Jonny Dunhill Tribute Dinner with Janet-Street Porter

Creation of Young Chef Bursary Awards Announced

A fund-raising tribute dinner for Jonny Dunhill, owner of Ramsgate’s
Eddie Gilbert’s restaurant and wet fish shop, who died in February, aged
49, is to host Janet Street-Porter as guest of honour.  Janet is a big
fan of Eddie Gilbert’s fish and chips and a regular visitor to the
restaurant.

The special 6-course dinner featuring Jonny’s favourite dishes will be
served at Thanet College’s Bay View Restaurant in Broadstairs – which is
sponsoring the event – on Monday 28th May.  The tasting menu which
includes Jonny’s all-time favourite ‘Brown shrimp croquette, pickled
cucumber, crispy parsley and a sherry vinegar emulsion’, has been
designed by the award-winning Craig Mather, Eddie Gilbert’s original
head chef, who now works as a Chef Lecturer at the College, between
shifts at the King Street seafood restaurant.  Tickets cost £30.

The dinner will raise funds for Pilgrims Hospice in Margate, where Jonny
spent his final days.  Monies will also be used for the creation of an
annual bursary scheme, where students of Kent’s catering colleges will
complete to win funding to allow them to train with a top international
chef.

A number of generous gifts are being donated for the charity auction and
raffles prizes.

These include: a top quality men’s suit, shirt and tie worth over £700
from leading Jermyn Street tailor, TM Lewin; a week-long stay at The
Stables 3-bedroom holiday cottage near Tunbridge Wells with
complimentary membership to the adjacent Knowle Grange Health Spa;
overnight stays at The Reading Rooms luxury B+B in Margate and the 5
starred White Vine House in Rye; meals for two at several of the area’s
leading restaurants – Michelin listed The Ambrette, in Margate or Rye,
The Mulberry Tree (twice-winner of Best Kent Restaurant) and one of
Kent-based TV chef Richard Philips Kent’s award-wining venues
(Thackeray’s, Hengist or Pearson’s Arms) and Eddie Gilbert’s; Chix&
Buck Wines will offer a mixed case of 12 wines or a wine tasting for 4
people at its new Hideaway Jazz Café wine bar in south London; and a
round of golf for a foursome at Northforeland Golf Course in
Broadstairs, a beauty treatment at Thanet College and a hamper of local
producers leading of food and drink items from Produced in Kent.

"By creating a local young chef award and bursary, we can continue to
keep the memory of Jonny fresh in the minds of local people for years to
come, whilst helping raise the standards of local cooking, something
very dear to his heart," said Craig Mather.

Fruit Central greengrocer in Ramsgate is donating fruit and vegetables
for the evening.  Thanet College’s restaurant including all kitchen
equipment is now available for private hire at a cost of £300.

Eddie Gilbert’s continues to thrive, with Jonny’s brother Mark Dunhill
running the business for the benefit of Jonny’s 3 children, Edlyn (8)
and Gilbert (10) after whom the business is named and Georgia, who was 1
in March.

Local businesses wish to contribute charity auction items or raffle
prizes should contact George Shaw of Avocado Media on 01892 750 851 or
geo@avocadomedia.co.uk

Tickets are available from Eddie Gilbert’s at 32 King Street in Ramsgate
or online from Thanet College via www.thanet.ac.uk/bookings.  With
numbers restricted to 70 diners, early booking is advisable.

Sponsors’ websites:
www.tmlewin.co.uk
www.barnstormersuk.net
www.knowlegrange.co.uk
www.whitevinehouse.co.uk
www.theambrette.co.uk
www.themulberrytreekent.co.uk
www.readingroomsmargate.co.uk
www.chixandbuck.com
www.northforeland.co.uk
www.producedinkent.co.uk
www.thanet.ac.uk