Carluccio's awarded best fundraiser at Restaurants Against Hunger Awards

Carluccio's, The Hawksmoor and Carnaby Burger Co are among the restaurants who have been awarded for their help in raising funds for humanitarian charity Action Against Hunger (AAH).​

Restaurateurs, chefs and food writers gathered at the Andaz Studio in London on Monday (15 February) night for the second Restaurants Against Hunger Awards.

Simon Kossoff, managing director of Carluccio's was at the ceremony to pick up an award for Best Fundraising Campaign. The Italian restaurant chain has raised more than £380,000 for AAH's campaign by donating 50p from every dish of Penne Giardiniera sold.

Huw Gott, owner of The Hawksmoor, collected the award for Most Raised by an Individual Restaurant award while Patara Fine Thai Cuisine, which has four restaurants in London, won Best Newcomer.

Darnell Bryan, of Carnaby Burger Co., pictured with AAH campaigns manager Karen Doyle, was given the Best Staff Contribution award and Niamh Shields, representing London Food Bloggers, scooped the Best Fundraising Event for The Blaggers' Banquet fundraiser, which raised nearly £10,000.

Alliance​

Since the alliance between the charity and restaurants was set up in 1998, restaurants have raised £1.5m for the charity with £450,000 of that raised last year.

AAH executive director Jean Michel Grand said: “We all agree that hunger, especially acute hunger, is morally unacceptable. However, it can be solved.

"What I can see here, in the UK, is the food industry taking some leadership in addressing hunger. Initiated a decade ago, what was an embryo, has developed year after year into a well organised Food Industry Movement against hunger. There is much to be proud of, and we hope to see the campaign grow even further over the years to come."