Two Suffolk chefs have raised over £20,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, at a sell-out dinner at Suffolk New College, Ipswich.

Chefs Maria Elia and Nicola Hordern worked with Suffolk-based journalists and Guild Members Tessa Allingham and Linda Duffin, director of service industries at Suffolk New, Mike Mulvihill, and events manager Aimee Jay, to organise the event in just two weeks.

The chefs led a brigade of students under chef-lecturer Dan Russell-Poole, and a line-up of Suffolk professionals, to cook for 100 guests at Chefs’ Whites restaurant at the Suffolk Centre for Culinary Arts. 

Ingredients and drinks were donated for a four-course feast that celebrated Ukraine, its people and its food. The menu included pampushky garlic bread made by Pump St Bakery, zeleniy borsch, slow-roast Dingley Dell pork with sauerkraut, and St Jude curd, polenta and walnut cake with bay leaf ice cream. 

Every penny raised from ticket sales, raffle and auction, will go to the DEC.

Linda Duffin said: “This shows just how compassionate and generous the people of Suffolk are. I’ve never been so proud to live here. The money we’ve raised will help to save lives and alleviate suffering for the victims of this cruel and needless war. Thank you, everyone.”

Tessa Allingham said: “I’m so proud that we hosted this event just two weeks after the idea was first mooted – and to have raised £20,000 is beyond our wildest dreams.”
 
For more information contact
Linda Duffin  linda@bridgehousemedia.co.uk  07710 430891
Tessa Allingham  tessa_fox@yahoo.co.uk   07802 210628