Food lovers from around the world have been given the chance to bid on eBay for unique meals and experiences at many of the internationally renowned restaurants featured in this year’s S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, with all proceeds going to the event’s official charity partner, humanitarian aid agency Action Against Hunger.
The charity meal auction was announced by Raymond Blanc, OBE and Ambassador for the charity at this evening’s prestigious S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in London. Each of the participating restaurants has generously donated a meal for two or more people.
In London, top restaurants Hakkasan, Nobu and St John have all created special offers for lucky bidders, including a bespoke menu and matching wines from Alan Yau.
Unique experiences up for grabs include a 12-course tasting menu with matching wines presented by Rene Redzepi, the head chef at Noma in Copenhagen, one of the top three restaurants in the world.
Other scrumptious delights include a specially designed 18-course menu with wines and other special surprises for the lucky bidder of renowned Arzak in Spain, one of the nominated top 10 restaurants.
There is also a chance to tour the famous kitchens at Mugaritz in San Sebastian with head chef, Andoni Aduriz, a top five restaurant, or the opportunity to dine in the exclusive Daniel ‘Skybox’ in New York, an intimate glass dining room suspended above the infamous kitchen.
The auction is split over two allotments. The first features restaurants from the UK, France and Italy amongst other countries and will begin on 21st April at staggered times, lasting 10 days and concluding on 1st May. The second allotment features restaurants from the USA and Spain, amongst others, beginning on 4th May to coincide with The S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ celebratory event being held in New York, ending 14th May. Visit myworld.ebay.co.uk/actionagainsthungeruk to view the full list of participating restaurants and place your bid.
Jean-Michel Grand, Action Against Hunger’s Executive Director, comments: ‘We are absolutely delighted, and immensely grateful, that so many of The S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2009 winners have pledged their support by donating such wonderful ‘once in a lifetime’ meals and experiences, that will undoubtedly make for an exciting auction to help raise much needed funds for Action Against Hunger.”
Raymond Blanc said: ‘I congratulate all restaurants and chefs who have risen to the challenge in this special charity auction helping the charity and its vital work.”
Action Against Hunger (ACF) is an international humanitarian organisation committed to saving the lives of malnourished children and working with vulnerable populations in over 40 countries worldwide to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity.