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NEWS

Orkney & Shetland Supplier Showcase
The supplier showcase is being held on Thursday 16th September on board the NorthLink ferries vessel in Aberdeen. The event will include an overview of Orkney and Shetland Isles food culture and producers; "chefs from the islands" demonstration of local produce; supplier showcase with a chance to meet producers and taste their products and a networking lunch featuring island produce. The event is FREE and open to all foodservice and retail buyers.

2010 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards
The winners were revealed at an awards ceremony held at the Benromach Distillery in Forres. Edinburgh-based brewer Innis & Gunn swept the board winning four awards including the prestigious Business of the Year award, International Business of the Year, Drink - Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic category and Product Innovation category for its Oak Aged Beers. Dean's of Huntly was awarded the Food Tourism award for its Dean's Visitor Centre. For a list of all the winners visit www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "It is truly inspiring to see over 200 entries. Through our national food and drink policy we want to help pubs, hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants and cafes build on our international reputation for first-class food and drink, and deliver the very best Scottish produce to the 16 million people who visit our country every year”

New ‘Tom Kitchin’ ??
An up and coming young Lanarkshire chef has been crowned Scotland’s next culinary rising star, after winning the Apprentice Chef Challenge. Michele Bukkems, 22, from Airdrie triumphed following a heated cook off against five of the finest budding chefs from across Scotland.  The talented chefs were asked to prepare a main course and a dessert using seasonal and sustainable ingredients in a heated cook off, in front of an expert panel at The Braehead Cook School. Michele, who currently works as a chef in Glasgow, will now take up a six-month placement at Hotel du Vin, Edinburgh.  Michelle beat off stiff competition with a menu of poached breast of organic chicken with Grant’s haggis, smoked Ayrshire bacon served with nettle and Highland Park gravy followed by a dessert of baked tart of puff pastry with seasonal rhubarb compote and raspberries, served with a caramel sauce and cranachan cream.

Royal Highand Show
Some of Scotland's top chefs will be demonstrating their culinary skills in the Scottish Food & Drink Theatre at this month's Royal Highland Show. Michelin-starred Tony Borthwick of the Plumed Horse in Leith and Lady Claire Macdonald from Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye will be among those wowing visitors with their culinary skills. The Food and Drink Hall will have around 100 companies displaying everything from honey to haggis, shortbread to seafood and delicatessen to drams of fine whisky, giving food lovers plenty of choice when it comes to tasting, sampling and buying.

Final chance to grab the Scottish Thistle Awards - Taste of Scotland Category
Entries for the awards, which are organised by VisitScotland, will close at midnight on Wednesday, 30 June. The Scottish Thistle Awards, which are among the most sought-after accolades in the tourism industry, celebrate quality and innovation across a range of categories. The awards are widely viewed as the official mark of excellence and professionalism, recognising and rewarding excellence in Scotland’s tourism industry in all areas and at all levels. Previous winners of the Taste of Scotland category include Doune Dining Room, Knoydart, Captain's Galley Seafood Restaurant, Scrabster and the Prince's House House and Restaurant, Glenfinnan.
The finalists will be announced in August with the overall winners announced at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Friday 29 October.
For further information on the Taste of Scotland and other awards and sponsors go to www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk or call the awards hotline on 0131 472 2228 or email info@scottishthistleawards.co.uk.

Highland Perthshire Brand
A new initiative to increase tourism in Highland Perthshire has received a boost following a £300,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise. Highland Perthshire Limited (HPL) combines the expertise of the Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association, the Dunkeld and Birnam Tourism Association, Explore Aberfeldy and The Pitlochry Partnership. It will develop a new Highland Perthshire brand and focus on stimulating business growth and attract new inward investment opportunities to boost the local tourism economy. To support the delivery of HPL the new "destination management organisation" (DMO) has been incorporated and its new board has already identified three short-term priorities which will build on existing initiatives and publications:
"  A walking guide, covering the whole area and incorporating the new Heart of Scotland 100
"  An events calendar, regularly updated and distributed to accommodation providers
"  A website, illustrating the breadth of HP product and enabling quick access to products

Edinburgh and Glasgow chefs focus on Local produce
Most of Edinburgh and Glasgow’s top eateries are positively embracing local produce, and in some case even foraging for wild food. Around two-thirds of the 800 or so restaurants in this year's List Eating and Drinking Guide were rated good or very good for their food sourcing by the Guide's reviewers. The editor, Donald Reid said: "This is certainly a positive change. When we first launched this guide in 1994 Scottish cuisine was still considered a bit of an embarrassment and almost no recognition at all was given to Scottish produce and seasonality. "Now, I am happy to say, things are very different and most restaurants will publish the provenance of their Scottish seafood, game, beef and lamb in particular, and if they do not, staff are often able to advise on the origin." Other hot items on this year's menus have also included: afternoon tea; foraged wild herbs; piccalilli; potted shrimp; flat white coffees; sharing plates and barley risotto. And macaroons are among the contenders tipped to be ‘the new cupcake'.

