Chefs join forces for Action Against Hunger

Chefs Angela Hartnett, Nathan Outlaw, Simon Rogan and Gizzi Erskine will join forces with artist Tracy Emin in support of Action Against Hunger’s annual fine wine auction and dinner next weekend.

The chefs have created a bespoke four-course meal for the event, which is taking place at 1 Lombard Street in Central London on 15 November.

TV chef and food writer Erskine will produce a starter of salmon sashimi with kombu ponzu and popped rice, while Outlaw will take inspiration from his two Michelin-starred seafood restaurant with his second course of mini fish pie.

Rogan will prepare a main of Cumbrian beef smoked over hot coals with beetroot, shallot and king oyster and Hartnett will round off the meal with a dessert of hazelnut choux bun with chocolate sauce.

Guests will enjoy a Champagne Taittinger reception with canapés provided by The Pig, Cheese Cellar and the Wright Brothers before sitting down to the main meal, which will be paired with wines from Allegrini, Tolpuddle Vineyard, Château de Santenay and Pieropan.

“As a chef, food is extremely important to me, and so I’m thrilled to be able to participate in Action Against Hunger’s Fine Wine Auction this year,” said Rogan.

“We’ll be raising vital funds to help families and communities gain access to nutritional treatment and safe, clean water.”

Charity auction

Stephen Mould, head of the European Wine Department at Sotheby’s will host a live auction which will include an ‘exclusive array’ of fine and rare wines, including a case of Château Latour 1995. Guests will also have the chance to bid on ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences such as a 12 party dinner party prepared in the winning bidder’s home by Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli.

Emin will present Action Against Hunger UK’s annual Humanitarian Award on the night, which this year goes to Ibrahim Muhammad of Action Against Hunger Nigeria, who has helped the organisation fight malnutrition in rural Jigawa State, an area beset by flooding and seasonal hunger crises.

All of the funds raised during the evening will go towards Action Against Hunger's work to tackle malnutrition worldwide.

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger’s Fine Wine Auction and Dinner is now in its eighth year and has so far raised over £1.3m, with each dinner raising over £200k.

The event always attracts high profile support from the industry, with past chefs including Raymond Blanc, Heston Blumenthal, Fergus Henderson, Tom Aikens, Tom Kerridge, Phil Howard, Clare Smyth and Claude Bosi.

Hotelier Robin Hutson, who co-founded the event, said: “Back in 1995, over a pint in the pub, Bill Knott and I cooked up the idea of the Fine Wine Auction and Dinner. We are completely thrilled that in eight years it has turned into the largest value single event for Action Against Hunger in the UK.

“This year looks set to be another fantastic evening, great food and wine, great auction lots and let’s hope very loose bidding hands to raise a record sum.”

For more information visit the event website