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Petits fours by Edd Kimber (the Boy Who Bakes) and Chef Luke Mackay Kai We Care. #KaiWeCare . Kai We Care was the mother of all fundraising dinners held on Monday 4th April 2011 at One Moorgate Place in London. The brainchild of Mat Follas, chef patron of the Wild Garlic, and Dave Ahern aka Cork Gourmet Guy, writer turned chef. Canapes and Pre-starter Its aim was to help the New Zealand Red Cross in their efforts to provide relief in the aftermath of February's earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Chef Alyn Williams A stunning nine-course dinner, cooked by a brigade of award-winning and Michelin-starred chefs, followed by an auction of wonderful prizes. Edd Kimber and Luke Mackay It might have seemed like a case of too many cooks, but in the end, the chefs, the front of house, and everyone else pulled the night off with panache. Over £60,000 was raised - a phenomenal amount - thanks to the amazing efforts of the Kai We Care team led by Mat Follas , Dave Ahern , Grant Hawthorn...

I'm staring at the biggest box of onions I have ever seen in my life. And all I can think is, "Oh boy". About six months ago, I was chatting on Twitter, when someone asked me for a Burmese restaurant recommendation. I mentioned Mandalay as being the only place I knew of, and then someone else jumped in and asked if I'd do a Burmese night and cook for people. The next thing I knew, Mat Follas, the chef and owner of The Wild Garlic and winner of MasterChef 2009, tweeted to me, "Why don't you come and cook Burmese food at my place?" I am not a chef. I had never been in a professional kitchen. So I did what any normal person would have done in the circumstances, and I rang up my friend Kavey and screamed at her in excitement, " Oh My God - is he joking? I'd love to do it. Do you think I can do it? What the hell should I say? " Kavey is infinitely more sensible than me, and she said to me, " Play it cool and say yes ". So I said yes...

photo by Lost in the Larder Just got back from Beaminster in Dorset - my first pop-up Burmese restaurant night was a blast. Thank you for all your good wishes! I'll write more about it soon, but in the meantime, here is a review from one of the diners that night, Lost in the Larder . And here also a word or two from the man who made this all possible - Mat Follas , chef patron of the Wild Garlic . And lastly for now is the menu: Burmese Night at the Wild Garlic Friday 1st October *** Christophene Fritters Gorakhar-thee Jaw Matpe Bean Fritters Bayar Jaw Charred Tomato Salsa Pun-tway Byaw *** Wood-ear Mushroom and Bean-thread Vermicelli Soup Jar-zun Hin-gah *** Fish Ball Salad Nga-pè Thoh(k) Century Egg Salad Say Bè-Oo Thoh(k) Green Bean Salad Bair-thee Thoh(k) *** Cinnamon Chicken Je(t)-thar Hin-mway Mogok Pork Curry We(t)-thar Hnu(t) Tomato and Coriander Prawns Bazuhn See-Byun Straw Mushroom , Oyster Mushroom, Baby Spinach Moh Hin-Noo-Nwè Burmese Coleslaw, Shrimp Relish Go...

Back in June, I told you all that the lovely Mat Follas (MasterChef winner 2009) was allowing me to take over his restaurant in Dorset. That time is finally approaching - this Friday, with the help of Mat and his brilliant crew, I will be cooking a Burmese feast for 40 diners at the Wild Garlic . The menu is a secret, but one of the ingredients I will be using is pictured above. Mr Follas and me You can read more about my forthcoming Burmese night on Foodies South West .