Ramsay's the King of Castle kitchen

Nov 7 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

RAMSAY’S THE KING OF CASTLE KITCHEN

CELEBRITY chef Gordon Ramsay persuaded his pals to raise a staggering £100,000 at the historic Stirling Castle Great Hall.

Last year Ramsay hosted a similar event for Scottish Spina Bifida Association, the charity of which he is patron.

And this year, among those dining in style at the castle were fellow chef Nick Nairn, journalist and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter, “Dragon’s Den” guru Duncan Bannatyne, TV interior designer John Amabile, actor John Gordon Sinclair and direct from the critically-acclaimed Broadway revival of “Les Miserables” was John Owen Jones.

Despite all the financial headlines and warnings of credit crunch nightmares, the £500 per head sell-out event, which was sponsored by Prudential, the life and pension provider, raised a staggering £100,000 for the charity.

A delighted Gordon Ramsay said: “The money raised at this spectacular dinner will help support more than 3000 children, young people and adults in Scotland who are seriously affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Both conditions cause lifelong complex disabilities for which there is no cure.”

SSBA’s head of fundraising Deborah Roe added: “We have been overwhelmed by the support that this event has received and owe a special thank you to Gordon and Tana Ramsay, Prudential – the main event sponsor – and 88 Events, Scotland’s leading specialist events company, who sumptuously and dramatically dressed Stirling Castle for us.

“Thanks also go to Broad Gallery, London, who sponsored the silent auction and all those who donated auction prizes including an original signed Salvador Dali etching, a Beatles’ presentation signed by the Fab Four, dinner with Duncan Bannatyne, an interior design package donated by John Amabile, a circus performance donated by Zippo’s Circus, flights and a five-day stay for two in the United Emirates at a luxury five-star beach resort, with a meal for two at Gordon Ramsay’s Dubai restaurant ‘The Verre’ and flights to Los Angeles for dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, “The London, West Hollywood.”

To make a donation to the Scottish Spina Bifida Association call 01236 794505 or visit www.ssba.org.uk.