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Culinary wizard casts magical birthday spell

7/ 8/2008

CULINARY wizard Andrew Nutter mixed all the right ingredients to make the 15th birthday of his restaurant a success – and conjured up £7,500 for the Observer’s appeal for Springhill Hospice.

On Saturday, his award-winning restaurant Nutters in Norden was the venue for a glitzy black-tie ‘Crystal Ball’.

Among the VIP guests and fellow celebrity chefs were Si King and Dave Myers - better known as the Hairy Bikers, pictured with Andrew below, - Ready Steady Cook star Brian Turner and Return to Tuscany’s Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi.

Guests indulged in some of Andrew’s specialities, all taken from the restaurant’s 15-year journey. Among the highlights were seared diver-caught scallops, Goosnargh duck and St Asaph lamb.

The entertainment included a fashion show by top designer Vicky Martin, who showcased her bespoke crystal dresses She even designed a stunning chef’s jacket for Andrew to model.

Studded with Swarovski crystals, it later went for £1,000 in a quirky celebrity auction, which also saw wooden cook spoons autographed by Andrew’s chef friends go for £200 upwards.

A spoon signed by the Hairy Bikers raised £1,000 - the successful bidder can also look forward to the bonus of a bike ride and supper cooked for them.

Andrew became aware of the Observer appeal for the hospice soon after it was launched.

He said: "I thought, let‘s push the boat out for this, and came up with the idea of auctioning the spoons.

"It all came together on the back of that."

Spoons were also signed and sent from celebrity chefs Heston Blumenthal and Simon Rimmer.

Hairy Bikers Si and Dave first met Andrew at the Johannesburg Food Festival, which ended with the trio partying and singing karaoke in a musical fountain.

Dave said: "There’s also a lot of partying involved when it’s with Nutter. He’s a great chef and long may he continue."

Andrew described the whole evening on Saturday as ‘fantastic’ and thanked everyone who helped make it a success, not least the fundraising team from Springhill Hospice – and his own staff.

He said: "The hospice team were here from 8am until the event ended."

"Also my assistant Louise Lee and Mick ‘cagefighter’ Downs."

Hospice community fund-raiser Dean Connaughton said: "Andrew and his staff organised a stunning event which was enjoyed by 180 guests. The balloon raffle raised a staggering £1,530 and everyone had the chance to win exclusive prizes.

"The generosity of people was overwhelming and we would like to thank Nutters for organising such a wonderful event."

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