Posts Tagged ‘dining’

Two cities, $67,000!

Thursday, December 5th, 2013

 

OMG! What an amazing effort this year to be able to raise $67,000 through two fantastic events.

Firstly, we want to say a big thank you to all of our beautiful diners who came out and supported the events in both cities. And a huge thank you to all of our corporate sponsors, restaurants and major sponsors who truly made these events incredible for everyone involved.

Click here to see the corporate sponsors who generously supported our 2013 event.

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If you didn’t already know, we launched our first Dine for Life dinner in Melbourne! Yes, the culinary capital dined for life in seven of its top restaurants to much applause from all the diners. Natasha and myself dined at the new Calombaris venture Press Club – Projects and were treated to not only some incredible flavours but an impromptu fire alarm subsequently followed by the arrival of Victorian fire fighters clearly enjoying their moment in the limelight. There was such a great energy there and later at the after party we got to hear other guests sharing their fantastic experiences. For our first event in a pretty tough city, we certainly made a mark and 2014 is seeing a return.

Click here for the Melbourne restaurants and sponsors involved.

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Perth saw it’s fifth and biggest event yet with 20 of our most delicious restaurants putting on a fantastic fare for diners. The Trustee was the scene of the buzzing after party where almost every diner came and partied on until the bar tenders yelled ‘last rounds’.

Click here to see the restaurants and sponsors of the Perth event.

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We are truly lucky to be able to hold events that unite communities over what we all enjoy so much – great food and wine in a shared table setting and help raise much needed funding and awareness for people so much less fortunate than ourselves.

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This year we joined forces with Sydney based not for profit Project Futures who also raise funding and awareness for human trafficking and support the charity we selected as our own benefactor for our dining event, the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Somaly Mam sent a message of gratitude to all the diners and sponsors who have contributed to the success of the event, the funds raised and the compassion that has been shown in supporting such an important cause.

 

The funds raised with this event will be reported on in the 2014 Project Futures annual report and we will come back to you with how your contribution has helped the girls in the Somaly Mam and AFESIP centres.

See all the photos from both cities on our Facebook page.

Sincere thank you once again for your time, compassion and support. See you all in 2014!

Andjelka & Natasha
xox

 

We have selected our 2013 charity!

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

 

It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. —Charles Darwin

 

What a week…or two, it’s been.

So, after the flurry of changes, meetings, research, conference calls and a few sleepless nights, we have selected a charity doing incredible work for women and children who have been subjected to the harrowing experiences of sex trafficking.

Every time we select a charity we extensively research around the cause and researching this particular topic is hard on the soul. Even just the thought of a child or young girl or woman being subjected to that reality is horrifying at best.

The bright side to this is that we get to see many wonderful organisations that are working incredibly hard to liberate, empower and educate the victims as well as educate us: the rest of the world, about this growing human rights issue.

So without further ado, the charity we have selected is the Somaly Mam Foundation. The Foundation works alongside AFESIP Cambodia to rescue, rehabilitate, reintegrate and educate women and children that have been sold into the sex trade in Cambodia. The Foundation works to eradicate sex slavery, liberate its victims and empower survivors to create and sustain lives of dignity.

 

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We’ve added a twist to this year’s approach. Dine for Life has joined forces with Sydney-based not for profit Project Futures, who are representatives of the Somaly Mam Foundation in Australia. The story of how Project Futures started is not unlike that of Dine for Life’s, so when we found the Somaly Mam Foundation and saw that this Aussie posse over in Sydney were also champions of the cause, we gave Stephanie; the founder, a call and proposed a collaboration that would strengthen our ability to raise awareness and deliver the funds raised at Dine for Life’s dinner to the right place.

Cheers to strength in numbers!

 

 

 

Maurizio Restaurant

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

Stepping into Maurizio Restaurant is like visiting the old country. A place where English is the second language. Where “carb” isn’t a four-letter word. Where, after a meal, you’ll be inspired to join the Italian Club next door.

It’s also known for being one of Perth’s premier dining establishments, providing authentic Italian cuisine and a high standard of service, in elegant surrounds, all with a good dose of Italian charm.

Owner Maurizio Di Ciano has received a number of accolades over the years including an Honour Award from the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association of WA for his distinguished service and professionalism to the restaurant and catering industry.

Demanding nothing less from his staff, customers have come to expect the same standard of exceptional service with every visit. This is evident from the strong patronage the restaurant continues to attract.  The man behind the restaurant is often seen drifting from table to table. This is his dining room – and you are his extended family.

Head Chef Lara Pegoraro has been at the helm of the kitchen for the last year and a half. Originally from Veneto, Lara quit her job as a bank manager to focus on her passion for cooking four years ago. To help her is newcomer Giovanni Paolucci, a fellow classmate of Maurizio from their time at the famous culinary institute Villa Santa Maria in the 90s.

On being involved with Dine for Life a second time, Maurizio manager Marco Di Ciano says, “It’s very important to support the community and Dine for Life is a great opportunity for Maurizio Restaurant to do that.”

We’re so happy to have them on board!

Lamont’s Bishops House

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

We at Dine for Life are so proud to have Lamont’s Bishops House on board for the upcoming Dinner 2012.

Lamont’s is one of those iconic Perth restaurants that like The Heritage, The Trustee and Print Hall, offers fine dining in a beautifually restored heritage building. Lamont’s home is Bishop’s House, a building contructed in the late 1800’s and used as a private home for nearly 100 years before being converted into a multi-level restaurant in late 2010.