Visitor Experience Award
Applications are invited from Visitor Attractions for the Scotland, Land of Food and Drink Visitor Experience Award 2010. This award will recognise and reward visitor attractions that demonstrate that their food and drink offering is an integral part of the overall visitor experience and is a key part of their operation. This award is being managed by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions and is sponsored by the Scottish Government. For further information on the award contact Eva McDiarmid at ASVA, email eva@asva.co.uk

Taste of Grampian success
Two celebrity chefs and Miss UK entertained thousands of visitors to Scotland's biggest one-day food festival at the recent Taste of Grampian at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie event. An estimated 14,000 visitors attended the event, taking place for the 11th year. It featured several product launches, including a new range of posh puddings and sauces by food ingredients manufacturer Macphie of Glenbervie; special pies by Inverurie baker JG Ross; and a new oilseed rape extra virgin oil marinade by farmers John and Connie Sorrie, of Westfield Farms, Inverurie.

Dundee Flower & Food Festival
Tickets are now on sale for this year's Festival, taking place at Camperdown Country Park from 3rd-5th September. It offers the best in food, horticulture and live entertainment, with a packed weekend programme including free cookery demonstrations, children's activities, a craft fair, live music, the chance to buy a range of plants, quality food products and much more. This year’s Festival plays host to the National Vegetable Society's Championships, and helps celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Society's chairman, Medwyn Williams of Anglesey, scooped a Gold Medal and President's Award with a vegetable display at this year's prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Mr Williams will be creating a similar display at the Dundee Festival in September. Meanwhile, TV celebrity duo The Hairy Bikers, who have become known to millions of television viewers as they combine their love of motorcycles with down-to-earth cookery, will be riding in to spend Saturday and Sunday at the Festival cooking and mingling with visitors. Tickets can be purchased online or from Dundee City Box Office (01382 434940). Accompanied children under 16 years are admitted FREE.

Young Highland Chef Competition
Young Highland Chef 2010 is an open culinary contest judged by world famous guru of high cuisine Albert Roux. Top chefs Glen Watson, Martin Wishart, Andrew Fairlie, Steven Docherty and Derek Johnstone, trained by Mr Roux will also adjudicate at different stages of the competition. Applicants will be invited to submit a 3-course dinner menu for two people that must contain pike in the starter, game in the main course and raspberry in the sweet with a budget cost of £15per cover. These will be paper judged and successful applicants will be chosen to attend the heats on Monday, 2nd August 2010.
Full details including application form at: http://www.tasteoftain.com/

China Toolkit - Introduction to Chinese Market
Outbound travel from China has become the 5th largest market in the world in terms of spend on international travel. Much of this outbound travel goes to countries within Asia, but long-haul travel is increasing. The UK has been granted ADS (Approved Destination Status) by the Chinese National Tourism Authority (CNTA). This allows Chinese citizens to visit the UK as leisure group travellers via authorised tour operators in China and approved ADS land operators in the UK.  These operators usually also handle both business and leisure groups.  
VisitScotland has produced a toolkit for businesses that receive guests from China or Chinese-speaking guests from the UK. It provides information and advice on how to welcome Chinese visitors. For more info visit; http://www.visitscotland.org/business_support/business_resources/china_toolkit/welcoming_chinese_guests.aspx

Loch Leven’s Larder nominated for Deli of the Year Award
Loch Leven's Larder is one of around 100 delicatessens across Britain to be nominated for Deli of the Year. The family-run restaurant, farm and gift shop, based near Kinross, is hoping it has the 'deli attitude' that judges are looking for when they visit the Larder in June to choose their winning delicatessen. To recognise being nominated for the award, Loch Leven's Larder is inviting new and existing customers to the shop to experience first-hand why it deserves to be crowned Deli of the Year. "We bake all of our own speciality bread and stock a large selection of olives and cured meats, as well as selling delicious cheeses from around the UK and Europe. It's our fine foods, freshness and seasonality that makes our shop very special and we hope the judging panel of the awards recognises our passion and uniqueness" said Emma Niven, head of business at Loch Leven's Larder

The F Word's search for Best Local Restaurant 2010 begins
After Birmingham-based restaurant Lasan won the title of Best Local Restaurant 2009, the search for the 2010 winner is already underway. Presented by celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay, the Channel 4 programme is looking for "…restaurants run by people with a passion for food who deliver great food, great service and a great atmosphere."  Nominations can be made via The F Word website and organisers of the search say that restaurants most be independently owned. "Our preference is to discover restaurants who have not received the acclaim they may deserve. However we may still consider restaurants who have received major awards, such as Michelin stars or AA Rosettes," said Channel 4.

Scottish Government builds on Homecoming success
Following on from Homecoming, Food&Drink and Tourism Ministers have announced the start of a year of focus on Food and Drink and its contribution to the Hospitality industry. Speaking on a visit with Food Minister Richard Lochhead to Pub Grub of the Year winner the King's Wark pub in Leith, Tourism Minister, Mr Mather, said: "Through our national food and drink policy, we want to help pubs such as this one, hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants and cafes build on our international reputation and deliver the best of Scottish produce to the 16 million people who visit this country every year.