7th March 2019
Masterchef Laurence to cook up a treat for patients
Chef Laurence Henry, crowned champion of BBC’s MasterChef, the Professionals, in December, is to cook a gourmet three-course lunch for patients and guests at Nottinghamshire Hospice on Wednesday 3 April.
The 26-year old chef, from Mapperley, Nottingham, who wowed judges and food critics on national TV with his culinary masterpieces, has volunteered his time to give patients – all of whom have terminal illness – a fine dining experience.
Laurence, the youngest finalist and one of the youngest ever MasterChef winners, has sourced all the ingredients for free from his suppliers including Fred Hallam Ltd of Beeston and The Snobby Butcher in Sherwood for the menu he will cook in the hospice kitchen.
Laurence, currently Sous Chef at two Michelin starred Restaurant Sat Bains says “I’m keen to support this great local charity which helps people across Nottinghamshire who have terminal illness.”
Guests will buy tickets to the lunch which will raise funds to help patients across Nottinghamshire. They will eat alongside patients in the hospice dining room which seats 50 people and in its day was the setting for lavish dinner parties put on by the Player family who owned the building.
‘Taste of home’ campaign
The event rounds off a national ‘Open Up Hospice Care’ campaign which promotes the benefits of hospice care in people’s homes. As part of the campaign, supporters are urged to put on dinner parties in a ‘Taste of Home’ fundraiser. Nottinghamshire Hospice is a partner in the national campaign run by Hospice UK.
Rowena Naylor-Morrell, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Hospice, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Laurence has chosen to support us in this way. Part of our purpose here at the hospice is to help our patients live life to the full in the time they have left, so it is wonderful to be able to provide this fine dining experience. It’s going to be fabulous!
“We are big fans of Laurence at the hospice and were rooting for him all the way during the contest. It was great to see someone so young from the local area win this prestigious championship. I can’t wait to taste his food!”
Since the programme was aired, Laurence and the other finalists have been on tour across the UK. Laurence has also been cooking a menu of his favourite dishes from the BBC show at Sat Bains as his swansong before leaving the restaurant at the end of March. He plans to open his own restaurant in Nottingham.
Donate here to Laurence’s fundraising page