One World Cafe was a nonprofit community kitchen and a predecessor to the One World Everybody Eats (OWEE) foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.[1] Its motto was "a hand up, not a hand out."[2] The community kitchen concept is a restaurant based on a gift economy, allowing patrons to "pay or donate what they can" and serves all members of the community regardless of their ability to pay. The Cafe incorporated volunteer and common-effort aspects similar to those of a community garden. The organization's goal was to provide all diners with high-quality, all-natural, and simple food by asking patrons who are able to contribute to do so. In 2012, the cafe closed as the owner, Denise Cerreta, chose to focus on helping other communities, replicating their One World Cafe model in their larger foundation.[3]
Operation
The cafe was a for-profit business but served food according to a pay-what-you-want model.[4]