TEN years ago, it was just a dream.

Last week, world-renowned French architect Francois Tesniere opened the doors to a $24million kitchen in Altona trading as Community Chef that will supply 1.5million meals on wheels a year to 20 municipalities, including Monash, Greater Dandenong and Casey.

Another 10 councils could join in within the next 18 months.

Mr Tesniere, of 3bornes Architectes, said the kitchen was a shared dream realised by many people.

"One year ago it was an open field with nothing on it.

"A year before that it was

just some ideas on a paper. And 10 years before, it was just a dream.

"Normally, meals on wheels are not very popular worldwide because it costs a lot of money for the local government to produce the meals.

"Politicians prefer to invest in theatre or swimming pools."

The building's design has won international awards.

It received $9million in federal funding, $6million from the state government, and $4.7million in cash and in-kind support from councils. The balance was borrowed.

Community Chef patron Gabriel Gate said the menu would feature about 200 dishes catering for diverse tastes and diets.

"Some people don't realise that if you are Italian and you have been eating your family food, when you get Meals on Wheels you don't really want to get an Anglo-Saxon meal, because it's not you.

"Once you get older, you probably go back to your roots a bit more and will want familiar foods."

Monash mayor Charlotte Baines said the kitchen would greatly benefit local meals on wheels recipients.

"Last year we delivered 108,000 meals to frail aged residents in Monash.

"The meals won't be changing over until December but when they do, clients will be provided with a wider range of nutritious meal choices than is currently available."

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