8×8 course dinner – I love charity work, no pressure

I think most of you know that I do a lot of charity work for Cambodia and the charity ‘The Tabitha Foundation’.

Well last year part of the fund raising with my mates Reevey and Si was to auction me off. Basically auction me off as a chef for the night, to come to your house and prepare an 8 course meal. Included some bottles of wine.

So 3,000 SGD later I was indeed auctioned off and had to attend a house party for 8 guests to cook 8 courses. Man this was a tough one, as I have never really had to cook a dish that had to go out exactly the same as the other 7 plates for that course, at the same time, and for 8 times that night.

We started about 8pm and finished cooking about midnight.

Mary was there to help, but heavily preggers.

Si and Reevey were my excellent serving bitches for the night – thanks lads.

We had a blast!!!

Despite some flaky starts – such as me rocking up with all my cooking gear including woks etc. to walk in to a rather small galley kitchen with electric hobs. Sh*t that does’t work well with round bottomed woks now does it. PANIC!!! Luckily they had some flat bottom pans and woks so all was saved.

Also something else never done before by yours truly was the serve then come and explain to the consumers what the hell it is they are about to eat.

First couple times at that was a tad embarrassing, but after a while and a few bottles of beer, all was good.

It was a great success, with some pretty amazing compliments coming from the recipients. We were even invited to stay with them for drinks once we had cleaned up, staying in the end to about 0230am drinking and laughing. Another good sign I would say.

I loved every minute, despite being very nervous and would do exactly the same again.

Plus to raise 3,000 for Cambodia makes you a very proud person of what you achieved!!!

Thanks to the Brindlecombe’s and friends for a great experience and opportunity. And also thanks for your amazing generosity to us and of course Cambodia.

Brian Kennett

Father of 3. All my kids are mixed, with English-Japanese, and English-Filipino - a recipe in the making there. I have been cooking since a small lad, as guided by my Nan and my Mum - gradually that morphed through exposure to Thai cooking from a lovely lady called Da in Margate. I used to hang out in her restaurant and watch the techniques. So the 1+1= greater than 2 occurred - Mum/Nan/Da - off I went in to the world of Asian cuisine. Moving to Asia in early 2000's clearly has brought that on somewhat - we travel continually, and eat locally and therefore have exposure to more and more new things. I have lived my dream and written a cook book whilst here, an amazing experience and all for a good cause too as I raised a lot of money for charity. My blog is now hopefully turning in to book number 2. Watch this space. I hope you enjoy my passion.