Famed tea producer Dilmah has confirmed their Chairman is set to take part in a high-profile charity cook-off.
Tomorrow night, teams of leading Kiwi chefs and business leaders will prepare a three-course meal to raise funds for the Auckland City Mission.
Dilmah's Dilhan Fernando says it's 'inspiring' to play a part in this cause.
"Truly a group of heroes - I visited home ground the other day and it is an inspiring space, what they do there."
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Tomorrow night, some of our top chefs and business leaders
will join forces for the annual Auckland City Mission Cookoff.
The teams will prepare a three course meal for one
hundred and fifty guests, many who are experiencing homelessness, and
the event raising money for the mission as they go.
One of those taking part is dil Marty CEO dil Hanfernado.
(00:33):
He is with me now. Good morning, del.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Han, Good morning Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Have you been practicing or brushing up on your cooking
skills or do you not need to? Are you you
may superb chef?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Well, I don't know about that, but we're under the instruction.
At least my team is with Petro Gala and part
of HUT and so we're doing dessert and we have
one hundred and fifty City Mission guests. But what a cause.
It's so inspiring to be able to do anything with them.
They are truly a group of heroes. I visited Home
Ground the other day and it is an inspire in
(01:06):
space what they do there for homeless people and people
in need.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Talk me through how this works. So what are you
and your team preparing?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Well, we're going to prepare dessert. Petro hasn't told us yet.
There's going to be something of a mystery box there
and so with the mystery box, we're going to have
something that's healthy, nutritious. So fully that's that's the assignment.
And then we'll have one hundred and fifty guests there.
So Petro will be directing us. There'll be four other
(01:36):
CEOs joining in this team. Then there'll be three teams
in all. There'll be Michael van Dedelzen and there's also
Gareth Stuart, so there'll be the three chefs who'll be
leading the three teams doing the starter, the main course,
and the dessert. But the objective is really to try
(01:56):
to raise two hundred and fifty thousand dollars winters approaching.
There are a lot of people in the in need
who are sleeping rough and twenty dollars could buy twenty
warm meals in the community dining room that City Mission
has and truly, if you ever get a chance, please visit.
It is an inspiring space to see people doing what
(02:20):
they can for homeless people and that means they work
day in and day out. You know, it's easy to
give it's easy to give the money, but to actually
have the interaction and to be at the call face
of this cause of actually helping people in such desperate need,
that's inspiring.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Your home ground is an incredible, incredible building, and what's
going on in there is amazing. What really struck you
about what they do there? What you impressed by, Well.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
It's the way in which they manage, they understand people,
because you know, quite often people in distress they express
themselves in different ways. And yet here is an incredibly
compassionate approach which is respectful at the same time constructive,
but also collaborative because you know, you you often you
(03:08):
have a person who might be angry about their situation.
It's easy to translate that anger in and simply reject
that person. But here you have an incredibly compassionate approach
which is scientific at the same time, but always trying
to understand what might be causing this anger or this
(03:28):
this aggressive behavior. And you know that's that's in all
of us when we're in difficulty. We express ourselves in
different ways. But this is truly inspiring how they or
they come together and scientifically, compassionately, you know, with so
much kindness they help these wonderful people.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So that's dessert that you're going to be offering. Will
it be t infused in any way?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yes it will. It'll have some of our dilma. I
believe it's going to be the English breakfast tea infused,
and you know tea is always a good idea. It's
a antioxidants and so on, so health than wellness, Yes,
absolutely assured, So tea infused. I believe the main course
is also going to be te infused, but that's up
(04:14):
to the chefs on the day and it'll be yeah,
kind of a Master Chef style mystery box.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I'm thinking these chefs actually have quite a challenge on
their hand, don't they a little bit dill hand, because
not only is it a mystery box, but then they
have got a group of non professional chiefs that they
have to rally to pull these males together.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You're putting it mildly Manchester.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So I mean, are you a good cook? Do you
enjoy cooking?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I'm a terrible cook. I was in on Friday morning.
