Entertaining at Home - Dishes inspired by Bayleys Plate Up for A Purpose.

Bayleys Plate Up for a Purpose began with a conversation. At a business lunch, Bayleys Canterbury Principal Licensee Pete Whalan heard a retired teacher describe how some children arrived at school without basics such as uniforms, shoes or stationery.

The impact was more than practical. Without these essentials, children could feel embarrassed, excluded, and less confident participating in class.

Pete left determined to help. From that moment, Plate Up was born.

Plate Up supports the Christchurch City Mission’s Back to School Programme, helping children start the year with the essentials they need to feel prepared and included.

Every dollar raised goes directly to the programme, providing assessed families with funds for uniforms, shoes and stationery.

From 2020 to 2022, Plate Up took the form of gala dinners where Canterbury business leaders stepped out of the boardroom and into the kitchen. Paired with cooking professionals, they prepared fine-dining dishes, raised funds through their networks, and competed before attending guests.

Give-a-little fundraising pages and charity auctions helped build momentum, turning the events into a lively expression of business-led community support.

Evolving the Model

After the COVID-19 lockdowns, Plate Up evolved. The need for school support had grown, but the campaign also needed a more inclusive and sustainable model.

Bayleys partnered with venues across Canterbury, inviting pubs, cafés, restaurants and community establishments to create a feature dish for Plate Up month.

Each time a dish was ordered, a contribution went to the Christchurch City Mission’s Back to School Programme, allowing people to support the cause simply by dining out.

The 2023 pilot launched with 26 venues and paved the way for the expanded 2024 programme.

The campaign also grew through the Bayleys Commercial sales team’s Charity Golf Day, creating another way to raise funds and engage clients.

As Plate Up enters its final year in 2026, this cookbook gathers recipes inspired by dishes from Christchurch restaurants, cafés and hospitality venues.

Culinary creator Sue Heazlewood has brought heart, skill and deep respect to each recipe, carefully adapting Christchurch restaurant-inspired dishes for the home kitchen. Her work preserves the flavour and character of the originals while making them feel practical, welcoming and a joy to cook.

Sue’s contribution is central to the spirit of this book. With a practical cook’s eye and a sensitive sense of flavour, she has tested, refined and shaped each recipe so home cooks can recreate the essence of these special Christchurch dishes with confidence, warmth and pride.

Proceeds from every copy of this book will be donated to the Christchurch City Mission’s Back to School Programme.

Every meal prepared from these pages helps continue the Plate Up story, supporting children and families across the community.