Top Melbourne Chefs Are Cooking For A Cause This Month, And You’re Invited

A stellar lineup of top Melbourne chefs are coming together for a genuinely good cause this month. On Thursday 30 April, Scarf Community is hosting its annual gala fundraising dinner at the iconic Potter Museum of Art in Parkville, and it's a big one.

For the unfamiliar, Scarf is a not-for-profit social enterprise that runs hospitality training and job-readiness programs for young people seeking protection, and those from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Since launching 15 years ago, Scarf has become one of Melbourne's most quietly impactful organisations, and the 2026 gala dinner will mark a major milestone. It's set to be Scarf's 300th event, and it arrives at a moment when the organisation is on track to support 400 young people into employment by the middle of the year. 

A ticket to the Do More Than Dine event gets you a five-course menu from a stellar lineup of chefs, including Angela Prajogo (Brae), Saavni Krishnan (Saadi), Jasper Avent (RESIDENCE) and Charlie Duffy (Daybaker). Of course, you can also expect perfectly matched sips from producers including Jamsheed, Unico Zelo and Stomping Ground. 

"I’m supporting Scarf because of its power to create real impact, at a time when it’s all too easy to overlook the needs of others,” Daybaker's Charlie Duffy says.

On the night, service is delivered by Scarf graduates; and between courses, storyteller Hilary McNevin will lead conversations with chefs and recent graduates about what Scarf's programs actually mean in practice. Food journalist Dani Valent and Scarf graduate Erfan Norouzifard, now co-owner of People's Coffee, will be the MCs for the night.

Perhaps the biggest drawcard? The Money Can't Buy live auction, which will be called by special guests Matt Preston and Gowan Stubbings. The pick of the lot is a private dining experience for 10 at Dutch Rules Distilling Co, hosted by 2026 Good Food Young Chef of the Year Viveik Vinoharan. Think: private distillery tour, guided gin tastings led by brand ambassador Sai Merchant, and a seasonal multi-course feast that reflects Viveik's Sri Lankan heritage alongside French, Italian and Japanese technique. You can expect lamb biryani sausage, spiced curry ragu pasta and cocktail pairings throughout. It's set to be an evening that money genuinely can't buy.

The auction will also offer collaborations with Cut Throat Knives and Meatsmith, Julia Busuttil Nishimura (Ostro) alongside Food For Everyone and Worktones, Zac Cribbes of Lucy Liu, and KISMET Mezze Bar, and plenty more.

All of that is to say: you’d be hard pressed to find a better culinary experience for a greater cause. Final release tickets are available now. 

Main image credit: Supplied