The Darling Trust Black Tie Dinner & Auction, held at Evita se Perron on Friday 4 May, was the launch of a spanking new bi-annual fundraising initiative for The Darling Trust. The event, which is the brainchild of trustee and Darling Sweet co-owner Hentie van der Merwe, was a resounding success, raising a record R158,000 for the Darling community!

Only a hundred tickets were made available for this prestigious event, which were snapped up in no time.

Upon arrival guests were treated to a welcoming drink served outside by celebrity chef Jenny Morris herself. Waiters wandered around with platters of perfectly roasted rolled Waylands beef while the sun was setting over the Swartland.

At seven o’clock guests were welcomed into the Perron, which has never looked so magical and glamorous before, thanks to Darling resident Nina Monda, from Monda PR, who stepped in to help raise sponsorship, co-ordinate the event and dress the venue.

The five-course menu was presented by the two main sponsors of the event; the much-loved celebrity chef Jenny Morris and Karibu South African Dining restaurant in Cape Town. Morris and Karibu executive chef Jamie Rowntree, assisted by five trainees from Morris’ cooking school, prepared each of the five delectable courses. The highlight of the menu was undoubtedly the Karoo lamb cutlets served on traditional beans and samp with wilted baby spinach, as succulent and tender as can be. This was followed by the dinner’s second highlight; the most decadent dessert imaginable, called “Zuma’s Mess”, and it’s description on the menu is worth quoting: “State Captured Malva Pudding set on Crème Anglaise and topped with a corruption of yoghurt, whipped cream, impeached guavas and mini meringues, drizzled with the most dishonestly amazing melted toffee sauce.”

The menu was paired with top quality wines sponsored by Creation Wines from the Hemel-en-Aaarde valley.