Belazu to stage second virtual banquet in support of Hospitality Action and Belazu Foundation

Following the success of Belazu's inaugural virtual banquet in May, where guests raised £60,000 for Chefs in Schools, the ingredient company has announced another online cookalong in aid of Hospitality Action and the Belazu Foundation.

Chefs joining the line-up include Ollie Dabbous, Jeremy Lee, Ixta Belfrage and pastry chef and food writer Ravneet Gill. The evening will be hosted by Code Hospitality editor and food editor of the Sunday Times, Lisa Markwell and Mixologist and founder of La Maison Wellness, Camille Vidal, will contribute a festive low-alcohol spritz.

Dabbous will kick off with a dish of folded eggs with baked pumpkin, chestnuts and harissa butter.

The multi-course dinner will also include recipes from chef and restaurateur Eyal Jagerman and Pizza Pilgrims co-founder James Elliot, as well as a guest appearance from Belazu's resident innovation chef Henry Russell.

George Bennell, co-founder of Belazu Ingredient Company and Belazu Foundation, said: "We're lucky enough to have been supplying Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ingredients to longstanding customers and chef friends within the industry for the last 30 years. Now however, the sector is in dire straits; the Christmas period is usually one of the busiest times for our industry and with growing uncertainty we must rally to do everything we can to support those who have been and continue to be so professionally devastated during this crisis."

Participants to the cookalong will create a vegetarian banquet in their own kitchens. They can cook all of the dishes under the guidance of each chef during the event, or cook some dishes later using the banquet recipe booklet.

Mark Lewis, chief executive of Hospitality Action, said: "Covid-19 has triggered an existential threat to the future of the hospitality industry and, this winter, employees are facing poverty and even homelessness.

"During the last seven months we have been able to support thousands of hospitality families when they have had nowhere else to turn. With funds raised via Belazu's virtual banquet this December, we will be able to provide ongoing grants and expert advice to the hospitality world in the run-up to Christmas."

Tickets priced at £90 are available to buy here and include all the ingredients needed for a cocktail and a multi-course dinner.