Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine – Update

We did it! Our Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine dinner and auction raised an extraordinary £20,000 for the DEC’s Ukraine Appeal and donations are still coming in. An outstanding result, if I say so myself, for two weeks (frenetic) planning and one night in a room full of amazingly generous and compassionate people.

Image of Maria Elia

Maria Elia, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Nicola Hordern

Image of Nicola Hordern, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

It was a colossal team effort, with chefs Nicola Hordern and Maria Elia at the helm, backed by myself and fellow journalist Tessa Allingham and a volunteer kitchen brigade made up of professional chefs Nick Claxton-Webb. Alan Paton, Harvey Thompson, Mike Keen, Grant Newland and Sam Sturman.

Suffolk New College gave us the venue, Chef’s Whites Restaurant, the inexhaustible skills and enthusiasm of staff members Mike Mulvihill, Dan Russell-Poole, Aimee Jay and Zoe McKechnie and the invaluable front and back of house help of its talented students. We couldn’t have done it without them.

Image of Suffolk New College catering students

Students af Chef’s Whites, Suffolk New College. Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Ingredients and drinks were donated by a host of exceptional Suffolk producers and suppliers for a four course feast of Ukrainian-inspired food based on recipes from Ukrainian food writer Olia Hercules, who with her Russian friend Alissa Timoshkina, began the #CookForUkraine fundraising campaign.

The evening ended in an auction led by Ed Crichton of Lacy Scott auctioneers, which raised thousands of pounds above the original ticket price, thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders. Every penny will go to the DEC.

Image of student chef prepping food

Picture: Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of zeleniy borsch

Zeleniy borsch, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of auctioneer Ed Crichton

Auctioneer Ed Crichton, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

It is honestly humbling to see how powerfully people are responding to Ukraine’s plight. There were a few tears in the run-up to the big night, not all of them due to exhaustion. I think I can speak for all of us when I say how moved we have been by the way everyone stepped up, turned out and dug deep.

But pictures, like actions, famously speak louder than words and these photographs from Richard Allenby-Pratt, who also volunteered his skills, brilliantly echo the mood of the event. Thank you to everyone who took part in whatever capacity.

The money we’ve raised together will help alleviate the suffering of some of the three million people who’ve fled Ukraine and, we hope, some of the many millions more still in the country.

Image of student chefs at Suffolk New College

Picture: Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Nick Claxton-Webb, Alan Paton, Nicola Hordern and Maria Elia

Chefs at work! Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of student chefs, Suffolk New College

Students chefs, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Mike Mulvihill, Suffolk New College

Mike Mulvihill with chefs, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of blinis, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Mike’s blinis, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Tessa Allingham, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Tessa Allingham and chefs, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Nicola Hordern and Dan Russell-Poole

Nicola with Dan Russell-Poole, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of plating up, Suffolk Cooks for Ukraine

Plating up, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of student waitress, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Service, please! Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of auction at Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Ed Crichton in action, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of auction/raffle winner, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Winner! Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of auction/raffle winner, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Winner! Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of auction/raffle winner, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Winner! Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Ispwich Mayor Elizabeth Hughes and Linda Duffin

With Ipswich Mayor Cllr Elizabeth Hughes, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of Gina Long, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Gina Long taking a brief rest between auction bids, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of auction winner, Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

Winner! Picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

Image of guest ast Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine

The awesomeness of Sam Sturman’s hand-made chocolates, picture by Richard Allenby-Pratt

15 thoughts on “Suffolk Cooks For Ukraine – Update

  1. Truly, this was a wonderful effort, and paid rich dividends. This fundraising effort is one that really will make a difference. I hope you made new friends and connections through all your hard work. Well done! xx

  2. Bravaaaa! Bravaaaa! All good people feel impotent in the face of such horror and you all brought your greatest strengths to phenomenal effect. Blessings on you all, and may God deliver Ukraine.

    • Olia Hercules has spoken of making food a force for fundraising and I hope we’ve contributed to that. When you think of what’s needed even £20k is a drop in the bucket but every penny helps. Thanks for the kind words, Chip, as ever. Lx

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