THREE OF UK’S TOP CHEFS TO HOST CHARITY POP UP IN EDINBURGH

21 June 2011

THREE OF UK’S TOP CHEFS TO HOST CHARITY POP UP IN EDINBURGH

- Gary Rhodes, Martin Wishart and Steven Doherty champion Action Against Hunger at Taste of Edinburgh 2011 -

Three of the country’s top culinary talents will rally together at this year’s Taste of Edinburgh, in partnership with AEG, to host an Action Against Hunger pop-up charity restaurant from 1-3 July.

TV favourite, Gary Rhodes, Scottish Michelin-star chef Martin Wishart and the first ever British Head chef to receive three Michelin-stars when working at Albert Roux’s Le Gavroche, Steven Doherty, will swap their state of the art kitchens and head to The Meadows to run a pop-up charity restaurant, the fifteenth and final addition to the stellar restaurant line-up for the fifth year of Scotland’s biggest food and drink festival.

Each day a different chef will run the restaurant, donating their culinary skills and expertise to make a difference to child hunger and malnutrition, with all profits going to leading humanitarian charity, Action Against Hunger. 

Gary Rhodes will be first to take the reins on Friday 1 July followed by Martin Wishart on Saturday and Steven Doherty on Sunday 3 July.  The chefs will follow in the footsteps of previous Action Against Hunger supporters including Marcus Wareing, Giorgio Locatelli, Jun Tanaka and Raymond Blanc and entertain guests with unique dishes which each reflect their individual culinary style.

Martin Wishart will serve up gastronomic delights including ceviche of halibut and braised shin of Ross-shire beef.  He says “I am very proud to be involved with this superb festival of local produce and food.  My involvement at this year’s Taste of Edinburgh is even more special for my restaurant, as we are able to promote the important work carried out by global charity Action Against Hunger. 

“This fantastic charity is recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition and carries out life-saving programmes in over 40 countries.  We hope to attract lots of people to the Action Against Hunger stand with some classic dishes from my restaurant and raise lots of money for a vital cause.”

Steven Doherty has a long and distinguished past in the food industry.  He will showcase the skills he garnered at the internationally renowned Le Gavroche.  He said, “It is an absolute privilege to be cooking for Action Against Hunger at Taste this year. 

“When I was working at Le Gavroche people would travel from across the UK to our restaurant in London so it’s exciting for me to be able to take myself out of the traditional kitchen setting and get face to face with guests.  And what better way to do that than support a worthy cause at the same time?”

These award winning chefs will join a stellar line up of restaurants, representing the very best of Scottish culinary talent including; Café Gandolfi, Cail Bruich, Chez Rouz, Cucina at Hotel Missoni, First Coast, Kama Sutra, Restaurant Mark Greenaway, Restaurant Martin Wishart, Ondine, Plumed Horse, Tigerlily, Two Fat Ladies, Vincaffé and Wedgwood the Restaurant.   

Foodie fans will learn the tricks of the trade as the UK chef talent showcase their skills and expertise with cooking demonstrations at the AEG Taste Theatre and La Patisserie Peugeot while fifteen of Scotland’s best restaurants serve up their finest dishes in an unbeatable alfresco gourmet feast.   Visitors can also brush up on their own culinary skills with hands-on AEG Perfekt Cooking Classes with Cook School by Martin Wishart, and sessions at the Waitrose Cookery School, where they can create stunning dishes with the freshest, local and seasonal ingredients.

Visit www.tastefestivals.com/edinburgh for the full line-up, updates and information.

 
ENDS

Further information:
If you would like further information on the event, images or if you would like to find out about media accreditation, please contact Sarah Ormerod or Katie Gilruth on 0131 561 8628 or email tasteofedinburgh@stripecom.co.uk

Notes to editors

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, Action Against Hunger works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, Action Against Hunger runs life-saving programmes in some 40 countries helping nearly 5 million people each year.

www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

Taste Festivals is the inspiration of Brand Events, which joined forces with Channel 4 in September 2006.  In 2011 Taste Festivals will be held in Edinburgh and London in the UK and internationally in Amsterdam, Auckland, Cape Town, Dubai, Dublin, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Milan and Sydney. 

Brand Events also produce Taste of Christmas, the festive foodie event that is held in London.

AEG

AEG is the main sponsor for Taste of Edinburgh 2011.  Its appliances will be used throughout the festival by celebrity chefs, other exhibitors and by Taste visitors who will have the opportunity to hone their culinary skills on the very latest in cooking technology.  AEG appliances have been created for people who demand superior performance time after time; for cooks who enjoy the whole cooking process who want to be in total control and who relish perfection.