HE’S cooked for royalty and rock stars and now he has served up food for staff of a local children’s cancer charity at an event celebrating the opening of a brand new short break centre.
On Friday March 7, staff from Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children were treated to beautiful meal cooked by top local chef Joery Castel at their celebration lunch for Daisy Lodge – the new short break facility for families affected by cancer in Newcastle.
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NICFC short break centre deputy manager Joan Burden, the Boathouse’s Joery Castel and cook Martell Kennedy at the Daisy Lodge staff celebration day.[/caption]
The chef, from The Boathouse restaurant in Bangor, used the very best of locally sourced meat, fish and vegetables to road test the new kitchens at the state of the art facility due to open this spring.
Taste of Ulster, which Daisy Lodge will become a member of, organised for the top chef to cater the lunch. NI Cancer Fund for Children is hoping this partnership will help the charity accomplish its aim of providing top quality, nutritious local produce for families staying at Daisy Lodge.
The Dutchman has worked his way up from his mother’s kitchen to cook at some of the top restaurants in Europe and has prepared meals for the likes of Mick Jagger and Her Majesty The Queen.
NICFC chief executive Gillian Creevy said: “It was amazing to have Joery here to cook the first ever meal in Daisy Lodge and road test our new kitchen. What a meal it was, everyone was delighted. Thanks to Taste of Ulster for organising this for us. Hopefully this is the start of us providing great, nutritious food here at Daisy lodge.”
Speaking from Daisy Lodge, Joery said: “For me it’s important to give something back to the community. Good, healthy food is so important and it is amazing to see people’s faces light up when they put something delicious in their mouth. Food gives happiness and in hard times food can put a smile on your face. Hopefully, for years to come the chefs here at Daisy Lodge can do that for families nursing a sick child.”
Sharon Machala from Taste of Ulster said: “The Boathouse restaurant was one of the highest scoring Taste of Ulster members in 2013 for its Customer Service and the Dining Experience as a whole. Joery is passionate about supporting local producers.”
“With the incredible Great Taste Award success of local products, and the fact that we have three products with PGI status, there has never been a better time to support local companies. Our bread, meat, vegetables, dairy and cereals are renowned for being of excellent quality so it’s time we all started to be proud of our products, and promote the dedicated people who produce and serve it,” added Michele Shirlow CEO of Food NI.
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The new Northern Ireland Cancer Fund For Children’s Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, a respite centre for families who have children suffering from cancer, will be open around April.[/caption]
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