Cream of county on festival menu
Kyle Smith with Praveen Kumar This year’s Perth Show saw the return of the popular Perthshire On A Plate.
Perthshire Chamber of Commerce’s festival of food came back for a second year with a range of traders showcasing their produce and a cookery theatre with local and celebrity chefs demonstrating what can be done with the best Perthshire has to offer.
Highlights included appearances by Jean-Christophe Novelli – a TV regular who has two Michelin stars and restaurants in the UK, France and South Africa – and Nick Nairn, also no stranger to the small screen and the youngest Scottish chef to receive a Michelin star.
Well-known locals taking part included Willie Little from Little’s Restaurant in Blairgowrie, George Urquhart from Blair Castle in Blair Atholl, Praveen Kumar from Tabla in Perth, Graeme Maxwell from Maxwell’s Desserts in Bridge of Earn and Chris Rowley from Ballintaggart Farm in Grandtully.
There was also a cooking demonstration for kids with Ian Gibb from Perth College UHI and a Perth College versus the ladies from the Scottish Women’s Institute challenge.
Maureen Young, one of the organisers, said: “The food and drink sector is a huge part of our rural economy so it made sense to showcase this at Perth Show.
“We are bigger than last year with more local producers, from fresh meats through to alcohol. We’ve been able to give them all a platform and have the cookery theatre here, supported by Quality Meat Scotland.
“The celebrity chefs have really been pulling in the crowds.
“We have such a great support here and we hope to continue to grow POAP and draw more crowds in. We are very grateful to be a part of Perth Show but we will always be the bolt-on to the show.
“The sense of community here is amazing. If something needs done everyone mucks in. It’s tremendous.
“The tent has been much busier than we expected and the rain has not dampened spirits at all. We’ve been having a ball.”
Praveen Kumar, who has just opened an Indian cooking school, took to the stage on Saturday morning to cook vegetable pakora, chicken bhuna and spicy onions.
He said: “It was a full house and the crowd were very interactive. People want to know more about how to use local produce for Indian food.
“In our restaurant it is unique because we use local food mixed with Indian cooking.
“It has been a good day, apart from the rain, but that pushed people into the tent to come and see us.”
Chris Rowley, has also opened Nick Nairn eyes up Sidonia The 2nd with Alex Smith of Balnabroich Farm, Kirkmichael Jean-Christophe Novelli with Maureen Young and Vicki Unite
Graeme Hart
a cookery school at Ballintaggart Farm, said: “Perth Show is brilliant because we are all about sourcing local produce.
“That is incredibly important to us. I showcase local farmers and local produce in my cooking.
“Having Perthshire On A Plate with Perth Show really makes people think about where their food has come from. It highlights the amazing larder we have here and the good quality on offer.”
Maureen Young thanked all the local chefs and the volunteers who helped.
“We couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
Perth Show is brilliant because we are all about sourcing local produce