HUMANITARIAN organisation Action Against Hunger returns for its second year running to Manchester, bringing its unique brand of playful gastronomic ‘payback’ to Greater Manchester with its annual Too Many Critics event in conjunction with Northern Restaurant and Bar Show.
Too Many Critics will takeplace on Monday, March 16, at the much talked about Hawksmoor Manchester (Taste of Manchester review coming shortly) and the premise of the event is simple – a team of top food critics will be dropping their pens and picking up the pans as theyout what it’s like to be on the other side of the pass!
The critics will prepare a meal for a room filled with 100 top chefs and restaurateurs, as they get a rare opportunity to pass judgement on the most influential taste makers. Chefs judging the critics include Lisa Allen (Northcote Manor) Frances Atkins (The Yorke Arms) Mary-Ellen McTague, Aiden Byrne (Manchester House) and Stosie Madi (Parkers Arms).
The evening will include a sit down dinner at Hawksmoor Manchester for 100 guests as well as a silent and live auction. This year’s host is BBC food and wine presenter Nigel Barden, who will also be conducting the live auction. Both national and regional food critics will be putting their skills to the test, including Tim Hayward (Financial Times) Andy Cronshaw (Manchester Evening News), Mark “Gordo” Garner (Manchester Confidential) and Ruth Allan (Taste of Manchester) and Janine Ratcliffe (Olive Magazine).
Garner and Allan have already travelled to London to record a video of their learning to butcher carcasses under the expert tuition of the Ginger Pig folk, suppliers of acclaimed meat to Hawksmoor. TOM got a sneak preview (main picture and Allan wielding a knife with aplomb).
All funds raised at the event go to Action Against Hunger - helping them fund their life-saving projects around the globe. Action Against Hunger works in over 45 countries and assists more than seven million people every year.
Last year’s event raised over £13,000 and this year promises to raise even more. Not only will diners get a unique opportunity to have critics cook for them, they will also be one of the very first guests in Hawksmoor’s first venture outside of London.
The charity event is in association with Northern Restaurant and Bar Show, the North’s biggest hospitality show (17-19th March at Manchester Central). For TOM’s preview visit this link.