After a brief hiatus, Too Many Critics returns bigger and better than ever to raise funds for Action Against Hunger
The Cinnamon Club will host the sixteenth Too Many Critics charity event, which was established by charity ambassador Bill Knott and late supporter Charles Campion, on Sunday 4 June, in aid of Action Against Hunger – the world’s leading charity stopping life-threatening hunger in its tracks. Since its inaugural dinner in 2001, Too Many Critics has raised over £100,000 to date.
This year’s Too Many Critics event is a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy a memorable dining experience while supporting Action Against Hunger’s life-saving work. The event will see some of the UK’s best-regarded food critics become chefs for the night, preparing an Indian-inspired four-course menu that will be open to critique by the chefs.
The critics taking part include Tom Parker Bowles (Mail on Sunday), Giles Coren (The Times), Grace Dent (The Guardian), David Ellis (Evening Standard), Adam Hyman (The Good Food Guide), and Food Writer and Author, Rose Prince. The chefs judging the critics’ dishes include Michelin-starred Nieves Barragán (Sabor) and Great British Menu winner Pip Lacey (hicce).
Guests can expect dishes like Slow braised leg of spring lamb finished in the tandoor, served with nutmeg and peppercorn sauce; and Tandoori morels filled with paneer and royal cumin, saffron rogan josh sauce. While guests enjoy a welcome cocktail, ‘The Big Bread Fight’ will see the critics get creative by personalising Tandoori breads with a variety of toppings to see who is crowned the overall naan champion.
Alongside the meal, there will be a silent and live auction with a spectacular array of prizes, including a champagne dinner for four at Michelin-starred Gymkhana, a four course dinner for two at Michelin- starred Trinity and a lobster and champagne lunch on the beach with an overnight stay at The Suffolk. This year’s event hopes to raise £100,000.
The money raised will help Action Against Hunger continue their vital work to end world hunger. With projects spanning mental health, climate change adaptation and improved access to clean water, Action Against Hunger works to predict, prevent and treat life-threatening hunger in over 50 countries.
While the critics will be taking care of the cooking, they will be overseen by Vivek Singh and the existing kitchen brigade at the award-winning restaurant The Cinnamon Club, known for its contemporary Indian fine-dining fare.
Commenting on the event, Bill Knott, Co Founder of Too Many Critics says, “Together with the late, great Charles Campion, I staged the first Too Many Critics back in 2001 and it was terrific fun. The next year, we took over The Cinnamon Club, and I’m delighted to be back there again this year, 21 years later, with my old friend Vivek Singh, who has generously forgotten what we did to his kitchen last time. But it’s all in aid of a terrific cause. I’ve been very proud to work with Action Against Hunger for 25 years now: having visited many of their projects around the world, I know the funds we raise on 4 June will go to the people who need it most.”
Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director at Action Against Hunger UK, said: “With 222 million people facing crisis levels of malnutrition and hunger, we know that Action Against Hunger’s work is far from over. Extreme poverty, wars, climate change, and increased levels of inequalities are compounding the issues that we have been addressing for over 40 years. This is why it’s invaluable to get the support from as many people as possible, and Britain’s favourite culinary stars and their critics are no exception.”
Tickets are on sale now via the website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/too-many-critics-tickets-611148620977
