Andy Mortimer chats to charity manager Andy Barber and Millhouse Restaurant proprietor Mark Ciuffetelli about a ‘cook-off’ designed to raise funds for two very special good causes . . .

Mark Ciuffetelli, proprietor of the Millhouse Restaurant and Bar, teaches KCFM DJ Ed Bretten how to cook in the kitchens of the Skidby establishment

When we meet, Mark Ciuffetelli is dressed in one of the nicest shirt, jacket and tie-combos I’ve ever seen. It’s classy, it’s black and, to coin a classic sketch show phrase from the 1990s, “suit you sir, suit you”.

The problem for Mark is that he isn’t going to look this way for much longer. And neither will he be like that tomorrow morning when he meets up with his personal trainer, ex-World Champion boxer and one-time Ricky Hatton opponent, Stevie Smith.

For Mark, the proprietor of the Millhouse Restaurant and Bar, in Skidby, is in training for a fairly intense charity event. He has teamed up with the KCFM Smile Foundation – which raises money and supports two small local charities each year – for a series of charity challenges.

He will be competing against KCFM’s breakfast presenter Ed Bretten for four days in a collection of events chosen by the KCFM listeners. This will be followed by a final charity night Hell’s Kitchen-style cook-off between teams run by Mark and Ed at the Millhouse.

The teams will be made up of local sporting stars and celebrities and they will each cook and serve a meal for 50 invited guests who will then donate as generously as their recession-hit pockets will allow.

All money raised from this and the earlier challenges will reach the Hull-based Downright Special and House of Light charities.

And for all his ultra-cool appearance, Mark, it must be said, seems to be feeling the heat.

He said: “The Hell’s Kitchen cooking event should be ‘my thing’ so I’m not too worried about that one.

“But I’ve started training already for the other challenges, even though I don’t know what they are going to be yet. I’m trying to prepare physically and mentally so I’ve got a couple of trainers in and I’m doing some endurance and strength work with them.

“I also did a bit of yoga although last time I went, there were significantly older ladies able to do much more than me so I think I have a bit further to go yet.

“The problem is I don’t want to say too much and give away my preparation to Ed. It’s getting competitive now . . .”

The Millhouse, Skidby

The idea for the charity events came from Mark late last year. The Millhouse is celebrating its 20th anniversary at its Skidby base and, rather than doing a marathon or other more “normal” charity challenge, this sprang to mind

With the help of his PA Nyree Crosher, the event ideas were put together and, with the expertise of charity manager for Smile, Andy Barber, Ed Bretten and co were brought in to help.

The challenge ideas are being put into place with Andy promising one called Sink Or Swim and another named the rather more frightening Feel The Air, Feel Despair.

KCFM listeners will choose which ones Ed and Mark will complete and they will be played out in the week beginning 8th March.

Andy Barber, who was formerly charity fundraiser at Dove House Hospice, said: “We are in the process of thinking up 10 challenges and the listeners will vote for their favourite five, which Ed and Mark will then take part in.

“Each challenge will be judged by a panel of experts who will assess how each competitor performs in the tasks. Money will be raised from the text votes, but it’s the Hell’s Kitchen cook-off that I know a lot of people are most excited about.”

And preparations for the cook-off have already begun.

The Millhouse’s head chef Sean Hanley has come up with the menu that Mark and Ed’s teams will be creating for the 100 invite-only guests.

Both teams are slowly being assembled with celebrity friends being ushered in on the night to serve drinks, cook and welcome in guests. Teams will consist of four chefs – all in branded chef’s whites – and front-of-house staff.

And once the initial food hygiene and health and safety requirements are out of the way, the real business of raising money for charity can begin.

Andy said: “We have a target in mind for how much we would like to raise at the Hell’s Kitchen event, which will also include a charity auction.

“The money will go to the KCFM Smile Foundation that will then distribute it to the two local charities. The idea of Smile is to support local charities both in terms of money – and the amount we’ve raised this year eclipses one charity’s annual costs and fundraising already – and with support in kind.

“In difficult economic times like this, a lot of businesses and individuals don’t have the money to give to charity. Instead, they offer us support and guidance and at Smile, we can help with publicity and marketing as well as fundraising.”

Mark added: “I wanted to help charities where I could see the difference the money was making.

“With some charities, money goes into a national pot, but I wanted to see what difference we were making in real terms and that is why we chose to work with KCFM Smile.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenges and the Hell’s Kitchen night as well. Our customers at the Millhouse are lovely and I’ve been badgering them already for donations so it should be an exciting night.”

For more information on the Millhouse or to donate to Mark, visit: www.millhouserestaurant.co.uk

For more information on the KCFM Smile Foundation, visit: www.thekcfmsmilefoundation.co.uk