Michelin-starred chefs support Farm Africa's Gala Dinner

20 September 2018

Farm Africa is thrilled to announce that celebrated chefs Claude Bosi, Paul Hood and Ashley Palmer-Watts will design and prepare the menu at the charity’s biennial Gala Dinner on 27 September.

The evening will mark the second time that Ashley Palmer-Watts, Chef Director at two Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, has created menus for Farm Africa galas. He took to the kitchen at the charity’s last gala in 2016, held at the V&A.

French chef Claude Bosi of Chelsea-based Bibendum, which also holds two Michelin stars, Paul Hood, Chef Patron of Michelin-starred Social Eating House, join the Farm Africa Gala kitchen for the first time in 2018.  

Ashley Palmer-Watts, who has been a longstanding supporter of Farm Africa, has recently become an official ambassador for the charity. Ashley Palmer-Watts commented:

“I have supported Farm Africa for a number of years and I have seen first-hand how the funds raised have impacted local communities in eastern Africa.”

Paul Hood added:

“I’m very pleased to be supporting the valuable work that Farm Africa carry out by cooking alongside top chefs at what will be a fantastic fundraising event. Through our own sustainable sourcing at The Social Company, we understand the importance of supporting local businesses and appreciate how closely Farm Africa work with the people behind the produce.”

Farm Africa’s Gala Dinner will be held in the stunning surroundings of One Marylebone, a spectacular Grade I listed former church, which has been beautifully refurbished to the original designs of Sir John Soane.

Farm Africa is staging the dinner to raise funds to help farming families across eastern Africa escape poverty by increasing their yields and profits, while protecting the environment for years to come.

Supermarket Aldi will be providing a selection of its multi award-winning wines for guests to enjoy at the Farm Africa Gala Dinner 2018. Recently named ‘Supermarket of the Year’ at the acclaimed International Wine Challenge for its excellence in wine retailing, Aldi’s quality range is set to be the perfect addition to the evening.  

Guests will be invited to sip on a selection of red and white wines from the retailer’s acclaimed range, carefully chosen to complement the menu for the evening by Aldi’s Master of Wine, Sam Caporn.

What’s more, guests will be able to toast the evening with the supermarket’s bestselling Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut - a firm shopper favourite that was recently named among the best in the world for the third year running when it scooped a Silver Outstanding Medal and at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. 

Guests will also enjoy entertainment from the London African Gospel Choir, Jessica Radcliffe’s Jazz Band and a unique chance to bid on exclusive ‘money can’t buy’ prizes in both live and silent auctions, including an auction lot donated by Italian restaurant Osteria Francescana, named the World’s Best Restaurant in the 2018 World’s Fifty Best Restaurants awards.  The lot includes:

• Lunch for two at Osteria Francescana’s sister restaurant in Modena, Italy: Franceschetta58
• A tour of a local organic Parmigiano Reggiano farm
• Dinner for two at Osteria Francescana and the chance to meet Massimo Bottura, the restaurant’s chef patron
• Two nights’ stay in a luxury agriturismo in Modena.

Other lots include the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Royal Ballet, a Tanzanian trekking adventure, a limited edition photograph of the Beatles and original lithograph prints of artworks by Picasso, Renoir, Matisse and Miro, and meals at restaurants including Asador Etxebarri in Bilbao, Le Bernardin in New York, Steirereck in Vienna, Disfratur in Barcelona, Sorrel in Dorking and Septime in Paris.

Auction lots can be bid for by online by people not attending the Gala Dinner. The auction website is live now at www.farmafricagala2018.com