It's a Five-course Ritz cracker to celebrate Blumenthal's OBE

A surprise dinner honouring Heston Blumenthal and the award of his OBE in the New Year Honours was held on Saturday night at London's Ritz hotel.

The five-course meal was cooked by the hotel's executive chef John Williams and his brigade and was attended by leading chefs including Brian Turner, Raymond Blanc, John Campbell, Nigel Haworth and Andrew Turner.

Former chef Peter Kay, now a consultant to the Ark Foundation, organised the celebration to honour Blumenthal - pictured right with Williams - for his work throughout the industry.

Blumenthal, an honorary vice-chairman of the Ark, invites his customers to make a 25p donation to the Ark when they dine at the Fat Duck, his flagship three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire.

This year alone, the initiative is expected to raise more than £5,000 for the charity, which helps workers in the catering industry fight alcohol and drug addiction.