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JAMES TANAR AND SILVENA ROWE TO STAR AT TASTE OF GRAMPIAN
The two celebrity chefs who will be starring at this year's Taste of Grampian food festival have been revealed.
>James Tanner and Silvena Rowe will both be celebrating the richness and diversity of the north-east's food and drink larder at the ever-popular event on June 5 at Inverurie's Thainstone Centre.
Taste of the Grampian steering committee chairman Brian Pack also promised another veritable feast of food, fun and entertainment for the show that last year marked its 10th birthday with a record-breaking crowd of more than 14,000. Mr Pack said the steering group behind the event had again listened to the views expressed in the visitor and standholder surveys conducted last year to build on the success of a show that is now Scotland's biggest one-day food festival. He added: "We are not complacent and we like to take a fresh look at Taste of Grampian every year and make it just that little bit different from those that have gone before. We listen to all the views expressed. "The responses last year were all tremendously positive, but there were a number of ideas suggested and we are trying to incorporate them."
Aberdeenshire Council head of economic development James Knowles again underlined the importance of Taste of Grampian in telling consumers about the north-east's food industry and the huge economic contribution it makes. Everyone attending on the day will be able to sample and buy produce. Mr Pack and Mr Knowles were speaking at the launch event, held as part of the Grampian Food Forum Dining Club's latest meeting at the Carmelite Hotel in Aberdeen.
Demonstrations will be given by each of the two celebrity chefs. They will round off the day with a cooking duel. Both are TV regulars, including on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen which stars James Martin and who was at Taste of Grampian in 2003. Mr Tanner was just 23 when he opened his first restaurant in Plymouth in 1999 with his older brother, Chris. He has since appeared on number shows and is passionate about using local, in season food. He has also promoted the Red Tractor label which is used by Britain's agricultural industry to tell consumers that the food they are eating is farm assured and from UK farms. Ms Rowe has been cooking professionally for more than 23 years and is a leading authority on eastern European and Mediterranean food. Her cooking is described as honest, robust and full of new and unpredictable flavours.
The festival will also feature contests for primary and secondary schools, a demonstration by the winners of this year's Grampian chef of year competition, presentations by chefs Sandy Greig and Robert Bruce who are otherwise known as the Two Fat Laddies and wine tasting. There will be a motor show, children's farmyard area and entertainment from the Garioch Fiddlers, dancers, magicians and Inverurie Pipe Band.
Taste of Grampian has a new main sponsor in the shape of Inverurie-based car dealer I. & K. Motors. Proprietor Steve Innes said his business was supporting the show as it was local and on its doorstep. "I felt it was beneficial to help them and provide assistance. Taste of Grampian brings in a massive amount of people into the town and we wanted to be part of it," he added.
Other sponsors are Aberdeen City and Shire, Quality Meat Scotland, the Food Standards Agency, Tesco, Costco, the Malmaison Hotel, Mercure Ardoe House Hotel and Spa, More Than Kitchens, Service Point, The Store and Union Square.
Taste of Grampian is organised by the ANM Group, Aberdeenshire Council, the Grampian Food Forum, Scottish Enterprise and the Press and Journal.
Taste of Grampian is managed by PRime Events. More details from event manager Carol Fowler on 01224 646488
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