Star-studded charity dinner raises £16,000 for Hospitality Action

The Great Coast-to-Coast dinner held in Cornwall, raised £16,000 for Hospitality Action.

The event at The Alverton in Truro saw leading chefs from all corners of Cornwall come together to cook a five-course dinner to praise some of the county’s best ingredients and products for over 100 guests.

Hospitality Action is a UK-based charity dedicated to providing support to people working in the hospitality industry.

It featured an impressive lineup of visiting chefs, including stars from BBC Two’s Great British Menu. Jude Kereama of Kota and Kota Kai, who hosted the evening, was joined by Ben Palmer from The Sardine Factory, Chris Eden, who recently took the helm at Watergate Bay, 2018’s Southwest Chef of the Year Tim Kendall, and Cornwall Hotel Collection’s Executive Chef Nick Hodges.

They each prepared an impressive dinner in the historic Great Hall, showcasing the best seafood, meats, and produce from the region. Each dish was paired with a carefully selected alcoholic beverage.

Ben Young, managing director of The Alverton, and an ambassador for Hospitality Action, said: “What an incredible evening raising much-needed funds for Hospitality Action, a charity close to all our hearts, and it was such a unique opportunity to host so many of the Duchy’s finest chefs in our kitchen here at The Alverton.

“We are grateful to everyone who supported – in the dining room and back of house – as well as all the fantastic suppliers and industry colleagues who donated ingredients, products, and prizes to help us reach our target.”

Jude Kereama, chef-proprietor of Kota and Kota Kai in Porthleven, and  an ambassador for Hospitality Action and the architect of the dinner, added: “We all loved working together to support Hospitality Action, a charity that means so much to all of us.

“The atmosphere in the kitchen was electric and we’re absolutely thrilled that our guests had such a sensational time raising £16,000 for the charity. It will make a huge difference, and I hope this dinner will be the first of many to be staged the south-west.”

In a celebration of Cornwall’s culinary heritage, some of the county’s most renowned chefs took over The Alverton’s kitchen on the evening of February 27.