The Ronald McDonald Christchurch Supper Club took place last month and we were delighted to once again have the opportunity to be involved as one of the mystery dinner hosts! This iconic event is the highlight of the fundraising calendar for Ronald McDonald House and sees guests treated to unique dining experiences in mystery venues around the city. This year the event raised a record $155,000 which will go directly to supporting families whose children are in hospital in the South Island.
The evening began when guests gathered at Christ’s College for an exciting live auction to find out their mystery venue. Following a draw, where each table of guests is randomly assigned to a host, guests were whisked away by classic cars to their venue for the night.
Our lucky guests were Mitre 10 Ferrymead (along with some of their clients) and we were thrilled to host them in our Christchurch showroom for the evening. They were greeted by our team and shown to a dedicated space decorated in warming hues to reflect the winter season. Here they would spend the evening surrounded by beautiful interiors and the latest designs from top international & NZ furniture brands. A gift consisting of a cosy blanket and bottle of 27 Seconds wine was also given to each of our guests.
We of course couldn’t have done it without our incredible partners, the Sauce Kitchen and 27seconds who helped to round out the night with a delicious menu and beautiful wines.
The Sauce Kitchen is a modern catering kitchen that thrives on creating fresh, fragrant and mouth-watering menus. They have helped with various other events at McKenzie & Willis over the years and in fact helped us host our last Supper Club! They thoughtfully put together a menu that included canapes followed by another 3 courses, which our guests very much enjoyed. Gabrielle Lewis, co-owner of Sauce Kitchen explained that the menu was designed around winter favourites. “We served a winter inspired menu that included braised Persian lamb and beef fillet as well as a divine honey pannacotta and poached pears for dessert” says Gabrielle.
Wines were kindly provided by our friends at 27seconds, another company we have a long history with and one we love to support. 27seconds is a wine label that donates 100% of its profits to NGOs that work in the area of human trafficking. Not only does their range support an amazing cause but all their wines have been judged 4-5 stars by NZ Wine judges. Jo Taylor-de Vocht, Sales and Marketing Manager for 27seconds came along to the evening to tell their story and to help pair wines with the food. “We began with our Sauvignon Blanc and Rose, followed by our Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir and ended with the star of the show, our riesling (rated ***** by Raymond Chan and Wine Orbit)’ says Jo.
It was all these details that made it such a fun and memorable night. Jo commented “It was a great evening and we really appreciate the ongoing support from our friends at McKenzie & Willis. They have been with us from the start. It’s fantastic to see the way they take up every opportunity to use their business for good.”
Ronald McDonald House relies on the generous support of the community to operate their facilities and to give to families in need. To find out how you can help and to make a donation to Ronald McDonald House, visit their website.