A fantastic evening was had in Melbourne with the Citi Taste of Tennis Exclusive at The Plaza Ballroom. The celebration welcomed ex tennis star Pat Cash and soon-to-retire American star Venus Williams along with Plaza Ballroom Executive Chef David Ricardo as the event’s headliners, and included a raffle benefiting World Central Kitchen.

A few highlights:

Grand Slam Cuisine: Tennis all-stars Pat Cash and Venus Williams turned up the heat with Plaza Ballroom Executive Chef David Ricardo with an onstage cook-off.

Servin’ It Up Citi-Style: Pro tennis players including Mike & Bob Bryan, Borna Coric, Matteo Berrettini, Ajla Tomljanovic, Gaël Monfils, Elena Svitolina, and more sampled incredible cuisine including Yarra Valley salmon caviar by Ian Curley of French Saloon, stracciatella with fig, truffle, and house-baked focaccia with potato and ricotta gnocchi courtesy of David Ricardo from The Plaza Ballroom, crispy rice betel lead with hot smoked trout from Zac Cribbes and Jenna Louise North from LUCY LIU, and Okinawa citrus and strawberry tarts from Pierrick Boyer’s Reverie Cafe & Desserts.

The VIP Experience: Guests kicked off the evening with an on-stage Q&A featuring Pat Cash, and danced the night away to energetic beats by DJ Jess B while enjoying Hendrick’s Gin, Brewhaha hard kombucha and bubbles by Elgee Park.

Additionally, the night included a raffle benefiting World Central Kitchen, created by celebrity chef Jose Andres, to raise funds to feed first responders and provide meals for those displaced by the bushfires. World Central Kitchen is already in Australia and have begun their relief efforts. You can follow their progress at @wckitchen.

Seven News broadcaster Mark Soderstrom and Network Ten presenter Kerri-Anne Kennerley co-hosted the evening’s festivities.

www.tasteoftennis.com

Photos courtesy of Sam Tabone / Getty Images