Dine out and Givva Fork

When giving to a worthy cause is as simple as tacking on a few bucks to the bill at the end of a nice dinner out, it's hardly a difficult task.

This is the angle that Major Raiser is taking for its 2013 Givva Fork campaign, raising money for the World Food Programme's school meal program in Laos.

Givva Fork - at the campaign launch party, Mad Pizz e Bar, Crown Street, Surry Hills

For the month of March, a number of Sydney restaurants will be taking part in the Givva Fork campaign, where diners can"givva fork" by purchasing a retro orange, stainless steel Givva Fork fork, or by adding "forkage" to a bill at the end of a night.

Amalfi pizza at Mad Pizza - tiger prawns, ricotta, garlic, chilli flakes and
roma tomato with fresh mint leaves

Each $6 fork purchased from a participating restaurant or online equates to school meals for an entire month for a school child in Laos. That has to be the hardest-working fork I own, for sure!

"Forkage" is like corkage but instead, aims to remove hunger from a child's life. Every dollar donated at the end of the meal with the bill will fund four school meals in Laos.

Havianna pizza at Mad Pizza - double smoked ham, pineapple, basil and roma tomatoes

Participating restaurants include all the Mad Pizza e Bar outlets, Orto Trading Co., The Dip, Ampersand, Olio, Michelini, Not Bread Alone, One Six Nine Cafe and Harry & Mario.

We were treated to a delicious array of Mad Pizza's super-thin based pizzas at the launch event with Major Raiser founder Dominic Greenwood and Givva Fork ambassador (as well as  Masterchef contestant and fellow blogger) Billy Law.

2013 Givva Fork campaign ambassador Billy Law
(image courtesy of Wasamedia and Photo Refinery)

There will also be a number of fundraising events held throughout the month, including a gay singles night (happy Mardi Gras!), a Secret Foodies event and plans for a food photography workshop with Billy, where all proceeds will go towards the campaign.

The month of fundraising and events will culminate in an all-out party at The Standard, where hopefully even more funds will be raised.

So Sydney diners, show you 'givva fork' - it's as simple as eating out and giving your spare dollars and a damn.

Join Adriano Zumbo for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

It's that time of the year again, when a coffee and cake mid-morning will help raise money for the Cancer Council and their important work. Yep, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea is on - officially on 26 May but also throughout the month of May (and even June).

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea - 26 May 2011
(Photos courtesy of the Cancer Council)

The idea is to hold a fund-raising morning tea with a group of friends, family or workmates, so that your mid-morning treat can go towards a worthy, potentially life-changing cause. Register at http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/ and get the baking schedules on or treat orders in.
 

ABMT 2011 ambassador Adriano Zumbo
(Photos courtesy of the Cancer Council)

This year's Australia's Biggest Morning Tea ambassadors include the one and only Adriano Zumbo, former Masterchef contestant Callum Hann, naturopath Janella Purcell and television chef Ed Halmagyi.

This year's event will be launched at 8.30am Wednesday morning, 13 April with a live cooking demonstration at Martin Place with the ambassadors and various cultural groups. Get yourself there to catch a glimpse of Adriano, Callum and the others whipping up morning tea treats.

This year the Cancer Council is aiming to raise $11 million nationally. I'm more than happy to help out, especially if it involves just gobbling a few cakes, tarts or slices - eating for a cause, my sort of thing.

Fish Friday in Martin Place

Fish are taking over Martin Place in Sydney!

Well, Fish Friday anyway, which will be on Friday, 18 February from 12.pm to 2.30pm in Martin Place in Sydney's CBD. If you go by everyday, you would have noticed the construction of some sort of marquee over the past few days.

A school of chefs will take over in front of a sea of people and show off their skills with seafood from the Sydney Fish Markets. Jeff Turnbull (Aqua Dining), Max Lukeman (Nick’s Seafood), Stewart Wallace (Garfish) and Adam Lord (Coast) will be joined by chefs from Doyles at the Quay, who will be preparing a simple meal of fish for the general public.

Sydneysiders are invited to donate what they would usually spend on lunch to show solidarity with the millions of people in our world who rely on fish and rice as their staple diet.

Keen foodies are encouraged to place their bids for dishes created by Jeff, Max, Stewart & Adam in a special auction at 12.30pm. The top four bidders will be invited to sit down in Martin Place to enjoy their special seafood meal, and have the opportunity to chat with the chef who created it.

All proceeds will go to Caritas Australia’s 2010 Project Compassion Appeal, which this year hopes to raise in excess of $10m. For more information on the work of Caritas Australia, click here.