Lamont’s not only continues to be one of the city’s best restauants, but also has some undergone some exciting changes. As of Monday, Bishops House has a new bar on the balcony overlooking the heritage listed gardens at Bishops See. Lamont’s Manager Matthew Schwind told us “The new bar concept is in addition to our current level of service. [It’s] a relaxed area to enjoy a drink and a nibble, or simply a low casual atmosphere for a gathering after work.”

The Dinner 2012 will mark the restaurant’s second Dine for Life event.

“Lamont’s Bishops House was fortunate enough to be involved with Dine For Life on our opening night in December three years ago, and we have enjoyed being part of it ever since. What a great way to give back to our community and to share our passion for dining with other likeminded guests,” said Schwind. “To be included in this event along with our peers is a privilege.”

In other exciting news for Lamont’s, Corin Lamont was announced as the Icon of the Swan Valley at the recent 2012 Swan Valley Wine Show Dinner. Lamont’s wine has also been recognised of late. Its 2012 Riesling won the trophy for Best Table Wine (Grown Outside the Greater Perth Zone) and also won a gold medal at the Perth Royal Wine Show!

A Fashionable Donation by Aurelio Costarella

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Tonight’s Summer Dinner is gearing up to be an incredible event. We exceeded our goal of securing 10 restaurants and now have 13 of Perth’s best dining establishments on board, surpassing our goal of raising $15,000 for the Samaritans Crisis Line. Our soon-to-be-disclosed after party will be attended by 100+ diners, celebrities and media figures, all of whom will be enjoying dessert and cocktails concocted especially for the night by the mixologists at Cocktail Gastronomy.

If the Summer Dinner is anything like last May’s Autumn Dinner, the event offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate the featured charity and donations raised for it.

This spirit of giving has prompted the involvement of award-winning fashion designer Aurelio Costarella. The WA-based designer has dressed the likes of Rihanna, Sharon Stone and Eva Mendes, and is fast becoming an internationally recognised luxury brand.

The fashion house has generously donated the exquisite Cunnard Cape (pictured above) to be won by one lucky female diner. The Cunnard Cape is one of only five created by the designer. Made from silk and hand beaded, its retail value is $1600.

Aurelio Costarella has also donated hand-made silk flowers that will be worn by the Dine for Life Ambassadors – the representatives who will be welcoming the diners at each of the restaurants and attending the after party.

We are extremely grateful to Aurelio Costarella for their generosity and look forward to discovering which lucky diner will be taking the gorgeous Cunnard Cape home with them.

Love at La Lola

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Nedlands’ quaint cafe strip on Hampden Road has always been known for its coffee shops (like the delicous Boubar) and tucked-away fashion boutiques – but that’s now changed thanks to the recent arrival of Italian eatery La Lola, which the West Australian Good Food Guide 2011 calls “the sexiest Italian in town”.

Head Chef Tony Garita – best known for his work at Bar One – has created a menu to transport you straight to Rome, with mouth-watering antipasti plates like heavenly buffalo mozzarella, crunchy bruschetta and fried calamari. The homemade pasta – pappardelle, linguine and ravioli – is to die for. Diners are spoilt for choice with the array of classic Italian desserts like tiramisú, semifreddo and affogato – all perfect for a warm summer evening.

And a warm summer evening is just what we expect at the Summer Dinner – making La Lola the perfect addition to the upcoming event, happening in just one week on 1 December. We’re thrilled to offer diners the chance to sample from La Lola’s fare for a good cause.

While most of the Summer Dinner restaurants are offering a set, multi-course menu for the night, La Lola is allowing diners to choose from the full menu – a generous act that adds a different element to the event.

A made-to-order Italian feast without the guilt? Priceless.

Thirteen is a Very Lucky Number

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

For anyone following the flurry of activity surrounding these last few months leading up to Summer Dinner, you’ll know that we were cheering when we reached our goal of 10 restaurants a couple of weeks ago. You might also have heard the squealing when we hit 11, the screaming when we reached 12.

Now might be a good time to plug your ears – we have THIRTEEN restaurants on board for the Summer Dinner!!! That means on 1 December, diners will be toasting the fact that together we raised an incredible donation – the total amount will be announced at the after party – for the Samaritans Crisis Line.

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A Snapshot of Restaurant Amuse

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

It’s been a good year for Restaurant Amusé, a degustation restaurant run by husband and wife team Carolynne and Hadleigh Troy. The Western Australian Good Food Guide 2011 gave Restaurant Amusé an impressive score of 18/20 and two stars – the publication’s highest rating. And in October the eatery won the esteemed award for Restaurant of the Year by the National Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Awards For Excellence, beating the likes of Tetsuya’s in Sydney, Adelaide’s The Manse Restaurant and La Fontaine in Queensland.

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Dine for Life Has Hit the Airwaves

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

With just two weeks remaining until the big event, the buzz surrounding the Summer Dinner is growing and growing. Word has spread through tweets, blog posts, Facebook updates, emails and texts.

And now? Airwaves! Dine for Life was the topic of discussion last Friday on AM station 6PR between presenter Tony Mac and Perth restauranteur Steve Scaffidi. The latter, owner of Summer Dinner restaurant Bar One, lauded Dine for Life on the work it’s doing to raise money for the Samaritans Crisis Line as well as reinvigorate the mid-week dining scene in Perth.

Take a listen:

Escape to the Mediterranean

Friday, November 12th, 2010

The best Italian meals are home cooked and shared by friends in an intimate, cosy atmosphere. That’s exactly the experience Albasio La Pegna creates at his newly refurbished Rialto’s – a Subiaco institution and one of the ten restaurants on board for Dine for Life’s Summer Dinner.

In a recent interview, Albasio told us, “I would like them to feel what we at Rialto’s try to project: a 100% Mediterranean feel at an eatery that makes you feel like you’re stepping away from your world and entering into another.”

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