The Too Many Critics charity event, established by Bill Knott and the late Charles Campion in support of Action Against Hunger, will return on Tuesday 25th June at Darby’s.
Food critics Tom Parker Bowles (Mail on Sunday), Leyla Kazim (MasterChef), Giles Coren (The Times), David Ellis (Evening Standard), Hannah Twiggs (Independent) and Kate Krader (Bloomberg), will be putting down their pens and stepping into the kitchen as they cook a three-course dinner for the chefs turned judges for the night, including Francesco Mazzei and Vivek Singh, along with a room full of guests.
The seventeenth edition of the event will take place at Darby’s in Nine Elms, hosted by Joe Warwick. Each critic will be trying their hand at the diverse culinary techniques which the restaurant is known for, including shucking, baking and smoking.
The event will also feature a silent auction, which goes live on Thursday 9th May, offering exclusive prizes such as private dining experiences, wine tours and luxury stays. Highlights of the silent auction include:
- A table for four at the highly sought after The Devonshire, at any time of the guest’s choosing
- A private dinner for 12 with a bespoke set menu from chefs Andy Oliver and Mark Dobbie at Kolae
- A tour and wine tasting for four at Wiston Estate followed by lunch at restaurant Chalk
- Dinner at each of Hawksmoor’s 12 restaurants around the world
- A private, four-course lunch or dinner for 12 guests in the Old Library Room at The Cinnamon Club, hosted by Vivek Singh
- An overnight stay for six, plus a private dining party for six, at The Princess Royal pub and hotel in Notting Hill
- A tour of Soho with Oisín Rogers of The Devonshire
- Private wine tasting with Hannah Crosbie
- Dinner for two at new pub The Hero from the team behind The Pelican in Notting Hill and The Bull in Charlbury, finished with a pint with Joe Warwick
The full list of prizes can be found below.
In addition, a live auction will feature stand-out prizes, including a day in the kitchen one-to-one with Darby’s head chef Robin Gill, to whip up a feast for the winner and their friends, and a trip for two to Dubai from the tashas team, including flights, 5-star accommodation, dining at a number of their sites, as well as Bungalo34, Avli and Flamingo Room.
Last year’s event raised over £100,000 for Action Against Hunger, supporting their work providing life-saving treatment and care to millions of people suffering from life-threatening hunger in over 50 countries, with this year’s edition aiming to do the same.
Tickets are priced at £250 per person and are on sale now at Eventbrite.