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Award-winning Chef Cooks Up A Storm At Local Luncheon Club

13th April 2015

Celebrity chef Ian Orr served up a surprise as he joined older people from the Caw Golden Years Luncheon Club project at a special lunch today (Monday).

The 2013 Chef of the Year Ireland winner helped dish out a healthy meal of braised steak, creamed potatoes and vegetables as part of the National Lottery’s campaign to celebrate the life-changing difference funding makes to organisations working with the elderly.

Among the happy diners was Ian’s grandmother Iris, who regularly attends activities organized by Caw/Nelson Drive Action Group in the Waterside area of Derry~Londonderry.

The group was awarded £337,835 of National Lottery funding via the Big Lottery Fund to help improve the health and social needs of older people in their area.

Ian, who is head chef at Brown’s Restaurant and Champagne Lounge, lent a hand in the kitchen before providing a cooking demonstration to the dining circle.

He said: “It is crucial to eat healthily at all stages of life but particularly when you get older. However, the Caw Luncheon Club is about so much more than just cooking and eating.

“It helps bring older people together with the vital ingredients of fun and companionship. And I know how much everyone who attends enjoys taking part – my own granny goes every week!

“It was a pleasure to help out in the kitchen and see the great work of this project which would not be possible without the help of those people who play the National Lottery.”

Linda Watson, co-ordinator of Caw Nelson/Drive Action Group, added: “The Caw Golden Years project offers a number of services and programmes designed to address issues facing people as they get older such as loneliness, isolation, poverty, health issues and community safety.

“We were delighted to have Ian Orr join us at the Luncheon Club today. His food was delicious and his company even better!

“Our luncheon clubs are tremendous social occasions which allow older people to enjoy a healthy meal and each other’s company.”

Jackie O’Sullivan, from the National Lottery, said: “The National Lottery has invested more than £35 million into projects for older people in Northern Ireland.

“These organisations and their beneficiaries prove that age is no barrier to living a full, active and healthy life.

“National Lottery players can be proud to support the Caw Golden Years project and their fantastic work displays they already have the recipe for success.”

Nodiadau i olygyddion

Notes to Editors

Pics by Lorcan Doherty 07740 662602

Caw and Nelson Drive Action Group’s Caw Golden Years project received £337,835 of National Lottery funding via the Big Lottery Fund in 2013.

Ian Orr is multi-award winning head chef of Browns Restaurant and Champagne Lounge. He is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading chefs having been awarded Chef of the Year Ireland 2013 by Georgina Campbell. For more information see www.brownsrestaurant.com

National Lottery players have raised more than £1 billion for more than 20,000 projects in Northern Ireland since it began in 1994. To find out more visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk

For further information please contact Ruairi O’Kane on 07788 612804 or email Ruairi.o’kane@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk