Australia’s top kitchen talent will unite in March to do their bit for children displaced by the conflict in Syria.
Following the success of #CookForSyria in the UK, the Australian version is a new nationwide fundraising initiative – in aid of UNICEF Australia’s Syria Crisis Appeal for Children – with a month-long campaign and a charity dinner held at The Point Albert Park, in Melbourne.
The Sydney chef line-up was announced earlier this month, and now the talent taking part in Melbourne’s initiative have been named, with participants including Andy Harmer (The Point), Thi Le (Anchovy), David Moyle (Franklin and Longsong), David Thompson (Long Chim), Karen Martini, Shane Delia (Maha), Shaun Quade (Lume), Frank Camorra (Movida), Victor Liong (Lee Ho Fook), Jacques Reymond, Dave Verheul (Embla).
The chefs will work together to deliver the charity dinner, serving their signature dishes with a Syrian-inspired twist.
“I am looking forward to being a part of this campaign alongside a wonderful group of friends and colleagues, and creating and sharing dishes that respect the culture of the Middle East,” said Jacques Reymond.
David Thompson said “Having been a visitor to Syria, I strongly believe in the cause and am very much looking forward to an amazing evening, working with my fellow chefs to create an unforgettable feast, and raising money to help provide life-saving support to children in Syria and surrounding countries who are displaced by the conflict.
The Melbourne dinner will take place at The Point on Monday 6 March at 6.30pm.
The campaign was initially put together by influential London Instagrammer, ClerkenwellBoy in collaboration with SUITCASE Magazine and NEXTGen London – UNICEF UK's young professional movement – and launched in London in November 2016. British chefs involved include Jamie Oliver, Yotam Ottolenghi, Fergus Henderson, Angela Hartnett and Nuno Mendes. Over £125,000 was raised in the first month from pop-ups, supper-clubs, bake sales and participating restaurants.
The #CookForSyria campaign aims to encourage everyone from top chefs and restaurants, to people at home, to cook and raise money to help children and families affected by the conflict.
