Starlight Five Chefs feast brightens lives at MCEC

Around 500 guests enjoyed a sensational evening of food and wine at the Starlight Five Chefs Dinner in Melbourne last night, proudly sponsored and hosted by the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for the fifth consecutive year.

A spectacular five-course degustation, matched with fine Australian wines, was served up by some of Melbourne’s best chefs, raising over $380,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation (Starlight).

Featured chefs included Alla Wolf-Tasker AM (Lake House Daylesford), Frank Camorra (MoVida), Guy Grossi (Grossi Restaurants and proud Starlight ambassador), Scott Pickett (ESP and Estelle), and MCEC’s own award-winning pastry duo, Alessandro Bartesaghi and Ian Burch.

MCEC’s Executive Chef, Peter Haycroft was also on hand to create a delicious array of canapés, and said the event was a highlight for him since commencing his role at MCEC late last year.

“This is my first Starlight Five Chefs Dinner and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with all the chefs and their assistants, with all hands on deck in our kitchen helping to deliver an incredible menu.”

“It was an enormous honour for Alessandro and Ian to be part of this years’ featured line-up and their sensational dessert was the perfect finish to an outstanding evening. It’s a great reflection of how truly talented our culinary team is here at MCEC,” Mr Haycroft added.

Guests were moved by an inspirational story from former Starlight child, Daniel Monks, who spoke about how Starlight’s hospital programs helped him dream of a life outside of hospital.

Starlight CEO, Louise Baxter said the organisation relies solely on the community to deliver and evolve its uniquely Australian hospital programs, and iconic events like Starlight Five Chefs play a significant part in helping Starlight expand its vital programs which are in every major children’s hospital nationally.

“We are thankful for our Starlight Five Chefs partners like MCEC, who donated so much time and energy to help us raise as much money as possible again in 2016,” Mrs Baxter said.

Established in Sydney in 1993, the Starlight Five Chefs events have an impressive alumni of some of Australia’s most celebrated chefs and wineries.

Nationally Starlight hopes to raise over $2.3 million from all of its Starlight Five Chefs events in 2016, and from these funds raised hope to be able to sustain their hospital programs such as Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Rooms for over four months.

For more information, go to www.starlightfivechefs.org.au or call 1300 727 927.