Captain Starlight visits the MCEC kitchen

L-R Darren Purchese (Burch & Purchese), Mark Best (Pei Modern), Captain Starlight, Scott Stevenson (Pei Modern) and Brad Simpson (The Smith)

Guest post by Melbourne writer Lou Pardi (@LouPardi)

The MCEC kitchen has seen many things. But a visit from Captain Starlight would have to be counted amongst the highlights.

Captain Starlight is part of the Starlight Children’s Foundation team who help children with serious illness have a bit of well-earned fun. Starlight rooms in public hospitals are doctor and nurse free zones where children are free to be themselves. Captain Starlight is never seen out of character by the children. The program isn’t funded by the government.

A major fundraiser for the Starlight Children’s Foundation is the Starlight Five Chefs Dinner. This year, the featured chefs include Michael Lambie (The Smith), Philippe Mouchel (PM 24), Mark Best (Pei Modern), Nicky Riemer (Union Dining) and Darren Purchese (Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio), together with MCEC’s own Executive Chef Tony Panetta, who has provided some divine canapés, together with coordinating the MCEC kitchen staff to deliver the chef’s incredible dishes.

A trial lunch was held at MCEC, with tables set up in the kitchen space and chefs attending to prepare the dishes. Together with Captain Starlight himself, guests from media and key organisers tested the dishes and wine matches – an overwhelming success. Wines were provided by Tyrrell’s Wines, Voyager Estate, De Bortoli, Wynns and Campbells Wines.

MCEC’s kitchen was the envy of many of the chefs. Whilst when changing venues they might often pre-prepare much of the dish in their own kitchens, as Darren Purchese said, he didn’t want to leave MCEC’s fantastic set-up. Panetta enjoyed creating the canapés for the special meal and turned out some outstanding pieces.

Tony Panetta’s canapé menu includes:

Rabbit, date and chocolate roulade
White chocolate, lime cured trout, chilli and avocado
Pork and pistachio lolly pops
Confit duck and Persian fetta toasties

Tony's rabbit, date and chocolate roulade

The main event will be held on Thursday, 14 June 2012 and limited tickets are available for this incredibly worthy cause.

For those who can’t make it, check out some of Melbourne’s top Chefs in sports mode at the Starlight Chefs’ Charity Cup, which is being held during the Good Food and Wine Show this Saturday 2 June.

Event details
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Thursday 14 June 2012, 6pm pre dinner drinks, doors open at 6.45pm
$350 per person or table of 10 for $3500. Platinum tables of 10 $5000
www.fivechefs.org.au or 03 9468 2024