
We are delighted to announce that Paul and his team will be cooking a one night only charity dinner at our home here in London and that two spaces at the table are available as part of a fabulous auction package. This would make for an ideal Christmas present for any food lover.
The event with Paul will be held on the evening of Sunday, 24th February 2013. It will include champagne on arrival, a unique tasting menu by Paul together with matching wines, and after dinner drinks including Glenfarclas whisky, going on till the early hours. There will also be lots of time to meet and chat with Paul. It will, without doubt, be a very special evening.
The auction prizes also bring together other great dining experiences, including meals at Koffmann's, Goodman steakhouse, Charlotte's Bistro and Lumiere in Cheltenham. And if that weren't enough, there's also a fabulous wine tasting event that we detail below.
Charities we are supporting on the night are Manna Society, a day centre providing food, health care and advice to London's homeless, and RNLI Padstow. Every single penny raised from the event goes to the charities and Paul and team are generously giving their time and energy for free.
If you want to hear Paul talking about his food, watch the short clip below.
As well as the dinner, we are also hosting in March 2013 a charity wine tasting. The tasting will include Dom Perignon, Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Haut Brion and Chateau d'Yquem. Tom Harrow, WinechapUK will be hosting the event and it will take place in the wine room at Alyn Williams at The Westbury.
Details of the event and vintages to be tasted can be read here. The event is limited to 8 people to ensure adequate glasses of every wine for all participants.
Three places are separately available for the wine tasting.
Charity Auction details
Paul Ainsworth dinner: Sunday 24th February 2013
Wine tasting: Wednesday 27th March 2013
Please also be aware, this is a set menu event, no vegetarian option or allergy options are available.
Auction: Dinner Seat 1
Includes all of the following:
- An all inclusive attendance at Paul Ainsworth's charity dinner at CC for one person
- Attendance at the Bordeaux Wine Tasting for one person
- Lunch or dinner for two people at Koffmann's (at the Berkeley), including a bottle of house wine, a signed copy of Pierre's latest book Memories of Gascony (and possibly even get to meet Pierre himself!).
- Lunch or dinner for two people at Lumiere, Cheltenham, ranked 37 in the Sunday Times 100 Top Restaurants (and 4th best in South West England)
- dinner for two at The Ship, Wandsworth
Auction: Dinner Seat 2
Includes all of the following:
- An all inclusive attendance at Paul Ainsworth's charity dinner at CC for one person
- Attendance at the Bordeaux Wine Tasting for one person
- Feast at the brilliant London steakhouse Goodman. Enjoy a table for two people, a house bottle of wine and all you can eat steak! See the meat hanging room and tour kitchen. A meat lover's heaven.
- Dinner with matching wines at Charlotte's Bistro, a great place and a personal favourite of ours
- Dinner for two at Michelin starred restaurant The Elephant in Torquay
Auction: Wine Tasting
3 separate places are available for this event, and will be awarded to the three highest bidders:
- Attendance at the Bordeaux Wine Tasting for one person
New addition: with three places up for auction for the wine tasting, there's a special additional prize for the the highest bidder on this lot: a year's membership to WinechapUK's Premier Crew. This superb (and highly valuable) prize provides a wine concierge service giving you your own personal 'wine chap' helping out with everything from cellars to wine purchase to restaurant access.
How to Participate
If you want to participate in the auction either contact us and bid on Twitter (@CriticalCouple) or via email (david@thecriticalcouple.com). State clearly whether you wish to bid on Dinner Seat 1, Dinner Seat 2 or Wine Tasting, and clearly state your bid.
Updates of where the bidding stands will be posted periodically on Twitter and on our website.
The auction close date is midday Sunday 16th December, subject to final bids at that time.
Auction winners will be asked to provide payment (cash, cheque, bank transfer) by Sunday 23rd December.
Failure to settle by the above date will risk forfeiting the lot. Decisions of David & Nicole Williams (aka the critical couple) are final in all aspects of the auction and the events.