I was with Chef Volka and he taught me how
to boil the perfect egg. That's the limit of my
knowledge now, but I don't know. The others might be
a lot better, but I'm sure it's going to turn
out well.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So how did you get involved in this?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well, you know, my father, Dilma founder Merrial J Fernando
he if he built our business, our family business, with
the heart of kindness and for us were involved in
lots of issues. I mean, we've been working with hospice
for the last thirty years. We're involved in supporting people,
families with childhood cancer and so many other areas. And
(05:24):
our team in New Zealand, Nicole Nigel, John Burton, they
felt that, you know, here's a brilliant fit because it's
something we do in Sri Lanka, something we do in
Australia and other countries. So what what a great way
to actually lend your name, to lend your network and
to try to come together to raise funds for this cause.
(05:44):
So most importantly was visiting them and seeing the work
they do to understand why and why we're doing what
we do. But it's it's spectacular and I'm thrilled.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And how can people donate.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Well, they can visit the Auckland City Mission website. They
like I said, you have three hundred eighty dollars that
can provide twenty warm meals. One hundred and thirty eight
dollars can provide a parcel of food for a family
of four people for four days. Winter's approaching and it's
(06:19):
not a good time to be sleeping rough. There are kids,
there are sometimes generational poverty. Unfortunately, it's a reality even
here in New Zealand. So that's yes. Please visit the
website and you can choose your chef, you can choose
your team, you can choose your leader, and there's a
section called cook Off twenty twenty four. Please please donate.
(06:43):
We need to do everything we can to be a
part of the solution for these people's grief.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Hen can I suedesce? They might need waiters?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Would you like to join us? Right?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I know, I was just thinking if really exceed if
you're cooking is boiling good egg, maybe you could. I'm
sure that there would be something you could do it.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Do you know what brilliant suggestion? No, I've told them
I can make a very good cup of tea, but
that's the limit of my culinary ability.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh I love it. Look have a great night, Thank
you so much, thank you so much for joining us.
That was Dil mart CEO, dil Hanfernado and as he mentioned,
our very own Mike vand Alson is also going to
be leading a team tomorrow night, so we'll talk to
him about a little bit later in the show as well.
Citymissioncoocoff dot org dot m Z.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudken, listen
live to News Talks it B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Tomorrow night, some of our top chefs and business leaders
will join forces for the annual Auckland City Mission Cookoff.
The teams will prepare a three course meal for one
hundred and fifty guests, many who are experiencing homelessness, and
the event raising money for the mission as they go.
One of those taking part is dil Marty CEO dil Hanfernado.
(00:33):
He is with me now. Good morning, del.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Han, Good morning Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Have you been practicing or brushing up on your cooking
skills or do you not need to? Are you you
may superb chef?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Well, I don't know about that, but we're under the instruction.
At least my team is with Petro Gala and part
of HUT and so we're doing dessert and we have
one hundred and fifty City Mission guests. But what a cause.
It's so inspiring to be able to do anything with them.
They are truly a group of heroes. I visited Home
Ground the other day and it is an inspire in
(01:06):
space what they do there for homeless people and people
in need.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Talk me through how this works. So what are you
and your team preparing?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Well, we're going to prepare dessert. Petro hasn't told us yet.
There's going to be something of a mystery box there
and so with the mystery box, we're going to have
something that's healthy, nutritious. So fully that's that's the assignment.
And then we'll have one hundred and fifty guests there.
So Petro will be directing us. There'll be four other
(01:36):
CEOs joining in this team. Then there'll be three teams
in all. There'll be Michael van Dedelzen and there's also
Gareth Stuart, so there'll be the three chefs who'll be
leading the three teams doing the starter, the main course,
and the dessert. But the objective is really to try
(01:56):
to raise two hundred and fifty thousand dollars winters approaching.
There are a lot of people in the in need
who are sleeping rough and twenty dollars could buy twenty
warm meals in the community dining room that City Mission
has and truly, if you ever get a chance, please visit.
