Scotch Lamb Backs Dundee Food Festival 2011

More than a dozen top chefs, including world-renowned Gino D’Acampo, will be working their culinary magic to impress the crowds at this year’s Dundee Food Festival.

One of the top ingredients at the event will be Scotch Lamb which was today (Friday 19th August) unveiled as the main sponsor of the event, part of the Dundee Flower and Food Festival at Camperdown Park (2-4 Sept).

The Festival, which last year attracted around 26,000 visitors, will also spearhead the launch of a major campaign by Quality Meat Scotland to communicate the seasonal succulence, quality and local origin of Scotch Lamb.

“Scotch Lamb is at its most succulent until February and we’re delighted to be the main sponsor of the Dundee Food Festival where our lamb will be one of the ingredients the chefs will be cooking with,” said Tayside farmer Jim McLaren, Chairman of Quality Meat Scotland.

“We produce a fantastic, natural product which is much acclaimed overseas and underpinned by one of the longest established quality assurance schemes in the world – guaranteeing high standards of production and welfare.

“I would encourage anyone who has forgotten how simple Scotch Lamb is to cook to buy local and rediscover its taste and versatility,” he added.

QMS will also be encouraging visitors to the Festival to download a new free mobile phone “Perfect Steaks and Roasts” app. The app, which is suitable for use when cooking beef, pork or lamb, is available for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android free of charge.

This year will see a new, improved 200-seater cookery theatre which was packed with visitors at last year’s Festival.

Among the other chefs taking part this year will be Michelin star chef Geoffrey Smeddle from the Peat Inn in Fife.

Also attending will be television and radio chef Jacqueline O’Donnell, of the Sisters restaurants in Glasgow, and Ross Marshall, of the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, who is this year’s Scotland Food and Drink Awards Young Chef of the Year.  TV chef Eadie Manson will be working with The Famous Grouse Experience whisky experts.

The line-up also includes Dundee’s own Bruce Price, the executive chef of the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa; David Rutter and Daniel Radtke of Dundee College; Graham Riley from the Landmark Hotel; Fred Berkmiller from L’Escargot Bleu and L’Escargot Blanc, Edinburgh; Jonny Dunbar, from Ducks at Kilspindie House, Aberlady; Jason Henderson from Knock Castle Hotel and Spa, Crieff; David Cochrane from the Dalmore Inn and Restaurant in Blairgowrie, Dominic De Franco from the Bridge View Restaurant in Dundee, and Andrew Mackintosh from the Craigtay Hotel, Dundee.

Joining Food Festival guests and trying her hand at assisting some of the chefs will be Quality Meat Scotland’s healthy eating ambassador, the former Miss Scotland and Miss UK, Katharine Brown.

Dundee City Council environment convener Cllr Bob Duncan said: "We are looking forward to this year's Dundee Flower and Food Festival and are delighted by the support we have received.

"This is the premier event of its kind in Scotland and exciting programme has been prepared for the three days at Camperdown. Discounts are still available on tickets bought up until August 26."

www.scotchbeefandlamb.com

facebook.com/enjoyingqualitymeat