Cooking for a Cause
October 7th, 2009. Posted by luane
Sydney’s Best Chefs Help Feed Millions For OzHarvest
OzHarvest, the official charity partner of the Sydney International Food Festival (SIFF) and NSW’s exclusive food rescue charity, is launching the One Million Meals Campaign at the Paddington Uniting Church on Monday, 19 October 2009.
Arguably Sydney’s best chefs Neil Perry (Rockpool, Rockpool Bar and Grill, Spice Temple), Matt Moran (Aria), Steve Manfredi (Bells at Killcare), Robert Marchetti (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar), and Jeremy and Jane Strode (Bistrode), will join forces for one night only to help OzHarvest kick-start their One Million Meals Campaign where they hope to raise $1 million dollars to feed one million people by July 2010. These chefs have a total of 10 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Chef’s Hats between them. For most it is the only time they will cook during the Festival.
This invitation-only fundraiser, held at the Paddington Uniting Church, a beneficiary of OzHarvest, will see major corporations and supporters of OzHarvest cook alongside Sydney’s greatest cooking talent in what could be Australia’s poshest soup kitchen. Not only will the participants don aprons and clean up afterwards, they will also assist each chef with their chosen course. So imagine a CEO assisting Neil Perry with his three-shot chicken and rice, or his or her CFO plating up Matt Moran’s slow-cooked rib of beef? Priceless.
All money raised on the night goes to OzHarvest, a not-for-profit organisation that rescues unwanted food from restaurants, retailers, food outlets and corporate kitchens across Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong to feed communities at risk. Each ticket costs $500 and the event is already sold out. The MC for the evening will be SBS Food Safari presenter and OzHarvest ambassador, Maeve O’Meara.
Since 2004, OzHarvest has delivered a staggering 4.2 million meals with 5000 meals distributed every day to 162 charities. Not only does OzHarvest help the disadvantaged, it also diverts good food from being dumped as landfill.
Corporate heavyweights signed up for the soup kitchen extravaganza include Macquarie Group, AMP, ANZ, Aldi, Coca-Cola Amatil, Gadens Lawyers, Minter Ellison, and Toga Hospitality, Vodafone and Woolworths. Each company will send along a group of ten who will cook at each chef’s station.
OzHarvest ambassador, Neil Perry, who is leading the brigade of chefs, is delighted to be involved. “OzHarvest is doing an amazing job helping the hungry, homeless and needy. Just one dollar feeds one person so why shouldn’t we all help a young person falling through the cracks?”
You can donate by going online at www.ozharvest.org
OzHarvest Founding Director, Ronni Kahn, said this week, “By July 2010, OzHarvest are determined to raise $1 million to feed one million people. This event will certainly give us the headstart we will need – bravo to the chefs of Sydney!”
For more information about OzHarvest, or to arrange an interview with OzHarvest Founding Director, Ronni Kahn please contact: Sally Lewis at Liquid Ideas on sallylewis@liquidideas.com.au, 0410 311 501 or 02 9667 4211.
Tags: Neil Perry, ozharvest, Rockpool, Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney, Rockpool Sydney, SIFF, Spice Temple, sydney international food festival
