Decade of Action Against Hunger wine dinners raises £2m

An annual wine dinner, now in its 10th year, passed the cumulative figure of £2m on behalf of Action Against Hunger on Saturday night.

The 2016 Fine Wine Auction raised £338,000 at a dinner cooked by José Pizarro on canapés, Raymond Blanc (starters), Jacob Kenedy (primi), Rick Stein (main) and Marcus Wareing (dessert). Some £67,000 was raised at the first dinner in 2005.

Originally launched by Robin Hutson, chairman and chief executive, Lime Wood Group and Home Grown Hotels; and Bill Knott, food and drink writer, in 2005, the event is part of Action Against Hunger's Love Food Give Food campaign, during which food lovers support people without access to food and clean water around the world.

For the last nine years, the event has been held at 1 Lombard Street, Soren Jessen's restaurant in the City of London.

Hosted by actor Hugh Bonneville, this year's dinner saw 180 guests enjoying canapes of jamón ibérico, prawn fritters with chilli and mint, salted anchovies with tomato bread and aubergine omelette; celeriac, apple and watercress salad; porcini risotto; red mullet stuffed with crab, olive oil and saffron sauce; warm chocolate, salted caramel, rosemary.

The total sum of money raised over the years is equivalent to providing a course of lifesaving therapeutic food to more than 47,000 severely malnourished children.

Hutson said: "We are thrilled with this result, it's pretty incredible to raise over £2m for Action Against Hunger in the 10-year period.

"It's a testament to the hospitality industry's generosity that so many have given their time, auction prizes and in many other ways to make this possible."

Hospitality industry rallies around Action Against Hunger Nepal effort >>

Top chefs to take part in Action Against Hunger Auction >>

Action Against Hunger launches ‘Love Food Give Food' appeal >>