UK’S TOP CHEFS AND CRITICS JOIN RESTAURANTS AGAINST HUNGER – OCTOBER 2008

Every five seconds a child dies of hunger. Shocking isn’t it? Over 500 restaurateurs and chefs up and down the country think so and have joined forces to take part in Restaurants Against Hunger this October. A campaign from humanitarian charity, Action Against Hunger, Restaurants Against Hunger asks you to help fight hunger simply by eating out.

Throughout the month of October, to coincide with World Food Day on the 16th, restaurants, cafes and gastropubs will be busy fundraising by either donating a part of their takings to the charity, adding a small optional donation to their bills or hosting special events. All you have to do is pop along to a participating eatery and enjoy a great meal knowing that you have helped people in some of the world’s poorest countries feed their families.

Supporters of Restaurants Against Hunger include chefs Michel Roux Jr, Raymond Blanc (OBE), Giorgio Locatelli and Antonio Carluccio whilst restaurants signed up to date range from groups such as Carluccio’s to fine dining establishments including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, The Cinnamon Club, Restaurant Sat Bains, Saf, Pied a Terre and The French Horn and gastropubs like The Gun and White Swan. For a full list of participating venues around the country, please visit www.restaurantsagainsthunger.org

Rick Stein puts the case simply: “I believe it is important to take positive action. Together we can work towards a hunger free world; a world where everybody can have enough food to eat and access to safe drinking water; a world where no child goes to sleep hungry.”

One event destined to be the highlight of Restaurants Against Hunger month is Too Many Critics – an exclusive fundraising feast featuring the UK’s most renowned restaurant reviewers and celebrated chefs. Taking place on 19th October at the Royal Exchange Grand Café & Bar, this dinner will see a brave band of a brave band of ten food critics, including Charles Campion (The Evening Standard), Jay Rayner (The Observer), Matthew Fort (The Guardian) and Tom Parker-Bowles (The Mail on Sunday) being unleashed on the kitchen. Whilst diners enjoy an evening of fantastic food, fine wine and convivial company, tensions in the kitchen will run high as tables will be hosted by more than a dozen high-profile chefs. This is your once in a lifetime chance to dine alongside the likes of Raymond Blanc OBE (Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons), Shane Osborn (Pied à Terre), Fergus Henderson (St.John), Atul Kochhar (Benares) and Oliver Prince (Royal Exchange Grand Café and Bar).

From a kitchen in full sight of guests, the critics’ culinary labours will be beamed to large TV screens around the dining room, exposing every foible. During the evening, master of ceremonies and BBC Radio foodie, Nigel Barden, will be disrupting the cooks on duty for a chat and will invite dining chefs to pass comment on their technique. A charity auction featuring unique ‘money can’t buy’ lots, such as a one-off plate specially designed by Gordon Ramsay, will also take place.

Tickets for Too Many Critics are £130 and include a Champagne Taittinger reception, fiver course dinner and rare breed British pork tasting, with all proceeds going towards the life-saving work of Action Against Hunger. Special discounts are available for group bookings, with 10 tickets at £1200. A very limited number of Golden Tickets are also available for £250, allowing the lucky holder to sit right next to the chef of his or her choice and spend the evening in the company of a food hero. To purchase tickets for Too Many Critics, please contact Aimee Rowlands on E: a.rowlands@aahuk.org or T: 020 8293 6138.

Last year saw the Restaurants Against Hunger campaign in the UK raise over £300,000, with all funds going directly to support the vital work of Action Against Hunger. This year, why not give the campaign a special 10th birthday present by helping them to reach their target of £450,000.