HOW IT WORKS
Started by The Locavore, the Local Food Club (LFC) is a movement of food-loving communities across India—where people come together once a month to share meals, swap stories, and celebrate the rich, regional diversity of our food traditions.
It is a nation-wide initiative that’s entirely volunteer-led. Each gathering is informal, free, and open to everyone—home cooks, curious eaters, students, farmers, neighbours, old-timers, and first-timers alike.
Every LFC also has a vibrant WhatsApp group—your home base to stay connected between potlucks, share ideas, swap recipes, and plan what comes next with your local crew.
WHEN AND WHERE DO WE MEET
🗓 Every first Sunday of the month
🕓 From 4 PM to 7 PM
📍 In cafés, bookstores, community centres, gardens—or anywhere a table can be set
So whether you’re in Mumbai or Shillong, Manipal or Bhopal, your Local Food Club will reflect not just the geography, but the people who gather. Some LFCs may be city-wide. Others might be based in a specific neighbourhood, housing society, or college campus. There’s no fixed size or format—only the shared intention to connect through food.
Don’t see your city on the map yet? You can help start one! (More on that below.)
WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE
You’re encouraged to bring something meaningful. It could be:
A dish that celebrates what’s local and seasonal (enough for 6–8 people to taste and talk about).
A story or memory—your favourite street food vendor, the first time you cooked for someone you love, the joy of mango season, or a meal that brought you closer to your roots.
We’ve created clear, thoughtful Community Guidelines to help shape how we gather, share, and care for one another. These include:
An ingredient that’s special to your region, your kitchen, or your memory.
A utensil or object passed down in your family—a masala dabba, a ladle, a pressure cooker lid that holds stories.
Or simply…yourself—your presence, your curiosity, and your willingness to share, listen, and learn.
HOW TO JOIN A LOCAL FOOD CLUB
Joining your city’s Local Food Club is easy—and completely free. Whether you want to just attend a potluck or help build the community around it, we’d love to have you. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Fill out this short form.
We’ll ask for a few basic details—where you live, how you’d like to participate, and whether you’re open to volunteering (as a Host, Co-Host, or even helping us start an LFC in your city or town). This helps us understand your interest and add you to the right local group.
Step 2: Join your city’s LFC WhatsApp group.
Once you’ve submitted the form, we’ll add you to the WhatsApp group for your city or area. That’s where you’ll get updates about upcoming gatherings, venue details, and community stories. It’s also the space where the LFC really lives and grows—so feel free to introduce yourself, ask questions, or share a dish or memory you love.
Step 3: Come for the gathering!
Most meetups happen on the first Sunday of every month, usually from 4 to 7 PM. Just bring something meaningful to share—a dish, a story, a memory, or simply your presence. You don’t have to be a cook, an expert, or know anyone. If you care about food and connection—you’re in the right place.
WHO HOSTS THESE GATHERINGS
Each Local Food Club gathering is led by a Host, with support from a Co-Host and a Point of Contact (POC) for content—all volunteers from the community. Together, they make sure the gathering feels welcoming and meaningful, and run smoothly. You don’t need to be a chef or an expert.
You just need to care about food, people, and creating a space where everyone feels comfortable. Sign up to become a host here.
As a Host, you’ll be responsible for:
Before the Gathering:
Finalising the venue and ensuring basic logistics are in place (water, plates, seating, restrooms).
Inviting new participants—especially through your own network—to join the Local Food Club and encouraging them to bring something meaningful to the potluck.
Adding new members to your city’s LFC WhatsApp group and keeping the momentum going.
Collaborating with your Co-Host, who supports you this month and becomes the Host the following month.
Assigning a POC for content who will document the gathering through photos, short videos, and participant stories and testimonials.
During the Gathering:
Welcoming everyone and setting a warm, inclusive tone.
Introducing the gathering and explaining how it works.
Facilitating a simple activity or discussion to help people connect.
Making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and included—especially first-timers.
We’ve created clear, thoughtful Community Guidelines to help shape how we gather, share, and care for one another. These include:
After the Gathering:
Overseeing clean-up (with help from attendees) and ensuring the venue is left as it was found.
Ensuring the POC for content shares highlights (photos, stories, reflections) to document the gathering.
Sharing a short summary with the core LFC team.
HOW WE KEEP THINGS SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND MEANINGFUL
We’ve created clear, thoughtful Community Guidelines to help shape how we gather, share, and care for one another. These include:
Respecting all dietary preferences, identities, and opinions.
Avoiding any form of gatekeeping, discrimination, or exclusion.
Sharing responsibly—especially around documentation, food safety, and consent.
Creating safe spaces where everyone feels valued.
Each LFC chapter also follows WhatsApp Group Guidelines to keep conversations warm, clear, and clutter-free—so everyone can stay informed and engaged with ease.
We’ve also set up a dedicated support channel for any questions or concerns. You can reach us at connect@localfoodclub.in
Read the full Community Guidelines here.
The Local Food Club—a new initiative by The Locavore, in association with Rainmatter Foundation—brings people across India together to celebrate regional flavours, share meals, and build community. To get the latest updates on LFCs, sign up here.