Celebrity chef lends talents to cancer fundraiser

Back in the '80s, David Adjey and Stuart Raymond used to work as chefs in the same kitchen.

Adjey went on to become a celebrity chef, known for his work on Food Network shows such as Restaurant Makeover and The Opener.

Raymond, the former owner of Simon's Restaurant in Sudbury, is now the executive chef at the Manitoulin Hotel in Little Current.

But Adjey and Raymond will soon share a kitchen once again, doing what Raymond calls “a dance behind the stoves together.”

Along with several local chefs, they'll be cooking for those attending Dining for a Cure, which takes place at the Steelworkers Hall on April 30. The Miners for Cancer event supports cancer research efforts funded by the Northern Cancer Foundation.

“Stuart and I, when we worked together, we worked on big functions like this all the time, so it's kind of fun to go back into,” Adjey said.

He said he'll be wearing a microphone and appearing on closed-circuit television, so that he can speak to the audience while he's cooking.

“We really don't want to just have dinner to raise money, we want to have an evening's entertainment,” Adjey said. “It's going to be a lot of fun.”

“Sud-lebrities” such as local musician Larry Berrio, city councillor Fabio Belli and Vale executive John Pollesel will serve at the event.

People attending Dining for a Cure can expect “very simple food, but presented in a stellar way,” Raymond said. They'll also be able to sample some of the dishes Adjey has made on his television shows.

Adjey said when Raymond asked him to participate in the event, it was easy to say yes. The cause hits close to home for him, as his mother passed away from cancer last year.

“We're all touched by this horrible disease,” he said. “I'm a simple guy. My talents lie in my ability to cook food. So if I have a talent to cook food, then I've got to use my talent to raise money for this cause.”

Dining for a Cure is something of a departure for Miners for Cancer, which is known for its sporting events, including hockey, golf and baseball tournaments, and a curling bonspiel.

The event was the brain child of Miners for Cancer board member Rob Ferrucci, who has worked in the hospitality industry for many years. Miners for Cancer founder Wayne Tonelli said he expects the event will raise about $60,000.

Since its inception in 2006, the group has raised $827,000 for the Northern Cancer Foundation, and Tonelli said he expects to break the $1-million mark this year.

He said he's looking forward to the Dining for a Cure event. “I know we're going to have a great time,” Tonelli said.

The support of Miners for Cancer means a lot to the Northern Cancer Foundation, said Anna Sampson, the organization's manager of community development.

The more money local cancer researchers have at hand, the more they can leverage those funds to attract more grants, and thus work towards a cure, she said.

Tickets to the event, which cost $125 each, are available at Northern Life's office, and the Northern Cancer Foundation, or online at www.minersforcancer.ca.