It is an inspiring space to see people doing what
(02:20):
they can for homeless people and that means they work
day in and day out. You know, it's easy to
give it's easy to give the money, but to actually
have the interaction and to be at the call face
of this cause of actually helping people in such desperate need,
that's inspiring.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Your home ground is an incredible, incredible building, and what's
going on in there is amazing. What really struck you
about what they do there? What you impressed by, Well.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
It's the way in which they manage, they understand people,
because you know, quite often people in distress they express
themselves in different ways. And yet here is an incredibly
compassionate approach which is respectful at the same time constructive,
but also collaborative because you know, you you often you
(03:08):
have a person who might be angry about their situation.
It's easy to translate that anger in and simply reject
that person. But here you have an incredibly compassionate approach
which is scientific at the same time, but always trying
to understand what might be causing this anger or this
(03:28):
this aggressive behavior. And you know that's that's in all
of us when we're in difficulty. We express ourselves in
different ways. But this is truly inspiring how they or
they come together and scientifically, compassionately, you know, with so
much kindness they help these wonderful people.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So that's dessert that you're going to be offering. Will
it be t infused in any way?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yes it will. It'll have some of our dilma. I
believe it's going to be the English breakfast tea infused,
and you know tea is always a good idea. It's
a antioxidants and so on, so health than wellness, Yes,
absolutely assured, So tea infused. I believe the main course
is also going to be te infused, but that's up
(04:14):
to the chefs on the day and it'll be yeah,
kind of a Master Chef style mystery box.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I'm thinking these chefs actually have quite a challenge on
their hand, don't they a little bit dill hand, because
not only is it a mystery box, but then they
have got a group of non professional chiefs that they
have to rally to pull these males together.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You're putting it mildly Manchester.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So I mean, are you a good cook? Do you
enjoy cooking?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I'm a terrible cook. I was in on Friday morning.
I was with Chef Volka and he taught me how
to boil the perfect egg. That's the limit of my
knowledge now, but I don't know. The others might be
a lot better, but I'm sure it's going to turn
out well.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So how did you get involved in this?
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well, you know, my father, Dilma founder Merrial J Fernando
he if he built our business, our family business, with
the heart of kindness and for us were involved in
lots of issues. I mean, we've been working with hospice
for the last thirty years. We're involved in supporting people,
families with childhood cancer and so many other areas. And
(05:24):
our team in New Zealand, Nicole Nigel, John Burton, they
felt that, you know, here's a brilliant fit because it's
something we do in Sri Lanka, something we do in
Australia and other countries. So what what a great way
to actually lend your name, to lend your network and
to try to come together to raise funds for this cause.
(05:44):
So most importantly was visiting them and seeing the work
they do to understand why and why we're doing what
we do. But it's it's spectacular and I'm thrilled.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And how can people donate.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Well, they can visit the Auckland City Mission website. They
like I said, you have three hundred eighty dollars that
can provide twenty warm meals. One hundred and thirty eight
dollars can provide a parcel of food for a family
of four people for four days. Winter's approaching and it's
(06:19):
not a good time to be sleeping rough. There are kids,
there are sometimes generational poverty. Unfortunately, it's a reality even
here in New Zealand. So that's yes. Please visit the
website and you can choose your chef, you can choose
your team, you can choose your leader, and there's a
section called cook Off twenty twenty four. Please please donate.
(06:43):
We need to do everything we can to be a
part of the solution for these people's grief.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Hen can I suedesce? They might need waiters?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Would you like to join us? Right?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I know, I was just thinking if really exceed if
you're cooking is boiling good egg, maybe you could. I'm
sure that there would be something you could do it.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Do you know what brilliant suggestion? No, I've told them
I can make a very good cup of tea, but
that's the limit of my culinary ability.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh I love it. Look have a great night, Thank
you so much, thank you so much for joining us.
That was Dil mart CEO, dil Hanfernado and as he mentioned,
our very own Mike vand Alson is also going to
be leading a team tomorrow night, so we'll talk to
him about a little bit later in the show as well.
Citymissioncoocoff dot org dot m Z.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudken, listen
live to News Talks it B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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