Top Chefs Toast Slow Food Week 2013 with Highland Park Whisky

To celebrate this year’s Slow Food Week (1 – 9 June) ten of Scotland’s top culinary stars including Neil Forbes (Cafe St Honoré), Tom Lewis (Monachyle MHOR) and Tony Borthwick (Plumed Horse) will be jointly hosting a special Slow Food fundraising event ‘Meet and Greet the Champions of Scottish Food’, together with the opportunity to sample Highland Park single malt whisky, on 9 June at Summerhall in Edinburgh.

With more than 80 chefs signed up to the Slow Food UK Chef Alliance, which launched in 2011 in partnership with Highland Park single malt, the event will see ten Scottish Slow Food Chef Alliance chefs showcase the best of local and seasonal Scottish produce in live demonstrations.

The Chefs attending the event are:

• Tom Lewis, Monachyle MHOR
• Tony Borthwick, Plumed Horse
• Carina Contini and Suzanne O’Connor, Scottish Cafe & Restaurant and Centotre
• Jason Gallagher, The Stockbridge Restaurant
• Craig McKend, The Cumberland Bar
• Tim Dover, The Roost
• Neil Forbes, Café St Honoré
• Finlay Nicol, Edinburgh Larder
• Graeme Pallister, 63 Tay Street

The chefs will be sharing their expertise in bread-making, preserves and curing during the afternoon event, which starts at 12.30 pm. Visitors can pair the Chefs’ creations with an expression of Highland Park single malt whisky, and enjoy an opportunity to sample 12, 18 or 21 year old  Highland Park.

Catherine Gazzoli, Slow Food UK’s CEO said: “Slow Food Week celebrates the many wonders of good British food. Our Chefs will champion Forgotten Foods with special Slow Food inspired canapés and share their insights and first-hand experience in vibrant talks.”

Neil Forbes, Head Chef/Patron Cafe St Honoré, Edinburgh said: “I’ve been involved with Slow Food for many years and it was great news to be invited to become a member of the Chef Alliance.  It’s such an important message to share: simple, local, seasonal food that is good, clean and fair should be available to all. 

“Reconnecting with food, and people, at an easy, accessible level is what we should all do and the Chef Alliance brings like-minded chefs together, to talk, teach and pass on skills and knowledge.  The event at Summerhall will be a chance to meet the other Scottish chefs and Slow Food members.”

Peter Sandstrom, marketing director, Maxxium commented:  “This is a strong line-up of chefs to celebrate Slow Food Week in Scotland and a great opportunity to learn more about the movement, taste some fantastic food and Highland Park single malt whisky.

“What better way to celebrate the Week than by joining forces with some of the UK’s top chefs to showcase first class local produce that is very much in line with Highland Park’s own values of promoting a passion for flavour and craftsmanship.”

Tickets are £20 (concession £15 for Slow Food members) and are on sale now at Summerhall’s box office and online here: http://www.summerhall.co.uk/2013/meet-and-greet-the-champions-of-scottish-food/. This is a fundraising event in collaboration with Summerhall and ticket proceeds will benefit the Slow Food programmes and charitable work.

The Slow Food Chef Alliance is supported by Highland Park and Lavazza coffee who will be serving free espresso during the afternoon. Other supporters at the event include Barney’s brewery who will be offering a free tipple and Grana Padano will provide a wheel of their Consorzio cheese for guests to taste in the afternoon.

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