know them from the funky little food truck, but now brace yourself for an exciting culinary journey as on October 23rd the Grounded Chefs unveiled the all-new Grounded Kitchen, a local and social restaurant, located in the food court at the faculty of Hogeschool Utrecht at Heidelberglaan 15, Utrecht Science Park.

Grounded has joined forces with Local2Local to pioneer an alternative, fair and health-conscious food system in the heart of Utrecht Science Park. Grounded Kitchen’s mission is clear: we support our local farmers in their dedication to sustainable farming practices and offer a respectable living wage to our young creative chefs, while providing high-quality, affordable cuisine. 

So tantalize your taste buds, because Grounded Kitchen’s chefs are creating magic with local veggies and worldly flavours. However, our commitment goes beyond the taste.

Grounded Kitchen is made possible through the collaboration of HU, Local2Local and Grounded (a community of students and young people which is actively engaged in the food transition). Local2Local has been working with farmers and student communities for positive social and ecological impact in the region for over a decade, making them the perfect partner for this endeavour.

How it started
HU approached Local2Local with the idea of opening a local restaurant. Our first step was to promote what we already had available; Operation Food Freedom, a weekly subscription to fresh local veggies and fruits, with HL15 serving as a pickup point. For the soft launch we named the OFF pickup point after the legacy of ‘Boerderij de Uithof‘ and we organized free tastings and giveaways of local fruits and vegetables for students and staff.

Local2Local are experts in transitioning to local and regional food chains, but we’re not restaurant entrepreneurs specifically. So we asked Grounded Community if they were interested and the talented chefs eagerly stepped up to the plate.

At Grounded Kitchen you can savour delicious, ready-to-eat, freshly made meals and discover an array of delightful snacks. And of course, it still doubles as a convenient Operation Food Freedom-pickup point and as a mini-market where you can stock up on local veggies and other produce to enjoy at home.

Grounded Kitchen also wants to serve as a vibrant meeting spot, connecting you with local projects and opportunities aimed at making a positive impact in the region.

So, come on down to Grounded Kitchen, where good food and great intentions come together to create a memorable and affordable culinary experience! A perfect moment to tickle your taste buds would be ‘Tasting Change’ on Thursday, Nov 23rd, in collaboration with Groentetas Utrecht! See you then!