Top chefs will come together to raise funds for a cancer charity.
The event, at Kendal College on Tuesday, November 19, is supporting CancerCare, which operates four centres across South Cumbria and north Lancashire.
It will be hosted by Lorraine Stanton, a luminary of Cumbria’s hospitality scene for over 40 years. As the general manager of Michaels Nook, Grasmere when it was awarded the first Michelin star in the north of England in 1996, and the very rare five Michelin Red Turrets award, and subsequently as the general manager of The Punch Bowl in Crosthwaite, before undertaking her present role organising and managing the Food Theatre at The Westmorland County Show.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, five Cumbrian Michelin starred chefs are set to be assisted at the pass by world-renowned chef Steven Doherty.
The Master of Culinary Arts was the first English chef to head up a three-Michelin-starred kitchen at the iconic Le Gavroche in the 1980s, ever since he’s made a significant contribution to the UK’s food scene.
As dinner is served by the staff and students of Kendal College’s culinary department guests will be able to savour five courses made up of dishes created using the locally sourced produce generously provided by local businesses including the likes of McClure’s, Windermere, Thornby Moor Dairy, Thursby, Winter Tarn Dairy Kendal, Lovingly Artisan Bakery Kendal, Roast Mutton Lakeland Butcher, Kendal, Lakeland Vintners, Ings, and Stainton Wines, Kendal to name a few.
Paul Leonard,of Forest Side, Grasmere, will create snacks featuring BBQ Belly of Herdwick with Whipped Sheep’s Curd and Black Garlic, alongside Lightly Cured Mackerel With Seaweed Custard and Aged Oscietra.
Richard Swale, of Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith, will serve up the starter of Cooked, Picked and Raw Vegetables from Askham Hall Gardens, served with Thornby Moor Dairy Soft Cheese & Roasted Duck Bone Vinaigrette.
Ben Queen-Fryer, of The Dog & Gun, Skelton, will cook the fish course of whole Maryport Dover Sole with Capers, Sultanas, Curry Sauce, and Triple Cooked Chips.
Ryan Blackburn, of The Old Stamp House, Ambleside, will serve up the main course of Cumbrian Venison Loin, with Celeriac and Onion & Truffle Jus.
Kevin Tickle of Heft, Newton in Cartmel, will finish off proceedings with a dessert entitled When Daisy Met Bramble, Mugwort Fudge, Mugwort Fudge Ice Cream, Blackberry Powder & Puree finished with Sourdough Biscuit Crunch.
Tickets are £150 per person, which includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a five-course set menu dinner.
Additional drinks will also be available to buy on the evening. Due to the nature of the event, chefs are unable to cater for specific allergies or dietary requirements.
To buy tickets, visit https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/63534
During dinner there will be a silent auction and prize raffle, offering guests the chance to take away some fabulous items including unique bespoke table centrepieces handcrafted by Miles-Moore Ceramics, Hornby specially for the evening.
All proceeds raised by A Five-Star Evening will be donated to CancerCare to help support their vital work helping people affected by cancer diagnosis, life-shortening illness, or sudden and unexpected bereavement, as well as providing cancer support for young adults and essential support for families.
Claire Mason, head of fundraising and marketing at CancerCare said: “CancerCare is overwhelmed by the support we have received from the chefs, Steven, Lorraine, Kendal College, and the other local businesses who are donating wine, ingredients or auction prizes. Fundraising events such as this are a vital source of income for the charity; more than 90% of our work is funded by donations & fundraising from within our local community.
“We’re so excited to bring A 5-Star Evening for CancerCare to Kendal for the first time, and it’s set to be the most fantastic evening celebrating local produce, the talent of our local chefs, and, of course, raising the money that enables us to help so many people every year.”
Ryan Blackburn, chef-owner of The Old Stamp House, said: ‘’I’ve known Claire for a few years now and have always said to her that we’d be interested in seeing if we could pull together a fundraising dinner to help CancerCare.
“The opportunity presented itself this year and so I got in touch with Paul, Kevin, Richard, Ben and Steven and went from there. Events of this sort take a huge amount of organisation and require the goodwill of lots of people to get them off the ground.
“We’re all grateful to the suppliers who have helped us with meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and dairy produce, the teaching staff and students at Kendal for getting involved and providing the venue and delivering service on the night and the many other people who have generously given their time to support what we are all trying to do.
“The charity provides invaluable help and support to all sorts of people across North Lancashire and South Cumbria, and we all felt that we wanted to do a little something to help them do what they do best.’’
