Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to host charity dinner and auction for Project Food

River Cottage founder Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will host a unique dining experience for 60 guests at River Cottage HQ on Thursday 8^th September.

The event will raise vital funds for local charity Project Food, which supports local people to access nutritious food, improve cooking skills and confidence in the kitchen and learn how to cook to support their mental and physical health.

Hugh will greet guests in the garden before joining everyone for dinner in the beautifully restored 17^th Century barn.

River Cottage is internationally renowned for creating a constantly changing menu inspired by their SLOW ethos of ingredients that are Seasonal, Local, Organic and Wild. The evening’s plant-based meal will have been foraged and grown on the farm or by nearby farmers, growers and artisans who share their passion for the finest provenance. Guests will be enjoying the delights of canapes and welcome drinks in the beautiful kitchen garden, a three-course meal, followed by petit fours and coffee. It will celebrate seasonal, sustainable foods including produce from Trill Farm and Haye Farm.

To end the evening, Hugh will host the popular annual auction. Supported by local businesses, it will boost funds for the charity.  Lots will include afternoon tea in the River Cottage garden with Hugh himself, a skippered sail in a Sweden Yachts 45 from Plymouth and a delightful 2 nights stay in a Grade II listed holiday cottage in Lyme Regis.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Project Food supporter and event host said:

“Project Food is impressively flexible in the way they work with the community. It’s not just about teaching people how to cook, because sometimes people don’t have the energy to say ‘yes, I am ready to be taught’. Project Food takes the trouble to get to know the people that they are helping, listens to them, and gives them what they need. It’s a very nuanced way of working which enables them to create lasting change in families and in the wider community.”

River Cottage supports Project Food by providing talented chefs and staff to teach children’s cooking sessions during the school holidays.

Tiggy Parry, Project Food Director said:

“We are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to hold such a unique dining experience which we hope will raise vital funds for Project Food’s work supporting families and people with mental health problems who struggle to feed themselves adequately”

Sue, a beneficiary of Project Food said:

“My cooking is not reliable because of day-to-day health difficulties, but before Project Food, it was non-existent. I look forward to the friendliness of Project Food staff and the members of the group.  Without this, I wouldn’t be motivated to break out of my social isolation.  Without these constant positive monthly experiences, I would lose heart to continue to try to overcome my daily struggles”

There are 60 tickets available for this event priced at £85 per person and are available to buy on the Project Food website – https://www.project-food.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/river-cottage-dinner/

If you are interested in sponsorship, auction lot donation or would like to receive the full auction list before the event, please email kerry@project-food.org.uk