A Christmas party at HTA

It was a delectable day for children of St Laurence’s Children’s Home when they not only enjoyed a festive lunch prepared by HTA School of Culinary Art but also received a R20 000 cheque from CIRO.

The school’s managing director, Stephen Billingham, explained how such a grand gesture was possible during the school’s hosting of the Sandton Chef’s Circle, a society of chefs which he is patron of. “This a collection of chefs from across the city and is a society of cooks that get together socially every six weeks and talk about topics in their industry,” he said.

Billingham added that this chef’s circle had been a great way to form relationships among the chefs. It had been around for about five years and in the past three years, CIRO, a full beverage service company, got involved in the gathering.

This get-together, which rotates from chef to chef, was on this particular day hosted at HTA. There, 27 chefs and 15 children enjoyed a great festive meal prepared by professional chefs and HTA’s very own Kabelo Segone. For the guests he prepared a selection of braaied cuisine as well as pizza for the kids.

Over the year, the entrance ‘fee’ to these gatherings was a book or a toy which culminated in a variety of educational supplies that the children went back home with. “Exclusive Books Hyde Park donated hundreds of books too,” said Billingham. He added that the money the home received would go towards buying whatever it was the home needed and would be bought on behalf of the Sandton Chef’s Circle. “Last year the home received a trailer.”

On the day along with their pizza, the children enjoyed a movie and some fun on a jumping castle.

Caretakers of the home expressed their undying appreciation for what the chef society had made possible for the children.

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