Top chefs team up to help Matt
SOME of the nation's best-known chefs have joined forces to raise money for popular celebrity chef Matt Golinski, who continues his recovery in hospital.
More than two months after a fire at their Tewantin home claimed the lives of Mr Golinski's wife and his three daughters, a new campaign has been launched to raise money for him.
Plates for Mates is a national fundraising event calling on the support of restaurants to raise money for Mr Golinski and the McComb Foundation.
Mr Golinski suffered third degree burns to 40% of his body in the Boxing Day fire which claimed his wife Rachael and their daughters Starlia, Willow and Sage.
The Plates for Mates campaign is the brainchild of Mr Golinski's friend Alastair McLeod, a fellow chef from the TV show Ready Steady Cook and the executive chef of Brisbane's Bretts Wharf and Tank restaurants.
Mr McLeod came up with the idea with fellow chefs George Calombaris, Manu Feildel, Damian Heads, Gary Mehigan and Janelle Bloom, all of whom are close friends of Mr Golinski.
"As an industry we are 'hospitable' by nature and one of our own has had this terrible tragedy happen," Mr McLeod said.
Mr McLeod spoke to Mr Golinski on Christmas Eve and said it was a hard reality to accept when he first learned of the tragedy.
"After initially feeling powerless about how to help our friend ... we had the idea to combine our love of cooking with our love for Matt and his family," Mr McLeod said.
"George, Manu, Damian, Gary, Janelle and I call on our fellow restaurateurs and eateries to join us in devising fundraising activities to be held during the month of April.
"It is up to the individual business to determine how they wish to participate, for instance, they can hold one event, stage several events or do something every day in April.
"It might be as simple as adding 20 cents to the price of a coffee."
For more information visit platesformates.com.au.
