Local cafe joins ‘dinner party’ fundraiser

A Dunedin cafe is serving up a southern delicacy to help its northern neighbours dealing with the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Best Cafe is among 17 restaurants in the South taking part in the Cooking up a Storm fundraising event next week, organised by celebrity chef Al Brown and supported by the Restaurant Association, which invites hospitality businesses to create "the country’s biggest ever dinner party".

The restaurants, cafes, pubs and eateries around the country will prepare a multi-course meal for the price of $69, and give $46 of each meal to the regional mayoral relief funds and directly to hospitality whanau impacted by the cyclone.

The menus will focus on favourites and comfort food, as if diners were going to a good friend’s place for dinner.

In Best Cafe’s case, this will include Bluff oysters.

Fellow local eateries Titi and Glenfalloch Gardens Cafe & Restaurant will also participate, having sold all tickets already.

Best Cafe owner and operator Jessica Marks felt grateful her cafe was able to contribute to the cause.

Not only would the event support victims of the cyclone, but also hospitality around New Zealand.

Best Cafe had only 10 tickets remaining.

The event would be homely and comfortable, and she hoped the oysters would entice customers to support the fundraiser, she said.

All the food for the event had been donated by local suppliers.

Diners could expect an entree of Bluff oyster trio followed by a main of traditional fish and chips, finished with Best Cafe’s brownie served with mascarpone plum ice cream for dessert, she said.

Ms Marks’ goal was to raise between $2000-$3000 through the fundraising event night.

Local musician Luke Hurley would be performing.

Restaurant Association spokeswoman Becky Erwood said the fundraiser showed unity among the hospitality industry.

"We’d like to show that, as a whole industry, we can make a difference and give back in a meaningful way," she said.

Southern restaurants taking part (on March 20 unless stated)

Otago

Waipiata Country Hotel, Paloma Wanaka, Hook Wanaka, The Old Clyde Bank (sold out), Bannockburn Hotel (sold out), Benger Garden Cafe Roxburgh, Riverstone (March 23), Pitches Store and Cafe, Glenfalloch Gardens Cafe and  Restaurant and The Duck (sold out), Titi (sold out), Best Cafe (March 21)

Southland

Sunggery in Stewart Island, Hayz at the Anchorage in Bluff, The Fat Duck Te Anau, Otautau Hotel