Think Pink!

 

Chefs from the ACF, The Gordon Institute, William Angliss Institute, NMIT, Box Hill Institute and Victoria University put on their pink uniform together with a menu to please the hundreds of people expected to attend. The menu delivered on the pink theme with pink lamingtons and cup cakes, egg and bacon, or smoked salmon and poached eggs on pink rolls, sausages on pink bread and pancakes with pink berries, with all funds raised this year, donated to support the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.

Olivia Newton-John survived breast cancer in 1992, and now has a centre set up in her name. This is an important step in the centre’s vision of providing the very best medical treatment and supportive care for cancer patients and their families, especially relating to breast cancer. One of the foundations ambassadors; actress and singer, Tottie Goldsmith attended on the day to help promote the centre and assist with raising funds.

The breakfast for the second year running was hosted by the iconic Queen Victoria Market on a brilliant Sunday morning in spring, with clear blue skies and warm weather. The crowd was entertained by the excellent jazz ensemble “Jazz Drive” who again donated their time and music.

During the Jazz Drive’s breaks, Jo Richardson from Kitchen Aid, with the assistance of Tottie Goldsmith ran fantastic demonstrations using the ever reliable and much sought after Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer. Kitchen Aid have been fantastic supporters of the Pink Breakfast, and donated two pale pink Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers, two pale pink Kitchen Aid Hand Mixers and a selection of silicon spatulas that were given away in a prize draw to lucky individuals that had purchased food throughout the morning.

After a 6.00am start setting up the marquees and getting the BBQs fired up, by 7.30am, a steady stream of customers were enjoying the fare.

This was the third year the ACF Victoria have celebrated International Chefs Day with a fundraiser for breast cancer, and not only is the money going to a good cause but chefs from all over Victoria come together with a common purpose.

In 2010, we were able to raise $2,500 for the cause, however in 2011 we were able to raise just under $4,500. The event is getting bigger and better each year, and planning is already under way towards making upwards of $10,000 in 2012!

A special mention goes to Event Manager, Rajiv Gulshan from the ACF committee, who was responsible for the success of this year’s event, along with Hamish Rodwell (ACF Victorian Vice-President), for assisting Rajiv with the operational logistics in the weeks leading up to the day.

We were fortunate to again have dedicated and generous sponsors who provided product and ingredients for the breakfast. A big thank you to The Queen Victoria Market, Kitchen Aid, Custom Culinary, Flavour Makers, Bidvest, Transplumb, The Italian Cultural Network Australia (TICNA), Regal King Salmon, University Food Group, Farm Pride Foods, Fonterra Foodservices, Flowerdale Sprout Farm, Sabi Foods, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Victorinox who all came on board and supported the day, not to mention the Culinary Institutes donating product and ingredients as well as their hard working chefs.

If you are planning to come to Melbourne in 2012 and beyond, make sure the Sunday closest to International Chefs Day (October 20) is on your calendar for a visit to the Queen Victoria Market.