Who’s Cooking Dinner? returned to The Dorchester, raising £330,000 for leukaemia research
On Monday, September 15th, one of London’s most prestigious charity dining events, Who’s Cooking Dinner?, returned to The Dorchester on Park Lane.
With a sparkling guest list and a line-up of some of the UK’s most accomplished chefs, the event raised an impressive £330,000 for Leukaemia UK.
The format remains unique in the UK: diners discover only on the night which chef will be cooking their bespoke four-course menu. This year, the collective culinary firepower amounted to 16 Michelin stars, each chef donating their ingredients, time and creativity to the cause.
Chefs cook for a cause
Among those behind the stoves were Jean-Philippe Blondet of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Michael Wignall of The Angel at Hetton, Jonny Bone of Core by Clare Smyth, Claude Bosi of Josephine, Ollie Bridgwater of The Gilpin, Phil Howard of Elystan Street, Deepak Mallya of The Ritz, Roberta Hall-McCarron of The Little Chartroom, and Ruth Hansom of Hansom.
Every table of ten guests enjoyed a menu devised specifically for them by their allocated chef, creating an intimate fine dining experience within the grand setting of The Dorchester ballroom. For chefs, the evening was not only about showcasing skill but also about solidarity in support of Leukaemia UK.
Francesco Mazzei, who will open a new restaurant at Corinthia London later this year, reflected on the personal resonance of the event.
A long-time ambassador for Leukaemia UK, he said: “I lost my father to leukaemia, so this is a cause that is really close to my heart. Who’s Cooking Dinner? is a truly unique event and it has been a pleasure to be involved for another brilliant year. It’s fantastic to see so many extraordinary chefs come together to support vital leukaemia research.”
Entertainment and guests
The evening was hosted by TV presenter Laura Hamilton, who welcomed guests and spoke of the importance of the charity’s mission.
She said: “It’s such a unique event, with incredible food and for a powerful cause. Knowing that every penny raised helps Leukaemia UK to fund more life-changing research made every mouthful taste even better.”
Entertainment came courtesy of M People singer Heather Small, who performed some of her best-known hits, including Proud, One Night in Heaven and Moving On Up, bringing guests to their feet after dinner.
The audience included a mix of actors, athletes, broadcasters and industry figures including Table Manners podcast co-host Lennie Ware, baker and presenter Juliet Sear, chef and TV host Matt Tebbutt, model Saffron Vadher and author Hannah Peckham.
£8 million raised since 1999
Who’s Cooking Dinner? was co-founded in 1999 by Chris Corbin OBE and Peter Gordon ONZM. Since then, it has become one of the most successful chef-led charity events in the country, raising more than £8 million to date for life-saving leukaemia research.
Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK, said: “At Leukaemia UK, we believe in the power of research to change lives. The money raised at Who’s Cooking Dinner? allows us to continue funding groundbreaking research, paving the way for kinder and more effective treatments for this devastating disease.”
The urgent need for research
Events such as Who’s Cooking Dinner? help sustain the momentum of research. By directing all funds raised to Leukaemia UK, the chefs’ generosity ensures that resources go directly into developing therapies that can save and improve lives.
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