Footballers Micah Richards and Gabriel Obertan put aside their club rivalry to work side by side to lift the second Premiership Cook Off trophy at Panacea Restaurant and Bar on Sunday night.
The City and United stars were among 14 footballers who put their kitchen whites on to compete in the second leg of the most heated battle in football.
The Premiership Cook-Off, in aid of the Five Stars Appeal, was hosted by Key 103's Hugh Ferris and Alan Keegan, the voice of Manchester United. As guests arrived they were also greeted to a performance by singer Georgia Holland.
The footballers were split into two teams to cook, wait on tables and serve behind the bar for over 100 guests, who then went on to decide which team would be crowned the overall winners.
Micah, 22, and Gabriel, 21, led the Five Stars Kids team that cooked a starter of chicken and black bean spring rolls, followed by a main course of blackened cod with asian greens and a dessert of chocolate truffle cake.
Serving in the bar for the Five Star Kids team were Ivan Klasnic, from Bolton Wanderers, and Tuncay from Stoke City. Waiting on tables in the restaurant for their team were Ricardo Fuller, Kenwyne Jones, and Jermaine Pennant who all play for Stoke City.
Shaun Wright Phillips, 29, who won the first Premiership Cook Off back in April, was joined in the kitchen for the Panacea Babes team by his City team mate Nigel de Jong. The Panacea Babes, so called for their hair styles, cooked chargrilled asparagus with roasted red peppers and toasted goats cheese, a main course of crispy duck with wok fried Chinese greens, and cookies and cream creme brulee for dessert.
Serving in the bar for the Panacea Babes team were Adam Johnson and Gareth Barry, both from Manchester City, and waiting on tables in the restaurant were Joe Hart, City, Benjani Mwaruwari, from Blackburn, and, Stuart Holden who plays for Bolton.
Guests were asked to vote for the winning team by holding up their flags, it was a very closely fought match but the Five Star Kids came out the winners.
Micah celebrated his win by splashing out on a luxury holiday to Barbados, donated by David Lloyd Resorts, in the auction and, not to be outdone, Shaun placed the winning bid for a weekend for two at Fortina Spa Resort in Malta, which was donated by Michael Zammit Tabona.
Shaun also bid £2,500 in the charity auction to have a training day with 5ft 10in world light welter weight boxer Amir Khan, having bid for the chance to train with previous Welterweight champion boxer Ricky Hatton at the first Premiership Cook Off, held in April this year.
Latitude, a 10 berth luxury yacht in the South of France, donated by Dream Marine, raised £30,000 in the auction, a VIP Take That package, donated by Jason Orange, raised £2,500, a trip to Paris Fashion Week, donated by The Hemingway Club, raised £2,500, a Stephen Webster Cocktail ring and earrings, donated by Wave jewellery, raised £700, and a Mercedes-Benz Experience raised £500.
The raffle to win two return flights to New York, donated by Continental Airlines, also raised a further £1,400.
Charmaine Wilkinson, Appeals Director for Five Stars Appeal said: 'We can not thank Joe Akka, his team at Panacea Alderley Edge and the footballers who took part enough for the hard work they put in to making this event happen.
"The guests had a night to remember and over £55,000 was raised on the night so we are delighted."
Joe Akka, Managing Director for Panacea says 'We are delighted with the success of our second Premiership cook off event and so pleased that the event managed to raise over £55,000 again for the Five Stars Appeal.
"We are so very grateful to the many footballers that took part last night who did an amazing job in all areas of the restaurant. Based on last night's performance they could come to us for a job anytime!"
Sponsors of the night were Panacea Restaurant & Bar Alderley Edge and Mercedes-Benz of Bolton.
The Five Stars Appeal has been raising funds for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for over 30 years. The charity has held many fundraising events this year in a bid to raise the £1 million needed to purchase a vital new MRI scanner for the hospital.
The cook off is one of the final events to be held before the end of the year, in the hope of raising the remaining £100,000 needed to buy the scanner.
For further information on the Five Star Scanner Appeal, check out their website.
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