SCOTLAND’S national chef is making a return trip to Dunoon this summer to officially launch the town’s first food and drink festival.
Gary Maclean, guest judge and winner of the BBC television series MasterChef, will use Winston Churchill Venison as a feature of his cooking demonstration at the event.
Born in Glasgow, Gary has spent more than 35 years in Scotland’s hospitality industry, overseeing the launch and development of more than 80 venues across the country. In recognition of his achievements, the Scottish Government appointed him as the country’s National Chef in 2017.
That came after he won MasterChef: The Professionals in 2016. Gary has since returned to the programme as a guest judge and mentor.
The food and drink festival will be held in Dunoon over the weekend of July 25–26.
Gary, who will officially open the festival, told this newspaper: I’m delighted to be involved in Taste Dunoon and look forward to experiencing the range of food and drink on offer in this spectacular corner of Scotland.
I’ve always been passionately committed to raising the profile of food producers across Scotland, and I have fond memories of visiting Dunoon through my work in education, teaching young people in the local high school.
He has been a passionate advocate for culinary education and has served the City of Glasgow College for more than 25 years.
Ciorsdan Fagan of the festival organiser, Dunoon Presents, commented: The involvement of Gary Maclean is great news and a boost to what promises to be a true celebration of food and drink across Dunoon and the Cowal peninsula.
We already have the confirmed involvement of a growing number of food and drink businesses, including Winston Churchill Venison, which was founded in 1990 by Winston Churchill, who hails from a branch of the Churchill family related to the iconic politician of the same name.
Winston’s son, Angus Churchill, said: We are proud to be sponsoring and supporting an event that will put Dunoon on the food map and hope it will become a regular event in the town’s calendar.
Family bakers, Black of Dunoon, founded in 1922, is another essential festival sponsor in this inaugural year. The company distributes baked goods across Argyll and the west of Scotland.
The food and drink festival is only part of the package coming to Cowal from Dunoon Presents this year. Their diary includes: Punk on the Peninsula (May 22–24), Argyll Rally (June 19–20), Dunoon 10k Coastal Road Race (August 1), Doon the Watter Revival (August 14–15), Dunoon Ultra Marathon and Relay (August 22), Dunoon Tradfest (September 24–26) and Dunoon Dazzles Winterfest (November 21).
The host venue for the food and drink festival will be announced soon.
