Chi Fan for Charity Dishes Up More

Who can say no to eating a great meal while simultaneously donating to charity? That’s the idea behind Chi Fan for Charity, a dining event that won Culinary Event of the Year in Beijing in 2010 and is now bringing its ‘Good Eats. Good Times. Good Causes.’ to Shanghai.

The idea to combine dining with charity came about when Michael Crain realized that people enjoy being philanthropic, but were bored of the age old charity ball events where donors listened to the same speeches and ate mass-produced, less-than-palatable fare. Crain decided to ‘reinvent’ charity dinners, and Chi Fan for Charity was born.

The concept for the event is simple. Restaurants donate set menus to the charity, which then charges diners for the specially-prepared meal. Each restaurant is offering at least three courses and two wine pairings for a table of 10. Proceeds will go to Chi Heng Foundation, Heart 2 Heart Shanghai and Compassion For Migrant Children.

Shanghai-based Kelly Olver and Katie Littlefield of Austen Morris Associates, the organisers behind the successful Chi Fan for Charity idea from Beijing, say that event is a great way for restaurants to showcase their specialties while diners enjoy new twists to their favourite dishes, all the while raising money for really great causes in China.

“This is a really fun event that has taken off in Beijing, and we are seeing the same enthusiasm here in Shanghai,” says Olver.

With 25 restaurants already signed up for the event, even the chefs are getting excited. Often these culinary masterminds are going above and beyond Chi Fan for Charity’s basic requirements; 12 Chairs by David Laris is generously offering a six course meal cooked by the restaurateur and occasional chef himself, while The MEET at Kerry Centre Hotel in Pudong is replacing the wine pairing with beer for a suds-filled degustation menu (and brewery tour) designed by Chef Tobias Unger and Brewmaster Leon Mickelson. The format of the charity event has been inspiring to the chefs around town.

“I am glad to be able to contribute more than a simple gift voucher. While I am always happy to support a worthy cause, I am especially excited by the format of the Chi Fan for Charity events,” says Austin Hu, who is furthering his reputation as resident locavore by preparing a menu of locally produced and artisanal products for the dinner at his restaurant Madison. “I think when you combine a group of like-minded individuals with great food and great wine you are truly creating a platform where people feel good about giving and have the chance to interact with new friends who share similar values."

In addition to the smartly-crafted menus, each table will be hosted by an exciting local personality from the community. Crain will be at the head of the Mr Willis table, while Alan Wong of the Hatsune Group in Beijing will take on hosting duties at Shook!.

Wong, who has been a strong supporter of Chi Fan for Charity since its start in Beijing, attributes the significant impact of the event as his reason for heading south of the Yangtze for the event.

“In one night, CFFC can raise the same amount of money or more than the big gala balls, all with little to no overhead so the charities receive more,” he says.

Once the dinner concludes, that doesn’t mean the night is over. Diners will head to Café Sambal for a night cap or three at the after party. DJ Ben Huang will be spinning, and the booze is supplied by The Wine Republic, Kis Vodka, Sol and Murphy’s Beer.

29 October. 7:30 pm. Web: www.chifanforcharity.org