This Christmas people are once again in with a chance to get their mince pies made by the UK’s best chefs and restaurants as The Mince Pie Project returns, all in aid of charity. Already confirmed to take part are Michel Roux Jnr, Raymond Blanc, Marcus Wareing, Clare Smyth and Claire Clark.
50 mince pies per chef
Chefs from across the UK are taking part and will each cook a unique batch of 50 mince pies. Each box will be sold online in a 72 hour auction, from midday on the 11th December to midday on the 14th of December. Bids will be able to be made and all the action followed on The Mince Pie Project website. All proceeds from the project will be donated to Galvin’s Chance and Crisis.
Last year’s project saw 36 great chefs take part and raised almost £10,000 for charity. Ashley Palmer-Watts, Executive Chef at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, raised the most money, with his box of 50 deep fried mince pies fetching £1,000. This year the project is set to be bigger and better, with an exciting new line up of chefs from across the UK. The full line up will be announced early December.
Mince pie bragging rights?
Competition is already hotting up between the chefs, who are all vying to raise the most money and take home ultimate mince pie bragging rights. Angela Hartnett, one of the chefs already confirmed for this year’s project says:
“It’s all about charity, but secretly every chef wants their mince pies to raise the most money. Ashley Palmer-Watts came up with a great idea last year, so he will be the man to beat.”
For 2012…
The project is run by Live & Let Dine. Peter Butler, founder of The Mince Pie Project comments:
“We ran the project for the first time last year and it was more successful than we could ever have imagined. We’ve got some great new chefs lined up this year, as well as a few surprises along the way. We can’t wait for it to start.”
Galvin’s Chance
Is a training and work placement programme for disadvantaged young people aged 18-24 who are not in education, employment or training. Initiated by Chris Galvin, Chef Patron and Fred Sirieix at Galvin at Windows in 2009, the intention of the programme is to provide access to opportunities and training for a front of house career in some of the most prestigious hotels, restaurants and food service management organisations in London.
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. They are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change. Their innovative education, employment, housing and wellbeing services address individual needs and help people to transform their lives.
The Mince Pie Project
11-14 December 2012
W:The Mince Pie Project
T: @mincepieproject