GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Carpe Diem School (CDS) in George is famous in the Southern Cape for sterling work with special needs children, who would have nowhere else to hone life skills and prepare for a productive future.
CDS also plays host to the Gourmets & Gourmands gala evening, which serves as the school's primary annual fundraiser.
If you were a fly on the wall of the lavishly-decorated foyer and school hall last Saturday night, you would have been forgiven for trying to spot celebrities in the crowd.
Guests were welcomed on a red carpet with the flash of cameras and festive flutes; everyone in attendance was impeccably dressed according to this year's marvellous Mediterranean theme.
Think frocks in island blue and white or embroidered traditional splendour, Med headgear and garlands and matador hats, men in cotton sailing threads or formally suited up for a black-tie ball on the Riviera. One gent even found it apt to arrive in the guise of Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas, complete with locks and headband. And such was the attitude of guests all round: good cheer, incredible generosity, and truly appreciative of the evening's true celebs.
Entertainment
First among these were the stars of Carpe Diem School, whose performances had the hall on their feet in raucous applause.
It would be impossible to single out any one of the 18 participating restaurants or chefs involved – their camaraderie was a joy to behold.
As is the G&G norm, four courses of carefully-planned dishes were prepared in the school's covered quad. Diners had the privilege of seeing the kitchen fundis of their favourite eateries in action, and then savour their offerings during the course of the evening's entertainment.
Much of this entertainment was provided by auctioneer Frederick Bekker in full flight. Seeing an expert at work is always a pleasure, but when so adept at riling up his audience (viz: parting with much hard-earned cash) it's nothing short of a marvellous miracle.
Gourmets & Gourmands guests have always been generous, and this night was no different with nearly R1 million raised for Carpe Diem School through ticket sales, Frederick's auction, and additional donations.
One star of the evening who could not attend is beloved chef Francois Ferreira, a founding member of the event and Carpe Diem acolyte, who lost his battle with cancer on 31 May this year.
A video that showcased his legacy in the national food industry and chefs fraternity was shown at the start of proceedings, and due credit thus paid to Francois as an indelible part of Gourmets & Gourmands.
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