Mercy's 11 out of 10 event

When 450 hungry guests descended upon Auckland's Pullman Hotel last Sunday 23rd June for '10', Mercy Hospice Auckland's annual degustation brunch, event organisers made sure they got a little more than they had bargained for. For starters an 11th delicious dish from another top Auckland restaurant was paired with an 11th superb New Zealand wine, making a surprising and welcome addition to the usual 10 items to feature on the menu.

This year's restaurant line up included Andiamo, Ile de France, Molten, Ponsonby Road Bistro, The Pullman, The Commons, The Engine Room Eatery, The Esplanade Bar and Grill, The French Café, Toto', and Vevo Foodstore who all presented superb dishes paired with the perfect wine from Villa Maria, Coopers Creek, Coal Pit, Sileni Estates, Twin Islands, Terra Sancta, Framingham Wines, West Brook Winery, Escarpment Vineyard, Poderi Crisci and Mills Reef Winery. With many hot contenders, it was The Engine Room's Lamb Shoulder Tagine with saffron, almonds, figs, cous cous and mint labneh matched with Framingham Wines' superb 2010 Pinot Noir that captured palates and stole hearts to be named 'Best Restaurant and Wine Match' on the day.

Capably led by food and wine aficionados Lauraine Jacobs and John Hawkesby, top quality auction items went under the hammer, including an audience with John Key at Antoine's restaurant as well as a Hawaiian Food & Wine Festival package.

But restaurants, wineries and attendees weren't the only ones to walk away happy. Behind the scenes, Lesley Dawson and her hard working team of volunteers, many of whom have been on board since day one of '10', were delighted to achieve the best '10' fundraising result ever. Vital donations from the event will go directly towards providing quality care and support for Auckland patients with life-limiting illness as well as their loved ones. It was a fitting end to a day many months in the making. Thanks to the generosity of the community, and largely due to the efforts of this special team of volunteers, it certainly paid off.

By all accounts the seventh instalment of this celebrated fundraiser exceeded all expectations – an 11 out of 10!