Food & Wine News South Africa

Celebrity chefs in charity pizza fight

The Col'Cacchio pizzeria Celebrity Chef Series is about to kick-off again as the pizzeria is inviting six of South Africa's top chefs to take part in the second annual gourmet charity project. Funds raised will go to the Children's Hospital Trust, the Fundraising Arm of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.

With the World Cup football festivities upon us, it is only fitting that each chef will represent a participating country, adding a unique and tailored twist to the challenge which will run from April to September 2010.

The contestants

Col'Cacchio pizzeria's own pizza doyenne, Kinga Baranowska, will once again lead the new celebrity chefs: Michael Broughton (Terroir), Nicky Gibbs (The Westcliff), Jodi-Ann Pearton (The Food Design Agency), David Higgs (Rust en Vrede), Chantel Dartnall (Restaurant Mosaic) and Franck Dangereux (The Foodbarn) in the kitchen and challenge them to go beyond their beliefs in a pizza adventure to create a culinary masterpiece. This challenge will showcase the emergence of a true master in something as “simple” as rolling out dough and scattering some ingredients.

A taste of charity

“We look forward once again to bringing people together from various sectors of the hospitality industry,” commented Kinga, “in the hope that this year we will raise even more funds and exposure for the Children's Hospital Trust and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.”

Building on the 2009 campaign, which raised over R120 000 for the Children's Hospital Trust, the Col'Cacchio pizzeria Celebrity Chef Series 2010 will, over six months, offer diners a taste of what each celebrity chef has brought to the table. With this year's campaign drawing attention to the forthcoming football festivities, Col'Cacchio pizzeria wants to ensure all South Africans both experience and taste what it has to offer. Every month will showcase a different chef's masterpiece on promotion and allow customers to sample the exciting football-inspired pizzas.

Upgrading the Burns Unit

With every special gourmet celebrity pizza sold, R5 will be donated to the Children's Hospital Trust; the Fundraising Arm of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. All of the donations will go towards the upgrade of the Burns Unit. This ward admits over 1300 severely burned patients annually and has not been upgraded since 1956. “This priority project will help keep the hospital on the cutting edge of medical care and continue giving sick children a fighting chance,” said Louise Driver, CEO of the Children's Hospital Trust.

“Our celebrity chefs have let their creativity take over in this challenge and we look forward to the outcome,” added Kinga. “We are overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and also welcome this year some key sponsors: Parmalat, Rialto Foods, Food Store and La Marina Foods.”

Visit any of the 18 Col'Cacchio pizzerias across South Africa from April to September 2010 to enjoy what this campaign has to offer.

For further information, go to www.colcacchio.co.za.

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