Award-winning chefs join together to support Lancaster cancer charity
Five of the north west’s award-winning chefs are set to come together and serve up an exclusive fundraising evening to raise funds to support the work of CancerCare, which operates four centres across north Lancashire and south Cumbria.
As dinner is served by the staff and students from the Kitchen Collective, members of Lancaster & Morecambe’s Culinary School, guests will be able to savour five courses made up of dishes created by the following chefs using the finest locally sourced produce generously provided by local businesses:
- Paul Leonard of Forest Side, Grasmere, will create snacks featuring new season asparagus, morels, wild garlic & ewes curd
- Nina Matsunaga of The Black Bull & Tsuchi, Sedbergh, will serve up the starter of Howgill Herdwick lamb & kimchi tartare, with cured hen’s egg yolk and puffed rice
- Jack Bond of The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter, will cook the fish course of roasted cod, with green tomatoes & nasturtium
- Ryan Blackburn of The Old Stamp House, Ambleside, will serve up the main course of salt aged duck with carrot, blood orange & chicory, confit leg, and duck fat btioche
- Oli Martin of Aven, Preston, will finish off the menu with a dessert of parkin tart, with white chocolate, rosemary & forced rhubarb
Proceedings on the night will be hosted by Lorraine Stanton, a leading figure in the region’s hospitality scene with more than 40 years of industry experience.
She began her career at the award-winning Michael’s Nook Hotel in Grasmere and later served as General Manager of the Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite, before going on to support hospitality businesses through training and consultancy.
For more than a decade, Lorraine has also led the Food Theatre at the Westmorland County Show and similar events nationwide, championing regional talent and working with some of the UK’s best-known celebrity chefs.
Tickets are priced at £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 purchase on the evening. Please note that, due to the nature of the event, a set menu is being served, which unfortunately means that the chefs are unable to cater for specific allergies or dietary requirements.
During dinner, there will be a silent auction and prize raffle, offering guests the chance to take away some fabulous items, including a Sail 'n' Dine Ploughman's lunch experience on Windermere, and a Michelin-starred culinary experience for two people at Source at Gilpin Hotel.
All proceeds raised by A Culinary 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.
The event is being held on Tuesday March 24, from 6.15pm, at Lancaster & Morecambe College.
Claire Mason, head of fundraising and marketing at CancerCare, said: “CancerCare is overwhelmed by the incredible support we have received from the chefs, Lorraine, Lancaster & Morecambe College, and other local businesses across the region who have generously donated wine, ingredients, and auction prizes.
"Fundraising events like this are a vital source of income for the charity, with more than 90% of our work funded by donations and fundraising from our local community.”
“We are thrilled to bring A Culinary Evening for CancerCare to Lancaster & Morecambe College for the first time. It promises to be a fantastic evening celebrating local produce, the exceptional talent of our region’s chefs, and, most importantly, raising the funds that enable us to support so many people every year.”
Lancaster & Morecambe College's employer engagement lead, Emma Dennison, said: "We are excited to be hosting this exclusive event in the Bay Restaurant in support of Cancer Care.
"We are passionate about supporting our local community, and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to help raise funds and awareness for an essential charity that supports individuals and families across our district, whilst giving our Bay School of Hospitality students access to some of the most talented chefs in the industry."
To buy tickets, visit https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/100926