Top chefs wield knives, not egos for charity

Top chefs wield knives, not egos for charity

• Official launch of the Supper Club 2012
• Auckland’s top chefs cook for families

Auckland, 9 May 2012 – Auckland’s top chefs set aside their culinary rivalry to create a home cooked meal the families staying at Ronald McDonald House Auckland last night. The 13 chefs prepped, cooked and served a meal to the 150 family members, who were pleasantly surprised by the high calibre cooking.

To avoid any potential competition, the chefs were given the ingredients and a menu of chicken, cooked vegetables, salad and dessert, but it was up to them as to how they interpreted this.

“At first we were a little concerned that there might be a bit of rivalry, a case of ‘too many chefs in the kitchen’, but we needn’t have worried. Everyone pitched in together and their energy and enthusiasm blew us away. The families just loved it and we’re looking forward to having the chefs at the House again next year, if not before,” says Wayne Howett, CEO, RMH Auckland Trust.

The purpose of the night was to launch the Trust’s annual Supper Club event, which will be held on 26 June and will involve 30-40 of Auckland’s most generous restaurants. A fundraising event, guests purchase a table of ten, and on the night it’s a lucky draw to find out which restaurant they are going to.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the chefs have helped us launch our Supper Club event in this way. Once they were in the kitchen there was no stopping them and we’re immensely grateful for their participation,” says Wayne Howett.

Last year the Supper Club event raised $70,000; doubling the amount raised the previous year and the tickets were completely sold out beforehand.

“This year, the interest has been overwhelming. So much so, we’re looking for more restaurants to come on-board to satisfy demand,” says Wayne Howett.

While the Supper Club event involves Auckland’s top chefs, the benefits are nationwide. The Trust provides accommodation and support for families from all over New Zealand, whose children must be in Auckland for treatment at Starship Children’s Hospital.

“What the Trust provides goes way beyond just accommodation. We provide shelter, support and a safe environment for families during what can be a highly stressful time. By providing a safe haven families can focus on the most important job, which is getting their child well,” says Wayne Howett.

All proceeds from the Supper Club dinner ticket sales go towards the development of phase two of the Trust’s Grafton Mews family accommodation facility.

To become involved in the Supper Club or to purchase tickets visit www.rmhauckland.co.nz

About Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Auckland Trust

The RMH Auckland Trust is a charitable trust that runs Ronald McDonald House Auckland Domain, Ronald McDonald Grafton Mews and Ronald McDonald Family Room in Starship Hospital.

In 2011 Ronald McDonald House Auckland provided just under 24,000 room nights to families in one of their three sites.

There are over 300 Ronald McDonald Houses in 30 countries around the world. With the addition of Grafton Mews, the RMH Auckland Trust has the largest room capacity in Australasia.

Ronald McDonald Houses have grassroots origins, which started in Philadelphia in 1974 with a McDonald’s regional manager helping a friend whose daughter had leukemia.

ENDS

© Scoop Media