MEET THE CULINARY TALENT BEHIND
This year, Taste of Edinburgh will be showcasing a little bit of Glasgow too with three of the city’s most iconic and celebrated restaurants, Café Gandolfi, Two Fat Ladies and Cail Bruich added to its restaurant line-up. Fresh from their recent Reader’s Choice award win at The
List Eating and Drinking Guide Awards 2011, Seumas MacInnes and his team at Café Gandolfi will join Two Fat Ladies, one of Glasgow’s oldest and most celebrated restaurants and hidden West End gem, Cail Bruich, at this year’s event.
The Glasgow culinary favourites form a stellar line up of restaurants, representing the very best of Scottish culinary talent; Chez Rouz, Cucina at Hotel Missoni, First Coast, Ondine, Plumed Horse, Restaurant Mark Greenaway, Restaurant Martin Wishart, Tigerlily, Vincaffé and Wedgwood.
M E E T T H E C H E F S
TONY BORTHWICK PLUMED HORSE MARY CONTINI VINCAFFÉ
PAUL WEDGWOOD WEDGWOOD THE RESTAURANT
With a family history steeped in food and drink it’s no surprise that Mary has been a director of the famous Italian delicatessen, Valvona & Crolla Ltd, in Edinburgh since 1983. This is only one of many accomplishments, including publishing a number of best-selling cook books and establishing VinCaffè to celebrate the family business’ 70th anniversary in 2004. Mary believes in using the best seasonal produce and treating it very simply to really enjoy the best flavours. ‘I am really excited about the timing and venue for Taste this year – holding the event at its old haunt on The Meadows brings it back into the heart of Edinburgh. We’ve been at Taste since it started so all our staff are keen to join in the fun. This year we are showcasing our Neapolitan Heritage, celebrating our family’s history with some of the freshest, Italian food. We’re really excited about bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to the event with some tasty ‘street food’ – quickly cooked, beautifully presented food of La Dolce Vita.’
Since establishing Wedgwood the Restaurant in 2005, Paul Wedgwood has quickly become one of the most respected chefs in Edinburgh. Winning a coveted place in The Michelin Guide in January 2010, the restaurant has also picked up an impressive string of accolades including Best New Restaurant in the Harden’s Restaurant Guide, a Fodor’s Choice Distinction Award and Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards 2010.
‘Although I’ve been demonstrating at Taste for the past three years this will be the first time Wedgwood the Restaurant has a restaurant at the festival and we’re looking forward to tantalising taste buds with our passion for food. We will be showing a number of interesting and
unique dishes incorporating Scotland’s fabulous natural ingredients. One of my most recent creations, which I think I’ll be including, is Raspberry and Balbair Whisky Cranachan with an Orange Scented Shortbread – the addition of the Balbair whisky really sets it apart. I will also be highlighting the numerous seasonal ingredients our riversides and hedgerows have to offer and suggesting ways to use them.’
With origins in the sleepy Dumfries and Galloway town of Crossmichael, The Plumed Horse was awarded a Michelin star in 2001. After relocating the restaurant to Leith, Edinburgh in 2006, the restaurant has established an enviable reputation in the city’s dining scene. With two years as Restaurant of the Year at both the AA and Catering in Scotland Awards, the restaurant has also this year been nominated for AA Wine List of the Year.
‘Taste will be different for us this year, we will be showcasing three special dishes which epitomise what we do best – delicious food without the fuss. Guests can be sure of quality ingredients, core flavours and textures in each and every dish we serve over the weekend. We’ll be using our trusted oyster supplier An Cuig from East Kilbride. Owners Morven and Connell are both passionate and proud of their oysters and rightly so! They offer a clean and fresh taste of the sea, typical of west coast oysters and perfect for enjoying on a summer’s day. We are excited about the whole thing. If somebody could have a word with the powers that be to assure some beautiful weather then we will be in for a perfect weekend. See you there!’
GET A TASTE OF THE ACTION
We are offering all List readers the chance to enjoy a slice of the culinary action at this year’s Taste of Edinburgh, with 10 pairs of tickets up for grabs.
To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is log on to list.co.uk/offers and tell us: Where will Taste of Edinburgh be taking place this year? PLEASE VISIT TASTEOFEDINBURGH.CO.UK FOR UPDATES AND INFORMATION
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Competition closes Wed 22 June 2011. There is no cash alternative. Usual List rules apply.