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Philanthropy

Is This The World’s Most Expensive Dinner?

Written by: Published: 03 February 2020

At US$2 million it probably is, but it’s all for a good cause. 

Part of the experience was an 18-course dinner by Kirk Westaway of Michelin-starred Jaan

This week, the World's Most Exclusive Dinner - an initiative at the intersection of luxury and philanthropy - took place in Singapore.

Worth US$2m, the dinner was bought by a Singaporean couple, Vincent and Jane Hee, with all the proceeds going towards the eradication of child mortality from pneumonia in Nigeria through Danish humanitarian organisation DINNødhjælp. 

DINNødhjælp operates Land of Hope, a children's centre in Nigeria housing "witch-children" accused by their community for witchcraft and subsequently ostracised and tortured. This fundraiser will buy 20,000 Prevnar 13® vaccines for the charity to combat Pneumonia which is the biggest killer of the under-fives in Nigeria, ahead of HIV, malaria and diarrhoea combined.

Curated by Karan Tilani, Singapore-based philanthropist and director of World of Diamonds Group, the dinner sought to raise awareness of the charity through the three day line-up of staggering opulence. The reason he wanted to support this charity was his passion for children, he says. 

“I want to stand up for what most people may be deterred by; Nigeria has a very negative connotation attached to it - people think of scams and corruption and cheating, and not many may be inclined to save children branded as witches.”

On Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th of January 2020, the Hees experienced three days of pampering, including an 18-course dinner by Kirk Westaway of Michelin-starred Jaan served alongside diamond-encrusted chopsticks and a one-of-a-kind diamond ring in a private jet cruising 40,000 feet across Southeast Asia. 

Here is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what they experienced. 

The couple, Vincent and Jane Hee, enjoyed a daytime cruise in Singapore waters.

The Hees onboard the Ferretti 780 luxury yacht from Hong Seh Marine. 

The Bombardier Global 6000 on the tarmac. At Seletar Airport, their Rolls-Royce chauffeur was parked on the tarmac - only the second time since Barack Obama was permitted to do so in a previous visit to Singapore. The Hees will be the first private citizens in Singapore allowed to take a car onto the tarmac. 

The highlight: an 18-course dinner prepared by Chef Kirk Westaway of Michelin-starred JAAN, at 40,000 feet. 

Angel Hair pasta served with Kristal Caviar was one of 18 incredible courses.

The couple were served vintage wines and champagnes, including Dom Pérignon and Krug champagnes, in a Bombardier Global 6000 worth over US$50m.



Two pairs of diamond-encrusted chopsticks were presented to the couple for their enjoyment during the dinner, together with the Jane Seymour ring, a rose-gold plated platinum ring set with a rare 2.08-carat cushion-cut fancy vivid blue diamond.

The couple enjoyed a Wylarah Tomahawk Steak served with black truffle as one of the final courses. 

The couple were then chauffeured back for a night at the Presidential Suite of the newly-restored Raffles Singapore Hotel, in the Presidential Suite. 

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