Five of the Lake District's Michelin-starred chefs are set to come together for a special fundraising evening.
The event, named A Five-Star Evening, is scheduled for November 19 at Kendal College and aims to raise funds for CancerCare, a charity that operates four centres across North Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The evening will be hosted by Lorraine Stanton, a well-known figure in Cumbria's hospitality scene.
Her career highlights include being the general manager of Michael's Nook, Grasmere when it was awarded the first Michelin star in the north of England in 1996, and the rare five Michelin Red Turrets award.
She also served as the general manager of The Punch Bowl in Crosthwaite, before taking on her current role managing the Food Theatre at The Westmorland County Show, as well as similar events nationwide.
In the kitchen, the five chefs will be assisted by world-renowned chef Steven Doherty, the first English chef to head up a three-Michelin-starred kitchen at Le Gavroche in the 1980s.
Dishes will be made using locally sourced produce provided by businesses.
The menu includes snacks by Paul Leonard of Forest Side, Grasmere, featuring BBQ belly of Herdwick with whipped sheep’s curd and black garlic, alongside lightly cured mackerel with seaweed custard and aged Oscietra.
Richard Swale of Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith, will serve up the starter of cooked, picked, and raw vegetables from Askham Hall Gardens, served with Thornby Moor Dairy soft cheese and roasted duck bone vinaigrette.
The fish course will be prepared by Ben Queen-Fryer of The Dog & Gun, Skelton, and will consist of a whole Maryport Dover sole with capers, sultanas, curry sauce, and triple-cooked chips.
Ryan Blackburn of The Old Stamp House, Ambleside, will serve the main course of Cumbrian venison loin, with celeriac and onion and truffle jus.
Kevin Tickle of Heft, Newton in Cartmel, will round off the evening with a dessert entitled When Daisy Met Bramble, featuring mugwort fudge, mugwort fudge ice cream, blackberry powder and puree, finished with sourdough biscuit crunch.
Tickets for the event are priced at £150 per person, which includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a five-course set menu dinner.
During the dinner, there will be a silent auction and prize raffle, offering guests the chance to win items including unique bespoke table centrepieces handcrafted by Miles-Moore Ceramics, Hornby, specially for the evening.
All proceeds raised by A Five-Star Evening will be donated to CancerCare to help support their work with people affected by cancer diagnosis, life-shortening illness, or sudden and unexpected bereavement, as well as providing cancer support for young adults and essential support for families.
Claire Mason, head of fundraising and marketing at CancerCare, said: "CancerCare is overwhelmed by the support we have received from the chefs, Steven, Lorraine, Kendal College, and the other local businesses who are donating wine, ingredients or auction prizes.
"Fundraising events such as this are a vital source of income for the charity; more than 90 per cent of our work is funded by donations and fundraising from within our local community.
"We’re so excited to bring A 5* Evening for CancerCare to Kendal for the first time, and it’s set to be the most fantastic evening celebrating local produce, the talent of our local chefs, and, of course, raising the money that enables us to help so many people every year."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here