A MANNINGTREE restaurant is stirring up excitement with its new charity cook off competition. 

The Mogul Restaurant, in South Street, will host the event to help raise money for the Ipswich and Colchester Hospital Trust.

The event has been organised by Ben Hubbard in collaboration with head chef Minnar Miah , and will youngsters from given the chance to recreate some of the Mogul’s signature dishes with the guidance from the head chef. 

It will take place on November 12 and comes ahead of a charity auction dinner being held in January.

"The whole purpose of this is to get the community together for a common cause,” said Ben.

“The Mogul recently sponsored the youth football team, so we thought it’d be a great idea to have the lads come in and do this cook-off.

"It helps them understand ingredients, gets the community involved, and creates awareness for the charity.” 

Scheduled from 4 to 6.30pm, the competition will see three teams of two football players attempt to replicate select items from the charity dinner menu.

"Even if the dishes don’t come out perfect, that’s part of the fun," Ben said. 

"The main thing is they try their best. We’re hoping it will be great fun."

The cook-off menu includes crowd-favourites like lamb bhuna, a dish Ben personally recommends.

The young men will be judged by a professional chef, with the winning team earning four tickets to the charity auction for their families, as well as an exciting day at Ipswich Battle Park. 

The cook-off is designed to build momentum for January’s Charity Auction Dinner, where local businesses are encouraged to donate goods or services for auction, with all proceeds benefiting the hospital trust.

"This cook-off is our way of letting people know we are looking for donations from the community,’” Ben says.