Top chef Rosa Matto’s festive feast for Catherine House

Christmas dinner may seem like a normal part of life for most of us but the feast Rosa Matto is about to serve up will be like no other for the 70 women at her table this year.

Vulnerable women at Catherine House love nothing more than a ham on Christmas Day.

Catherine House spokeswoman Jaylee Cooper said the dish was among the crowd favourites served at its breakfast, lunch and dinner festive feasts.

High-profile chef Rosa Matto will cook for up to 70 women using fresh produce supplied by Adelaide Central Market traders.

It is the second time a lunch has been hosted for women using Catherine House – the State’s only recovery-based service for women experiencing homelessness.

“For a lot of these women, they have never had a Christmas like this, a lot of them haven’t sat at a dinner table and eaten with a family,” Ms Cooper said.

High-profile chef Rosa Matto, Skala retail manager Tanya Papa and Catherine House’s Jaylee Cooper at the Central Markets preparing for Christmas Day breakfast, lunch and dinner. Picture Dean Martin

“Everyone seems to love the ham but other popular things include roasts too.”

The market will also provide about 30 produce hampers for women in an outreach program living in their own accommodation.

Ms Matto said she would cook all day Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

“It’s one of the lovely things I do at Christmas time … I love giving Catherine House a little bit of support,” she said.

Adelaide Central Market trader Tanya Papa, retail manager of Skala Bakery, said she was proud to provide 50 croissants and 120 bread rolls.

“It is nice to do these sorts of things at Christmas time where there are people that are less fortunate,” Ms Papa said.