The Extraordinary Banquet

14 March 2013 - One Mayfair, North Audley St, W1K 6ZA

A unique evening of experimental food and mixology inspired by the life and principles of Linda McCartney. Linda saw things differently; she saw the well-being of people and the planet as hand in hand. Friends of the Earth shares this vision and for 40 years has secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, and acted to keep our climate stable. I encourage you to join me and lend your support to Friends of the Earth. Sir Paul McCartney

The Extraordinary Banquet on Thursday 14 March 2013 was unlike anything Friends of the Earth had done before.

It gave its 200 guests a wonderful and totally unexpected experience of experimental cuisine, mixology, music and theatrical performance.

Dame Vivienne Westwood, Katharine Hamnett, Mike Figgis, Leo Johnson and Rosie Chan were among the guests. The event, held at London's One Mayfair, was inspired by the life and principles of Linda McCartney, with support from friends Dame Vivienne Westwood and Jo Wood and compered by Clive Anderson.

The Extraordinary Banquet put fine food in a different light, reuniting nature's raw materials with their environment, and creating edible habitats in which things were not quite what they appear to be.

The glittering evening began with cocktails by masters of mixology, Twist, including a delicious Mystery Smash, followed by a multi-sensory, experimental menu created by Zafferano. Guests dined on a magical menu of edible sand, pistachio trees, passion fruit caviar, jewelled quail eggs, glow-in-the-dark cucumber, agave nectar, and strawberry and cream mushrooms with tropical tea vapour.

We are delighted to have been asked to cater the inaugural Extraordinary Banquet for Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth challenged us to "see things differently" and re-think the tried and tested concept of charity fundraising dinners. As a tribute to visionary campaigner Linda McCartney, the focal point menu approved by Sir Paul McCartney reunited nature's raw materials with their environment, creating a series of edible habitats, where things were not quite what they appeared to be.

With their Extraordinary Banquet Friends of the Earth has undoubtedly raised the bar for all future charity fundraising events in London. It will be remembered for a long time as a truly magical evening, and we are as proud as punch to have been a part of it.

Zafferano

The evening included an incredible one-off UK performance from Grammy-nominated classical musician Julian Wachner and a special live performance from critically acclaimed soul and blues singer Natalie Duncan.

There was also a specially commissioned new work, Metanoia, by acclaimed Choreographer/Director Darren Johnston. The piece featured innovative performance and music composition from a stellar international cast of singers, dancers and musicians which were brought together especially for this event.

Guests bid on an array of fabulous auction prizes including VIP tickets to an upcoming Sir Paul McCartney concert; private rowing experience with Olympic Gold Medallist Alex Gregory; photography by Julian Lennon and Mike Figgis and a chartered yacht for 10 people for a day.