Creme de la creme: Top chefs to take part in Cyrenians Cook Off

Last year’s event

Some of the country’s top chefs will team up with Cyrenians and Edinburgh College to lay on a gastronomic spectacular and raise money for people excluded from family, home, work or community tomorrow evening.

Cyrenians will be hosting an evening of fine dining and entertainment at the Milton Road campus, with a seven-course tasting menu created by some of Scotland’s best and most high-profile chefs. The college’s professional cookery and hospitality students will work alongside the chefs in the kitchen and service, giving them a great opportunity to learn from the best.

Chefs taking part include Daniel Mellor, Head Chef at the Observatory restaurant at The Glasshouse Hotel; John Newton Executive Head Chef from Apex International; Sebastian Kobelt, Patissier and Chocolatier from Linlithgow; Brian Grigor, Head Chef of the Michelin-starred Number One restaurant at The Balmoral Hotel, inaugural winner of BBC’s MasterChef:The Professionals, Derek Johnstone, who is Head Chef at the Golf Inn at Gullane and Private Chef Jane Pollock.

Funds raised through the cook-off event will go towards Cyrenians’ work including its homeless prevention service; befriending service for older people; addiction recovery service; recruitment and skills centre; and food education.

Hugh McCluskey, curriculum manager for professional cookery and hospitality at Edinburgh College, said: “Our students were delighted to have the chance to work with top chefs and soak up their hints and tips while helping a good cause. Opportunities like this inspire them to focus on their studies and continue to produce fantastic work.”

Ewan Aitken, Cyrenians Chief Executive said: “We were delighted to have the support of Edinburgh College, these superb local chefs, and many of our corporate supporters to lay on this unique evening of fine dining.  The monies raised will have a direct impact on our ability to continue to support those excluded from family, home, work or community.

“Cyrenians work to create opportunities for disadvantaged people by offering effective and lasting routes out of homelessness and promoting social inclusion. The charity focuses on four targeted areas of service: family and people, home and housing, work and skills, and community and food.”