On Friday 6th October, a unique line-up of leading chefs generously volunteered their time to support Adopt a School North West chef, James Holden, and team up with students from St Helens College, Southport College, Wirral Met College, City of Liverpool College and L20 at Hugh Baird College at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool and deliver a fabulous menu in aid of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Adopt a School Trust, a national charity delivering food education by sending chefs and hospitality professionals to work with local primary schools.
This annual event was hugely successful surpassing the amount raised in previous years, raising over £30,000 for the charity, with thanks to masterful auctioneering by Paul Heathcote MBE and very generous bidders.
The dinner featured a brigade of some of the biggest names in the industry providing guests with an equisite four course menu and John Hollywood from Iconic Luxury Hotels and Shaun Herbert from Royal Liverpool Golf Club expertly supported the students with the wine service during the evening.
Thanks to generous support from Wellocks, Kings Fine Foods, Aubrey Allen Butchers, Flying Fish Seafood, Rock Rose Gin and Essential Cuisine, the exceptional menu was:
• Canapés by Leigh Myers, Wellocks
• Ceviche, Hand dived Scallop, citrus, allium, caviar by Chef Gary Jones
• Delice of Chalk Stream Trout, Celeriac purée, brown shrimp, chanterelles, Champagne sauce by Paul Askew, The Arts School Restaurant
• Lamb, cutlet, shoulder, sweetbread - Influences from the spice trail by Paul Heathcote MBE, Heathcote & Co
• Swinton Garden Figs, Earl Grey Chantilly, Fig Leaf Meringue, Bergamot by Ruth Hansom, Samuel’s Restaurant, Swinton Estate
The dinner was also the perfect opportunity to celebrate and witness the impact that Adopt a School has on children’s lives. Children from St. James’ Catholic Primary School in Skelmersdale, whose school is adopted by Adopt a School North West Chef, James Holden, were invited to serve canapés to guests upon their arrival and then beautifully sang the guests into dinner, emphasising the raison d’etre of this fundraising event. After the event, teacher James Brammer, thanked Adopt a School and the chefs “for giving them such an incredible time”.
A highlight of the evening was hearing from Lucy-Mae Darcy, Chef Apprentice at the Ritz, who talked about how her experience with Adopt a School at Ascot Racecourse when she was 11 years old, and the subsequent support from the Adopt a School chef team, inspired and encouraged her to pursue a career in hospitality.
A special thanks to Adopt a School's James Holden for masterminding this fundraising dinner. Without James and the support from the chefs, Colleges and their students, this dinner would never have happened.
All proceeds from the dinner will go directly to Adopt a School, which works with 15,000 children every year delivering food education and cooking skills in primary schools, hospital schools, youth clubs and on farms. Adopt a School operates across the UK, but works extensively within the North West, West Midlands, Sussex and London: in areas with high levels of deprivation.
Helena Houghton, Executive Director of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Adopt a School Trust said: “Not only did this dinner showcase the best of our most established and emerging industry talent, it also raised much needed funds for Adopt a School enabling us to deliver a good food education to many more children around the country. Food education is key to giving young people the knowledge, practical skills and ability to be responsible for their wellbeing and to adopt a healthier lifestyle through informed choice. This is why programmes like Adopt a School are so important”.
