Still time to book a Putney Pop-Up night to help Haiti

There is still time to dine at the one-day pop-up restaurants in Putney, organised by restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas, which are raising money for Action Against Hunger’s work in Haiti.

Putney Pop-Up nights, on the site of Mascarenhas’s Phoenix restaurant, have been hosting various chefs and their teams throughout the month of March.

Among the chefs to have taken part already are Bruce Poole of Chez Bruce, Phil Howard of the Square and Atul Kochhar. Rick Stein and Rowley Leigh are due to take part later this month, their nights have already sold out.

Forthcoming nights that still have availability include Matthew Harris of Bibendum on 16 March, Helena Puolakka of Skylon on 25 March and Patrick Williams of Patrick’s Kitchen on 29 March. Williams will be cooking alongside and Harriet Leigh of Ramsgate-based restaurant Age & Sons.

In addition to the above, an extra night has been created by 2008 Young Waiter winner William Bonfield, assistant manager at the Michelin-starred La Trompette.

Inspired by working at a couple of the Putney Pop-up nights, Bonfield decided to pull together a “rising stars” night, which takes place on 22 March. Working with him on the night will be a young and enthusiastic team of sous chefs and assistant managers who have worked at several leading restaurants including La Trompette, the Goring, L’Autre Pied, Odette’s and the Box Tree.

Macken Bros of Chiswcik will be donating the meat for the night and Secretts Farm in Surrey will be supplying salads and vegetables. Bread will come from Ottolenghi.

Pop-Up Putney, the brainchild of restaurateur Mascarenhas, takes place on the site of her Phoenix restaurant, which is currently closed. Each of the chefs and their staff work for free and do one service each. The pop-up restaurant charges a flat price of £60 a head.

Mascarenhas said: “One of the reasons we wanted to work with Action Against Hunger is that they are very committed not just to the immediate crisis in Haiti but the aftermath in supporting the country. I didn’t realise, for instance, that all the food aid that goes there now and is free, is actually destroying the farming economy there because the farmers can’t sell their crops. The charity offers support for long term sustainability as opposed to just aid.”

She added that she was “in the middle of plans” for Phoenix’s future, which could see it refurbished and reopened, or turned into residential property.

Further details of the dates chefs appear at the pop-up restaurant will appear on the www.putneypopuk.co.uk website. To book tickets, email info@putneypopup.co.uk, including your name, phone number, and the date and name of the required Pop-Up.

Hospitality industry in Haiti fundraising drive >>

Action Against Hunger begins emergency appeal for Haiti earthquake survivors >>

Top chefs join forces to cook at fundraiser for Haiti earthquake victims >>


By Amanda Afiya

E-mail your comments to Amanda Afiya here.

If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk

Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next restaurant job here with Caterersearch.com jobs