High-profile chef and restaurateur Somer Sivrioğlu (Maydanoz, Anason) has invited some of Australia’s leading chefs and food personalities to join him at a special fundraising dinner for victims of the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye.

Sivrioğlu who has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, has been using his social media accounts to promote Bring Your Support To The Table dinner, a special fundraising event held at Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney on Sunday, March 26.

“The Turkish and Australian communities have been so supportive.  So many of my chefs have lost family and friends, others I know have lost their homes. It makes me very emotional to think about it,” says Sivrioğlu, who spends several months of the year in his homeland running his restaurant and filming for Turkish MasterChef.

Sivrioğlu says long-time food journalist and media and events expert Joanna Savill offered to co-ordinate the fundraising feast, which will include a 10-course set menu hosted by Matt Preston.

“Joanna called me and said, ‘What can I do?’, ‘How can I help?’. Then she phoned [Hunter St Hospitality and Rockpool Bar & Grill culinary director] Corey Costelloe from Rockpool and he said, ‘Yes’ straightaway to the idea of a fundraising feast,” says Sivrioğlu.

Joining Sivrioğlu in the kitchen is a line-up of big-name chefs including Sharon Salloum (3 Tomatoes), Coskun Uysal (Tulum and Lezzet), Jez Wick (Refettorio OzHarvest), Lauren Murdoch (Pearl Catering), Federico Zanellato (Lumi, Restaurant Leo and ELE) and Hamish Ingham (Redbird Chinese).

“Those affected by the earthquakes were mostly Syrian refugees displaced by the war. I’m aiming to raise about $300,000 in total and it’s been so touching for me to get so much support for those in need,” he says.  

Sivrioglu has so far raised almost $120,000 to support UNICEF Australia which is in the region helping those affected by the 7.8 magnitude quake on February 6, 2023. His efforts have included a series of chefs’ tables, a charity barbecue, and the sale of Harkola hampers with help from TV presenter and Gourmet Safaris’ founder Maeve O’Meara.

“My whole world stopped when I heard the news about Türkiye and Syria. It’s the biggest natural disaster in that area in modern history. I had only been back in Australia for five days and I felt so helpless. I was numb. I felt it was my calling to be part of something that supports the people in this region,” says Sivrioğlu.

What: Bring Your Support to the Table
Where: Rockpool Bar and Grill Sydney, 66 Hunter St, Sydney
When: Sunday, March 26
Cost: $750 per head, including drinks. (Halal options are available.)
Bookings: sevenrooms.com. 

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