Around £19,000 was raised at the 15th anniversary dinner in aid of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt a School Trust, at London's Royal Automobile Club (RAC).
As well as celebrating new talent in the hospitality industry and raising funds to promote food education in primary schools, the dinner also marked the retirement of Philip Corrick, executive chef of the RAC Club and long-time supporter of the trust.
The dinner was prepared by Corrick, brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, John Williams and William Curley, alongside their protégés Ben Gielen , Emile Galvin, Adam Smith and Alistair Birt.
Supporting the brigade were students from three colleges: Bournemouth and Poole, Westminster Kingsway, University of West London and University College Birmingham.
The menu featured Cotswold White chicken pressing, langoustine, lovage, and potato soufflé; champagne-glazed Dover sole, apple, and pearl caviar; loin and faggot of venison with red cabbage and chervil root purée; and Amedei chocolate moëlleux with a cherry compote and pistachio ice-cream.
Young people from Downside Fisher Youth Club in Southwark, south London, whose youth club is adopted by Adopt a School chef lecturer Ashley Marsh, were invited to serve canapés to guests, emphasising the raison d'etre of the event.
The next fundraising event dinner for Adopt a School, supported by catering colleges, will take place at Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium on 21 June
Founded in 1990 by the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Adopt a School links chefs and hospitality professionals with over 16,000 children throughout the UK in primary schools, hospital schools, and youth clubs to promote cooking, healthy eating, food provenance, and sustainability.
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