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Multiple Sclerosis Big 5 Luncheon Hailed as Huge Success

For the fourth consecutive year, Sunday 2 May saw the "Big 5 Charity Luncheon" held at the 5-star Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, create valuable awareness about Multiple Sclerosis, which affects thousands of South Africans each year, as well as raising a phenomenal R107 753 to support the needs of The Multiple Sclerosis Society of South Africa (MSSA), Western Cape. May is also the official international month for Multiple Sclerosis awareness.

Grande Provence’s Executive Chef, Darren Roberts lead the culinary proceedings joined by Bertus Basson – Chef of Overture restaurant, Chris Erasmus – Executive Chef of Ginja, Michael McIntyre - Executive Chef of The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Rudi Liebenberg- Executive Chef at the Mount Nelson Hotel and Reuben Riffel – Chef of Reuben’s restaurant. This team of South Africa’s most celebrated chefs presented an incredible 6 course gourmet meal, complemented by the award-winning Grande Provence wines created by legendary Winemaker Jaco Marais.

Guests dined on exquisite dishes such as organic beetroot salad, buffalo ridge mozzarella, basil emulsion - Carpaccio of Salmon and Tuna served with pickled radish slices, Capers, baby herb leaf salad, coriander-wild daga pesto and parmesan shavings and paired with the soon to be released Grande Provence Sauvignon Blanc 2010. Shanghai braised Duck, foie gras and chicken terrine, plum and star anise puree, pear and saffron chutney, teriyaki vinaigrette, bean sprout and pea shoot salad paired with Grande Provence Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. The fourth course was created by Darren Roberts who presented a double braised pork belly, grilled scallop, apple and mint cottage pie, hazelnut and apple reduction followed by tastes and textures of chocolate and the meal was completed by toasted brioche, pear, goats cheese mousse and truffled honey.

Top Image: All the chefs pictured with Owner, Alex van Heeren, Shani Marais (patron of MS), Non Smit (Chairperson of MSSA) and Ryan O’Connor, who was the MC of the event