Chefs cook up charity cash

Some of the nation’s best chefs, including Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi, descended on the Kimberley at the weekend to cook an extraordinary five-course dinner for charity.

Alongside high-profile chef and restaurateur Guillaume Brahimi and Neil Perry, of Rockpool Bar and Grill fame, at the first Rob Broadfield Dinner for Telethon at Broome’s Cable Beach Club was Rockpool head chef Dan Masters and Spice Temple Sydney’s head chef Ben Pollard.

The event, which raised $125,000 for the children’s charity, was a $1750-a-ticket sellout. Guests dined on barramundi, pearl meat, lobster, beef and prawns over five courses based on the dishes of Perry’s Spice Temple restaurants.

The highlight of the evening? Two bidders paid $40,000 and $45,000 respectively to have Perry, Brahimi and Broadfield, The West Australian’s food editor, cook dinner in their home for 12 of their friends.

A who’s who of guests flew in a specially chartered jet for the dinner. Brahimi, who opened his Perth restaurant Bistro Guillaume just three weeks ago, had guests spellbound recalling his experiences working for children’s charities in

Sydney.

A father of four young daughters, Brahimi said it was “all about the kids”. “What a fantastic evening,” Brahimi said. “It’s an extraordinary amount of money to raise in just one evening.”

The weekend finished on Sunday with a Brahimi-Broadfield master class around the swimming pool at the Broome resort, with guests learning to cure salmon, make profiteroles and prepare seared tuna with ratatouille.

The head chefs from Guillaume at Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House, Spice Temple in Melbourne and Rockpool Bar and Grill Perth were also part of the cooking team.

Telethon general manager Steve Mummery said the dinner would become an annual event and a significant fundraiser.

Broome locals also threw their weight behind Telethon as Spirit Radio held an appeal at Divers Tavern raising nearly $20,000 for the charity drive.

Kimberley station manager Sabine Scherl said a “fantastic” evening of non-stop entertainment in the Beach Bar had been supported by musicians Jeff Smith, Damian Watkiss, Ask Dad, Fraydknot, Tonchi, 42 Decibel, North of the Rox, Phat Monkey and Tania Praino (Blue Bone Baby).

Spirit Radio will continue its support of Telethon with the annual Radiothon from 11am on Saturday, October 13, to 11am on Sunday, October 14, featuring guest hosts Delta Goodrem, Evermore, Johnny Ruffo and Timomatic.