Over 200 guests enjoyed a Tasmanian experience like few other. The inaugural Variety of Chefs Gala Ball. A Tasmanian celebration of fine produce, wine, live music and the entertaining duo of The Chef and The Showman, Chef Paul Foreman and John X who MC’d the evening. Above all it was a testament of a community rallying for a great cause.
More than $20,000 was raised on the evening which will go toward Variety’s Grants program and towards launching the second stage of the Variety Creative Arts Program which will be delivered at Clarendon Vale Primary School during term four. The program is delivered by an accredited Arts Therapist using creative arts therapy to help children who experience trauma and adverse life challenges in ways traditional therapy cannot.
Mohammad Aldergham of Variety Tasmania said “Our goal is to help children feel heard and understood and we believe this program will deliver on this goal.” noting “During the July school holidays, we ran the pilot stage at the Hobart Women’s Shelter, and the results were encouraging and in the case of an eight-year-old, were almost instant.”
The event brought together Variety’s motto of putting fun into fundraising events. There were live crossovers to the kitchen, cooking demonstration onstage even daring guests to catch flying freshly made Brazilian cheese bread “Pao de Queijo”.
The starter was Oli Mellers’ creation of Miso and Truffle baked Eggplant paired with Nocton Vineyard’s 2018 Sauvignon Blanc. Then it was Terry Barrett’s Pinot Noir cured Salmon with Labneh, salmon pearls and herb oil, matched with Derwent Estate 2016 Chardonnay.
The third course was Craig Will’s lamb rump with smoked almond, caper berry and fennel pollen, which was the perfect match for Bream Creek’s Estate 2017 Pinot Noir. The highlight for many was Chef Andre Kropp’s art piece dessert of Huon Apple bavarois filled with rhubarb cremeux, gel, chocolate walnut crumb and caramel served with Old Kempton Distillery’s Apple Liqueur cocktail especially created for this event.
The evening finished with guests on the dance floor, partying to two of Tassie’s top bands, The Embers and The Bad Dad Orchestra. The 2020 Variety of Chefs event is now open for Tables sale, go to www.variety.org.au/tas/events page or call 03 6248 4888 for more information.
ENDS
For more information, contact Mohammad Aldergham on:
Mobile: 0488 231 444
Email: [email protected]
