Top chefs sharpen knives for charity

Peter Gordon

It's a lifestyle for the rich and famished. Peter Gordon, the chef who's clocked up more food miles and styles for New Zealand than any other kitchen celebrity, is bringing 12 leading cooks to Auckland for a one-off dinner with a difference.

The high-profile, $350-a-head fundraiser is for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation, Gordon's longtime charity. He donated bone marrow to his sister, Tracey, after she contracted the disease 12 years ago.

Each chef will produce a four-course menu with matching wines for two tables of 10 guests. Table numbers will be drawn out of a hat and, until the meal arrives, guests will have no idea which chef will be preparing their meal or what they will be served.

As well as Gordon, who co-owns or consults to restaurants from dine (Auckland) to New York, London and Istanbul, the headliners are Elizabeth Falkner (Orson, San Francisco) and Jereme Leung (Whampoa Club, Shanghai).

With spiky platinum hair and unstoppable creativity, Falkner has become a recognisable face on the Food Network (Iron Chef America, Top Chef, Tyler's Ultimate and Martha Stewart Living). At Orson, Falkner says she explores familiar and iconic dishes with personal flair.

"I'm part of a generation of chefs who really like to explore a lot of global influences, adding a touch of surprise and a modern edge."

Hong Kong-born Leung is credited with reinterpreting Shanghai cuisine with food "traditional in soul, but served with a modern touch".

A few months after Leung's landmark restaurant in Shanghai opened, critic Patricia Wells wrote: "It's been a long time since I got up from the table after dining in a restaurant and whispered to myself, 'Genius."'

Gordon's Australian guests include Martin Boetz from Longrain, the trendsetting modern Thai restaurants, Philip Johnson (Ecco, Queensland) and Christine Manfield (Universal, Sydney).

The Kiwi line-up features the capital's leading kitchen stars -
Martin Bosley (Yacht Club), Al Brown (Logan Brown) and Rex Morgan
(Citron).

Michael Meredith (Meredith's), Geoff Scott (Vinnie's) and Simon Wright (French Cafe) are Auckland's reps, and Pete Gawron is flying north from Saffron in Queenstown.

It is the second time Gordon has held the fundraiser. The first, in June 2007, raised $205,000 for the foundation.

He has orchestrated dinners in Britain to raise $8.5 million for the leukaemia unit at Hammersmith Hospital, London.

The foundation's executive director, Pru Etcheverry, says the demand for its services is on the rise.

"Every day six children and adults in New Zealand are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or a related blood condition.

"Such a diagnosis can be life-changing. Providing information, education and support to patients and families at this time is terribly important."

The event is on April 18 at SkyCity.