SKYCITY Dining for a Difference 2009

On Saturday 18 April iconic kiwi musician Dave Dobbyn stunned the 270 guests attending the LBF fundraiser, SKYCITY Dining for a Difference, performing classic hits such as Loyal, Beside You and a special tribute to Peter Gordon.

The elegant black-tie event, held at the SKYCITY Convention Centre, was hosted by Kerre Woodham. The night brimmed with New Zealand’s most respected celebrities including former All Black Buck Shelford, TV3 personality Hilary Barry, former TV presenter John Hawksby and fashion designer Denise L'Estrange-Corbet as well as businesses and media.

The award-winning event was the brainchild of New Zealand celebrity chef Peter Gordon who assembled world-class chefs from New Zealand, Australia, Shanghai and San Francisco to cook for the evening.

Gordon of SKYCITY’s dine by Peter Gordon and The Providores restaurant in London, returned to New Zealand to organise and take part in the event to honour his sister Tracey who survived leukaemia over 12 years ago.

During the night, Dave Dobbyn serenaded Gordon on stage with his touching classic Welcome Home, “you have sacrificed so much to be here,” Dobbyn sang.

Indeed the chefs meticulously prepared for weeks for the event sourcing spices and ingredients to conjure culinary delights such as explosive Caesar salad and sea urchin mint shooters. They donated their time and culinary expertise to ensure a delectable evening.

The event is New Zealand’s second after a successful inaugural dinner in 2007. The result of the 2009 event was an incredible night raising $160,000 for LBF. In this changing economy the LBF is especially humbled to be supported in this way by its guests and sponsors.