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'Rich Man Poor Man' meal

It was a night to remember. Ten diners enjoyed a luxury meal served by white-coated waiters - while 90 people watching them received a bowl of soup and a bread roll. As the gourmet eaters sipped different wines with each course, the people drank ordinary tap water.

The event was a Rich Man Poor Man Meal, reflecting the inequalities that exist in the developing world.

Organised by Fr Dominic McKenna, parish priest at Our Our Lady of Hal in Camden Town, north London, the night raised £1,000 for CAFOD and £700 for parish projects including sandwiches for the homeless. All tickets were £10. There was a draw to choose the winners of the lavish meal.

All the food and drink was contributed by parishioners. Fr Dominic, who has a reputation for being an excellent cook, led the 18-strong Confirmation group preparing everything for the night. One group set out and decorated the hall, another cooked the huge vegetable soup, while a small group under the guidance of Fr Dominic prepared the luxury meal, which included smoked wild salmon with lemon and Irish soda bread, breast of chicken stuffed with herb mashed potato and wild mushrooms, wrapped in bacon and flambed in Irish whiskey, served with crunchy roast potatoes, glazed carrot batons, petit pois, and a courgette, red onion, mushroom and tomato casserole. There was sorbet between the courses and the meal included a cheese course washed down with vintage character port, a selection of mouthwatering home made desserts, followed by Moscatel de Valencea, coffee and mints.

Music was provided by The Bedrocks, a professional band that attend the parish.

"The atmosphere was brilliant," said Fr Dominic. The people who won the meal were embarrassed, but I think everyone really enjoyed it. Dermot McNulty, CAFOD's Westminster organiser, gave us a short talk between courses in which he showed us slides of a kitchen in India that fed thousands. He pointed out that all the cooking pots were provided by CAFOD.

Teacher Noelle Griffin, from Our Lady's primary school in Pratt Street, Camden, was one of the winners. She said: "It was a wonderful meal. I would highly recommend the chicken dish and the Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent although I'm not quite so sure about all the attention. It really brought home to me the inequalities in the world."

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