The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Chef ‘honoured’ to be the host of inaugural food and drink awards
Top Scottish chef Jak O’donnell tells Caroline Lindsay how much she’s looking forward to hosting the Menu Food and Drink Awards – and why she has her grandmother’s wise words to thank for her culinary career
With the inaugural Courier Menu Food and Drink Awards a week away, it’s time to introduce our host for the five star gala dinner to be held at the Old Course St Andrews on March 15.
Jacqueline O’donnell, or Jak as she’s better known, is chef patron of the Sisters Restaurants in Glasgow.
Jak has worked alongside the best in Scotland and the UK, focusing on excellent Scottish produce from Angus soft fruits, Scottish malt whiskies and farmers and fishermen the length of Scotland.
She also represents the Scottish Federation of Chefs, drawing on more than 35 years of experience in the industry and a passion for food that began when she was just four.
“From a very early age I remember being sent out to my granny’s garden to pull rhubarb or turn the soil for tatties or pick up any apples,” she recalls.
“I thought this was all pretty hard work but my reward was a stick of crisp tart rhubarb with a wee pokey of sugar made from newspaper.
“I am sure this is where my love of great home cooking using local produce all began – that was when I first made the link between garden and table,” she continues.
The first Scottish female to take part in the Great British Menu, Jak admits that as a teenager she had no ambitions to carve out a career in cooking.
“When my grandmother discovered that cooking wasn’t on my O Grades list, she was horrified,” she says.
“I remember her saying: ‘You, my dear, need to learn how to look after a husband and to cook’.
“At the time I thought ‘What?’ but it turned out I loved it.
“All these years on, I’m still rising to the challenges that the wonderful Scottish larder throws at me!”
A regular at the Taste Angus Festival, Jak is no stranger to food demonstrations but this is the first time she’s been asked to host a gala dinner.
“I’m very honoured to be asked to host the inaugural Menu Food and Drink Awards,” she says.
“An occasion like this is something I love to be part of and it makes me feel special.
“As a nation we’re waking up to realising just how good we are – Scotland is such an accessible country and the place to be if you want to learn about the food and drink industry.
“This business has been through so much in the past 30 years and it’s great to see it on the rise again – there’s a roaring fire burning under it and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Jak is impressed by the outstanding talent across Courier Country.
“There are so many people on the shortlist I admire,” she says.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting them and being part of the very first Courier Menu Awards.
“It’s so important to get support from the very beginning from the people who matter, and I’m looking forward to seeing it grow year on year.”