With the new series of MasterChef: The Professionals having began last night, next Monday (14th November) will see a unique, one-off event in which 11 of the programme’s previous finalists will take over the kitchen of The Frog E1. The evening will include a five-course tasting menu with all of the proceeds donated to Dementia UK, organised by 2015 finalist Andi Walker, as a tribute to his Grandmother – Nanny Pickles – who suffers from dementia, and to who Andi owes his passion for food and cooking to.
Opened earlier this year by 2013 finalist Adam Handling, The Frog E1 is one of Shoreditch’s most exciting restaurant openings of 2016. Other chefs joining in with the evenings events will include 2015 contestants: Mark Stinchcombe, Nick Bennett, Darren Sivewright, Scott Barnard, Danilo Cortellini, Bobby Retnakumar, Joey O’Hare, Dean Westcar and Gavin Barnes, who all share a raw desire to create and cook innovative dishes.
On the evening of the event, two different menus will be on offer with five of the chefs serving one half of the guests, with the rest serving the other half with courses from each menu focusing on the same core ingredient.
Speaking of the event, Andi Walker says “As those who have a loved one with dementia will know, it’s a horrible illness for anyone to have – let alone your hero. We’re all going to cook up a storm to raise money for this amazing charity on the evening and remember those who have inspired and cheered us on, I can’t wait!”
Tickets for the five-course tasting menu are priced at £100, with all of the proceeds going towards increasing the number of specialist one-to-one dementia support nurses across the UK. Tickets can be purchased from tickettailor.com, and further information on Dementia UK can be found at dementiauk.org.
The Frog E1 can be found at 2 Ely’s Yard, Old Truman Brewery, Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR.