Action Against Hunger raises £140k as top chefs prepare fundraising dinner

Culinary luminaries Heston Blumenthal, Angela Hartnett, Fergus Henderson and Herbert Berger helped raise £140,000 at Action Against Hunger's Fine Wine Auction and Dinner, held at 1 Lombard Street.

The theme of the night was turning wine into water for thousands of malnourished children and families around the world, with proceeds from the auction in association with Luxury Explorer going to support humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger's work in combating child hunger and malnutrition in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Guests to the evening were greeted with a Champagne Taittinger reception, with the wines for the dinner donated by Marchesi de Frescobaldi.

Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck), Angela Hartnett (Murano), Fergus Henderson (St John) and Herbert Berger (1 Lombard Street) each prepared a course for the dinner, which was attended by 180 guests.

The highlight of the evening was a bid of £10,500 for a meal for two at El Bulli, as part of the auction of 'once in a lifetime experiences' overseen by David Elswood of Christies.

The evening also saw the sale of a wine buying trip to Champagne and Burgundy for £7,500, with other lots including a hand crafted lace kimono with Swarovski crystals from Agent Provocateur and a private dining experience for 12 people with Richard Corrigan, chef patron of the Michelin-starred Corrigan's of Mayfair.

Frances Mason, trustee for Action Against Hunger, said: "It has been a difficult financial year, but we all have to remember that 'difficult' to the families Action Against Hunger helps means cutting down from three meals a day to one."

Herbert Berger, chef patron of 1 Lombard Street, said: "The support shown for Action Against Hunger tonight really brings home how important the work of this organisation is. Action Against Hunger makes a tremendous contribution to the fight against hunger worldwide.

"It has been a delight and great fun to work with such amazing chefs as Heston, Angela and Fergus tonight. This evening has been a wonderful success, and long may Action Against Hunger's good work continue."

Words: Clare Riley

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