Chefs step up for charity dinner

Peter Gordon and Pru Etcheverry from Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ. Photo / Michael Craig

Some of Australasia's top chefs have revealed their ultimate Kiwi Sunday brunch.

Led by celebrity chef Peter Gordon, 13 cooking masters came together in one kitchen at Sky City last night for a dinner to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

The lineup included Michael Meredith of Merediths in Auckland, Anna Hansen from London's the Modern Pantry, Nic Watt of Auckland's Masu, Dariush Lolaiy of Cazador on Dominion Rd, plus four renowned Australian chefs.

Like most chefs, Gordon works unusual hours and said being able to have brunch was a novelty.

But he had no doubt what his number one Kiwi brunch would be. "My stepmother Rose's bacon and egg pie with sliced tomatoes on top," he said.

Dale Gartland of Kauri Cliffs said with summer approaching, he couldn't go past fresh fruit and berries with yoghurt and raw nuts on top. "But if I have to, it's got to be eggs benedict."

For Lolaiy it was avocado on toast.

"That's it. With a range of hot sauces, salt and pepper and maybe a bit of lemon juice." Sarah Conway from Ponsonby Rd Bistro said at this time of year whitebait fritters were her ultimate Kiwi brunch.

"Not fancy, just done properly with white bread and butter and a nice glass of champagne, and lots of coffee, of course."

Philippa Sibley of Australia's Prix Fixe liked exploring Melbourne cafes with her 15-year-old son for Sunday brunch. "I usually order eggs and sometimes a Bloody Mary."

Gordon has been raising funds for the leukaemia organisation since 2007. His sister Tracey was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 1994.

"I was the only person who was a suitable donor match so we did a transplant in 1995 and it was successful," Gordon said.

The organisation's chief executive Pru Etcheverry, pictured above with Gordon, said the five previous Dining For a Difference events had raised nearly $900,000 and that was expected to top $1 million last night. Matthew Theunissen

For more information www.leukaemia.org.nz