Real Junk Food presents The Binner Party – a fundraising dinner made from waste food

Food waste has a huge impact on our planet and on people. The carbon footprint of food that is produced but never eaten is around 3.3 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent. This means if food waste was a country, it would be the 3rd highest carbon emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet after the US and China.

In the UK alone, around 15 million tonnes of food is wasted every year at some point in the food chain. At the same time nearly 7 million people in the UK are in poverty so deep that they struggle to afford enough food, never mind access a healthy diet including lots of fruits and vegetables.

Real Junk Food Manchester, one of the nominees for pop-up of the year at this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival awards, think this is bonkers and they’re fighting to stop it. They work with food businesses to source food that would otherwise go to waste, cook it up into meals, with a focus on health and nutrition, and serve them to anyone and everyone on a pay-as-you-feel basis.

To prove that it’s perfectly edible, head chef Mary-Ellen McTague will be creating a feast for 150 lucky guests made entirely from food that would otherwise go to waste at 53two, Manchester’s newest, biggest and most versatile arts venue.

Guests will be amongst the first to explore one of the city’s most recognisable buildings which until now has only been visited by the chosen few.  Spanning two of Deansgate’s famous tunnels, the venue is made up of two separate components- ‘53’ & ‘two’. The venue will operate primarily as a theatre and cafe, with the space also offering room for exhibitions, gigs, events, celebrations, rehearsals, classes, conferences, banquets, weddings and more.

The evening will include drinks, celebration dinner, live music and more. Tickets are free to reserve and the meal will be served on a pay-as-you-feel basis.

Local independent breweries are supplying the drinks to keep our event local and sustainable.

Styling Interiors, a firm of interior and event designers, are donating their services free of charge to help them turn black tie on its head. They’ll be using upcycled materials and sustainable twists on the grand old gala dinner to make our event as eco friendly as possible.

The event will include a mini cocktail bar with a specially designed waste food cocktail menu for the evening.

The event will also include a raffle, with prizes to be announced in the run up to the event. Bands and DJs to be announced in the run up to the event.

All funds raised will go to support Real Junk Food Manchester in their mission to open Manchester’s first waste food, pay-as-you-feel restaurant.

So if you don’t believe you can create a feast from food that would otherwise go to waste why not give it a try. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And the main course.

Tickets

Tickets for the evening are available here

Thursday 29 September 2016 at 53two, 8 Albion Way, M1 5NZ. 7pm – late.

Drinks from 7pm, dinner at 8pm, live music and dance floor from 9.30pm. Bar til late.