In celebration of 10 years of excellence, local corporate boutique law firm MH&CO Attorneys-at-Law has decided to give back in a big way. Matthew Hogarth, managing partner of the firm, conceptualised “Ackee: A Culinary Lime for Charity”, which will boast an ensemble of nine of Jamaica’s finest multiple-award-winning chefs.

Hogarth is known for his work on a significant amount of major local financial projects as well as complex corporate financing and refinancing high-level matters. He acknowledges his support system for the success he has achieved, which includes his parents, his wife Lisa Hogarth and the extremely dedicated team at MH&CO. He also finds joy acting as the Gastronomique of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the oldest gastronomic society in the world, of which he has been a member for the past eight years. Jamaica is home to the oldest chapter of the association in the Caribbean, formed over 30 years ago. Combining the 10 years of success in his business and his passion for the culinary arts, he is paying it forward to the betterment of Jamaica with a fund-raiser event that aims to raise $3 million for funding the Department of Child Health at the University Hospital of the West Indies, and also seeding a building fund for a new ward.

Style Observer (SO): Having a successful business for 10 years is hard work. What inspired you to celebrate such a milestone with an event for charity?

Matthew Hogarth (MH): Being afforded the opportunity to work on projects that will essentially finance the betterment of Jamaica, it was imperative that my team and I pay it forward through our celebration in a way that would add to the development of Jamaica.

SO: Tell us why this cause was selected and why it’s important to you.

MH: This was originally inspired two years ago when my daughter had pneumonia and was admitted to the Paediatric and Adolescent Ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Although the doctors and nurses were very nice and professional, it was clear that assistance was required with the infrastructure and facilities.

As parents, it’s most humbling when your child is ill and you want to ensure that they are getting the best possible care. My wife and I wanted to do something that would support parents who have to be at the hospital for a long period of time, refurbish the facilities at the ward, including the playground area and a long-term vision of seeding a building fund.

SO: Why did you decide upon “Ackee” as the name of the event and as the main ingredient?

MH: In thinking of an event name, I threw around quite a few names and the one we landed on was Ackee; primarily because of its various meanings. Ackee is our national fruit and it’s ubiquitous and omnipresent in Jamaica; it’s also central to our food culture. When we think from the perspective of a lime: “you inna yu ackee!”

SO: Tell us about your food journey. How did a lawyer get involved in the culinary arts?

MH: I’ve always had a love for food. At three years old I used to help in the kitchen at home and this mushroomed into a passion. By the age of 12, I reached an inflexion point. I was either going to become a chef or a corporate lawyer. I decided to pursue law but dabble in the culinary arts. As a result of the passion that I developed for all things culinary, I have been asked to judge 10 concurrent Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards, including the recently concluded staging.

SO: What can people expect going into this event on Saturday, July 6? Where can they go to find out more details and be a part of it?

MH: Guests can expect a curated culinary experience involving nine of Jamaica’s top chefs who were hand-picked and who are all multi-award-winning. The event will be delicately balanced between savoury and sweet, with a few surprises. Celeste Gordon of Whip it Up is our coordinating chef, with the critical role of ensuring the menus will not overlap/clash and all participating chefs will have what they need to prepare for the event.

Gordon will be working with Colin Hylton of Guilt, Trevanne Donegal of Sear, Simon Levy of Roast Meats, Oji Jaja of Ashebre, Anna-Kaye Tomlinson of Miss T’s Kitchen, Allison Porter-Smalling of Ally’s Kitchen, Lisa and Chris Binns of Stush in the Bush, Lucian Dunn of Uncorked! and four-time Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Award-winning dessert chef Nadine Burie.

For more information on the event and ticket information, please visit Caribtix.com.