Award-winning hospital chefs to stage charity lunch

It is being billed as the culinary event of the year.

Staff at Solent NHS Trust are being given a unique opportunity to sample the award-winning cooking skills of the organisation’s very own celebrity chefs.

Jim Richardson and Joe Hennigan hit the headlines after coming third in the prestigious NHS Chef 2022 competition.

Earlier this year, they were again basking in glory after receiving gold medals  at the world famous International Salon Culinaire competition in London.

Now the dynamic pair are giving colleagues at Solent the chance to taste some of their mouth-watering dishes at a one-off charity lunch.

The event will take place in the restaurant at St Mary’s Community Health Campus, Portsmouth, from 1pm on Wednesday 7 June.

Staff can enjoy a three-course lunch for just £15, with all proceeds going to Solent NHS Trust Charity.

With help from the Trust’s catering team, the lads will recreate some of their competition dishes, including their now legendary butternut squash, chilli and lime soup – the starter which propelled them straight to the finals of NHS Chef 2022.

Guests will be able to choose either a meat or plant based meal.

Already, more than half of the tickets have been snapped up.

Iain Robertson, Catering Operations Manager, said: “The boys were inundated with messages of support from colleagues across Solent throughout their competition journey; there was a real buzz of excitement with everyone wishing them well.

“We thought it would be great to give staff a chance to try some of the amazing dishes Jim and Joe have been cooking, at the same time as raising a bit of money for a good cause.”

To avoid disappointment, staff interested in coming along are urged to email ronnie.parrett-harris@solent.nhs.uk without delay.