Your chance to do your bit
Action Against Hunger UK, the fundraising organisation that battles against hunger and malnutrition throughout the world, is again giving chefs the chance to turn the tables on food critics.
A week-long series of events kicks off on Sunday 13 October, when food critics will swap pens for pans and cook for more than 150 industry guests.
The event, called Too Many Critics, is now its second year and is the brainchild of writer Bill Knott. He has called on the culinary skills of fellow critics Charles Campion, Nick Lander, Fay Maschler and Caroline Stacey to aid him in the kitchen of London's Cinnamon Club on the night. Sommelier is Jancis Robinson MW.
Tickets cost £100, although there are reductions available for tables of six or more. The evening, which will begin at 6.30pm, will feature a Champagne and cocktail reception, dinner, raffle and a late-night cash bar.
Elsewhere in the country, participating restaurants will be offering special menus, parties, auctions, lotteries and raffles from 14 to 20 October.
While chefs are dining at the Too Many Critics function, Ian Fitzgerald, director of operations for the Brazz group of brasseries, will be in Chicago raising cash by running his first marathon.
Event co-ordinator Cara Wilkins said that the slightest contribution to Action Against Hunger Week would make a difference, with 91% of all money raised going directly to overseas activities.
"Let's take a table of four enjoying a special Action Against Hunger menu, where £1 per person is donated to the appeal by the restaurant," she said. "The four diners also leave a donation of 50p each, to make a total of £6 - that's half the cost of two weeks' intensive treatment for a severely malnourished child, treatment that will save his or her life."
Wilkins added that, over the year, tens of thousands of pounds have been raised by restaurants to help alleviate suffering, and with the current drought in southern Africa, the industry's help is needed even more urgently.
To purchase tickets for the Too Many Critics dinner, or to participate in Action Against Hunger Week, phone 020 7232 0606, click to www.hungerweek.org, or see next week's Caterer.
If you are taking part in the fundraising week, Caterer would like to hear about it. E-mail amanda.afiya@rbi.co.uk.
