catering By Jan Patience H
IS culinary skill and passion for Scottish
ingredients saw him crowned Scotland’s first ever Young Chef of the Year last year. Now 24 year-old Alan Robertson, who has since landed a job with Albert Roux at his Inverness restaurant, is playing a part in selecting his successor. Alan, from Elgin, has spent time this week at Martin Wishart’s cook school in Edinburgh delivering a pep talk to aspiring chefs as they competed in the final cook-off. Speaking from Rocpool Reserve, where he is now working as a sous chef, in the Chez Roux restaurant, Alan said: “My main advice to chefs in that situation is to keep the head down, not to panic and go with the flow. “Before I took part in the
Young Chef of the Year last year, I’d had a lot of experience of competitions. The key is to practice a lot and just treat it like a day at work.”
The final cook-off for the
award has now taken place, but the shortlisted chefs will have to wait until the Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Awards ceremony next month to find out if they have been
Top young chef Alan Robertson with Fiona Richmond of Scotland Food & Drink. successful.
Winning the award has
provided a huge boost for the young chef, who started his career at the Sunninghill Hotel in Elgin when he was just 16. Alan then went on to work at the Craigellachie Hotel in Moray and the Glenfiddich Distillery in Banffshire before being offered the job with Rocpool Reserve. As part of his training with the Roux family, he will be working with Raymond Blanc later this year. “It has opened new doors for me in many ways,” he said. “The Roux brothers’ methods are the ones I have
followed since the beginning. I’ve read all the books and even did work experience at Le Gavroche in London before I won the award. Being offered a job with them is a dream
AN Edinburgh city centre pizzeria has become the first venue in Scotland to be awarded an official stamp of approval for creating a genuine taste of Italy. La Favorita on Leith Walk, which opened in the capital six years ago, received the award from the Italian Chamber of Commerce for its use of genuine Italian food and drink products
Full circle
Peter Woods returns to head up the kitchen at Perthshire hotel
page 42
Alan Robertson living the dream after landing job with famous brothers
Young chef ends reign on high note
come true for me.” According to Anna Davies, marketing manager for Scotland Food & Drink, Alan was an obvious choice as the inaugural winner.
“It makes us hugely proud to see what he has achieved in the past 12 months,” she said. “Alan stood out right from the start of the judging process as he clearly had a genuine passion for Scottish produce and was fiercely ambitious – just what Scotland needs to keep it firmly on the world’s food and drink map.” The Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight, will be unveiled on Thursday May 26 at Dunblane Hydro. Judges include renowned Scottish chef Martin Wishart, who will offer a work placement at his Edinburgh restaurant as part of the prize.
Top chefs on starting block.
Food fest up and running
THE line up for this year’s Taste of Edinburgh event has been announced along with a new mid-summer date.
Tickets have gone on sale for the three-day food festival on The Meadows, which moves from a May slot to July 1-3 this year. The cream of Scots culinary talent will be participating, including Martin Wishart, Mary Contini, Tony Borthwick and Roy Brett. Restaurants confirmed so far include Ondine, Chez Roux, Cucina at Hotel Missoni, Plumed Horse, Restaurant Martin Wishart and Vincaffé.
La Favorita best in ‘bella Scozia’
and its friendly, relaxed dining atmosphere. Only four venues from across the UK were
awarded the Marchio Ospitalita Italiana kite mark this year, with La Favorita being the only Scots venue to receive the accolade. Owner Tony Crolla said: “It really reflects what we are trying to create and that’s a true taste of Italy here in Scotland.”
SEE US AT: STONELEIGH PARK • WARWICKSHIRE • 21st & 22nd JUNE 2011
April 28, 2011 - SLTN - 37
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