It was a gala dinner of the best kind. With celebrity chefs Justin North, James Metcalfe, Shariq Hassan and Jaci Koludrovic at the helm, 150 guests were treated to a night of culinary excellence. And while this was a pretty incredible experience, the best part of the night was knowing that all the proceeds from this gala dinner were going to a very good cause, Variety – the Children’s Charity. Variety is a well-respected charity that helps disadvantaged Aussie kids have a fair go in life. The ‘Run For Kids Dinner’ marked the launch of the four chefs’ fundraising efforts for Variety, with Justin North participating in the NYC Marathon in November – a further fundraising activity for Variety.
Held at the Sailmaker Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency, the ‘Run for Kids Dinner’ was a fine example of how brands come together for the good of the community. The majority of the produce and services were donated, which meant the event only cost $1800 to run. The target for the night was $50,000 which was easily met (with over $53,000 raised on the night) after fundraising activities during the evening, which included a raffle and live auction.
Each of the four chefs’ had the opportunity to create a course, which was paired beautifully with premium local wines – 2016 Mollydooker ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz and 2016 Fox Creek Chardonnay – both from South Australia.
The incredible four course line up included:
Canapes by Shariq Hassan, Hyatt Regency Sydney (Sapphire Coast rock oysters, king prawns & fried karaage chicken, miso and green goddess)
Entree by Justin North, Concept Hospitality (Konbu cured hiramasa kingfish, spring vegetables & bergamot dressing)
Main by James Metcalfe, JRM (Braised Milly Hill lamb shoulder, carrot and cumin puree, purple congo potatoes, mint jus) The lamb was supplied by local produce farmer, Milly Hill who is suffering as a result of the drought, but still generously donated to the event.
Dessert by Jaci Koludrovic, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar (Geraldton wax leaf semifreddo with rhubarb, strawberries and toasted meringue)
But of course the main focus of the night were the kids and how the fundraising efforts provided the means to change their lives, for the better. You too, can help make a difference by supporting Variety. Help Aussie kids be kids by clicking here.