Three Michelin starred-chefs and an internationally renowned artist will travel to the north-east this month in aid of a children’s charity.
Kitchen stars Martin Wishart, Tom Kitchin and Brian Grigor, along with artist Alexander Millar, will all be taking part in the Chester Hotel’s “Culinary Excellence” festival of fine food and wine in aid of the Friends of the Special Nursery, an organisation that supports babies in the care of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s neonatal unit.
In addition to cash raised from ticket sales for the sold-out dinner events throughout the week from November 12 to 17, special auctions will also be held to raise funds for the charity.
Graham and Gillian Wood, the owners of the hotel, decided to stage the fundraiser as a way of celebrating Scottish food and drink, as well as supporting the Friends group, which is part of The ARCHIE Foundation.
Diners will be able to enjoy gastronomic delights with specially paired wines and live entertainment at various evenings over the six-day celebration.
Mr Wood said: “We’re putting on the same event over multiple days, but every day, we will have a different chef.
“For example, Tom Kitchin is creating a six-course tasting menu on the Monday – he’s preparing it in Edinburgh and will take it up to Aberdeen and will finish it off by working with our team of chefs here at the Chester for 70 guests.
“Gillian and I have supported ARCHIE for years, and we were quite keen to concentrate our effort on a smaller part of ARCHIE to make a bigger difference, so we decided the Friends of the Special Nursery would be the perfect cause.
“We’re delighted to have already sold all 360 tickets for the events, as we’re aiming to raise enough cash to pay for a special giraffe incubator for the neonatal unit.
“That is an expensive device, which makes a huge difference for families.”
Originals and prints of Mr Millar’s work will also be on sale to the public at the Chester from November 12 to 15 during the day, with 20% of proceeds going towards the Friends.
Mr Millar has also donated a painting, valued at £20,000, to be auctioned off for the charity.