HIGH PROFILE VISITORS TO TALISKER SKYE & LOCHALSH FOOD FESTIVAL

Sizzling scallops, barbecued Skye lamb steaks, blue veined creamy cheese, wild mushroom risotto … Talisker Skye and Lochalsh Food and Drink Festival featured the best of local produce cooked to perfection and attracted some high profile visitors.

 The launch at Talisker Distillery, culminated in a superb buffet lunch by Jann MacRae of the Seafood Restaurant in Kyle of Lochalsh, featuring a mouth-watering array of the finest, freshest food and drink from Skye and Lochalsh. Later that evening, Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of VisitScotland and Tony Mercer, Head of Quality Assurance gave their support to the festival by attending Taste of Scotland’s re-launch of the ‘Natural Cooking of Scotland’ held at the Eilean Donan Visitor Centre with a spectacular floodlit castle backdrop. The supper, provided by Fiona Begg of Seagreen Restaurant, Kyle of Lochalsh reflected her imaginative use of fresh local ingredients, and was followed by a reeling ceilidh with the Incredible Fling Band. 

 The festival was well received by visitors and locals alike, with a resounding call for more again next year. Carole Inglis, Food and Drink Development manager for Skye & Lochalsh Enterprise said, “The interest  in the Festival, both from within and out-with the area has been great. It has been heartening to see how much business has been done during the festival and to see the awareness and confidence in the food and drink sector continue to rise. This can only serve to keep Skye and Lochalsh firmly on the map as an area that attaches significant importance to the extensive wealth of locally produced food and drink”.

The festival featured a wide ranging and innovative programme which included the excellent new event, Broadford Seafood Festival. Local chef, Lady Claire Macdonald showed her long-standing commitment to fresh, local produce to a captivated audience with an exuberant demonstration of delicious recipes from her new book, Simply Seasonal. Local chefs, Steve Grant and Daniel Slater from Portree House and Michael Tough of Chefs in Scotland, enthralled the crowds at Portree Farmers’ Market with their lively demonstrations using local ingredients bought from the market stalls, which were sold out by noon. Their roast garlic went down a treat as did their Lochalsh Lamb, cooked in a creamy sage and sherry sauce served with crisp baby carrots and swedes. Shirley Spear of The Three Chimneys also shopped at the market, selecting premium produce before cooking up a vibrant array of dishes from new book, Scotland on a Plate, in a display of culinary excellence at Aros Visitor Centre.

 Robert Muir , Chief Executive of Skye & Lochalsh Enterprise (SALE), commenting on the success of the festival said, “The festival continues to raise the profile of Skye and Lochalsh and its superb food and drink, from which it should reap the benefits for years to come. We were delighted to see the enthusiasm and commitment from local producers, hotels and restaurants in what we accept has been a particularly difficult year for tourism and agriculture. Over the past three years, the food and drink initiative has been working towards a sustainable local food economy – that is, a community which produces and uses its own produce where possible.  Supported by Talisker, SALE, Highland Council and HOST, the festival focuses on the positive impact this has on tourism, the economy, the environment and ultimately the health of local communities in Skye and Lochalsh.  We were particularly encouraged by the attendance of Gillian Kynoch, newly appointed Scottish Food and Health Co-ordinator”.

 Alastair Morrison, Deputy Minister for Tourism, commented, “ I am delighted to see the progress made by the festival in such a short time. It is encouraging to see recognition of the value of fresh, local produce. I am sure this initiative will be a model for other rural areas in the Highlands and Islands and wish you every success in the future”.

 Notes: The Talisker Skye and Lochalsh Food and Drink Festival 2001 is supported by Talisker Distillery and the Classic Malts™, Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, Highland Council, Highlands of Scotland Tourist board and Taste of Scotland ™.

See the website at www.skyefood.co.uk

 For more information contact:

Carole Inglis, Food and drink development manager, Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, King’s House, The Green, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9BS Tel: 01478 612841 Fax: 01478 612164 Email: c.inglis@hient.co.uk