Top London chef to make debut appearance at fine dining festival in Aberdeen
Phil Howard is heading north this November to join the top line-up of talent for the return of the Signature Festival, writes Sean Murphy
Atop London-based chef is heading north this November to join the glittering line-up of talent for the return of a popular culinary festival in Aberdeen.
South African-born Phil Howard, described by the late restaurant critic AA Gill as one of the best chefs in Britain, will be making his debut at the Signature fine-dining festival at the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen.
Having trained under the Roux brothers and Marco Pierre White and after selling his two-michelin starred Mayfair restaurant The Square, Howard has gone on to gain further acclaim for his newest venture, Elystan Street in Chelsea. In just three years, this modern British restaurant has racked up an array of awards, being named AA London restaurant of the year 2017-18 and gaining a coveted Michelin star.
The celebrated chef is gearing up to deliver a showstopping menu to a whole new audience later this year as part of the Festival of Fine Food and Drink.
The event, which takes place from 3-15 November, brings together six of the UK’S top chefs, creating a line-up that holds a collective six Michelin stars and 19 AA Rosettes. Howard will be joined by the likes of Scots-born world-class pâtissier
chocolatier William Curley and Daniel Clifford, chef patron of two-michelin starred restaurant Midsummer House while returning chefs will include Glyn Purnell, Martin Wishart and Roy Brett.
The experienced chef will be working with the team at The Chester Hotel – Aberdeen’s four silver star venue – in devising the menu for discerning diners attending his sell-out event on November 11, one of the highlights of the festival.
Unique in that it is staged within one venue – the hotel’s 2 AA Rosette restaurant – the festival sees chefs and their kitchen brigades visiting to recreate the menu experience from their own restaurants. Only 80 places will be available at each dinner. Now in its third year, Signature aims to showcase Aberdeen as a destination for gourmets and the exceptional quality of raw ingredients found on the city’s doorstep. It is the brainchild of Graham Wood, owner of The Chester Hotel, who saw the local appetite for fine dining through the popularity of his own upscale venue.
Taking his inspiration from the flavours of Scotland and looking to the best of what’s in season, Howard has stated that he will let the flavours speak from themselves.
Giving a taste of what diners can expect, he said: “In creating the menu, I will be thinking about the season, and using prime ingredients associated with Scotland. The backbone of my style is the French technique and I will be applying that in cooking using best of Scottish ingredients that will be available in November.”
The talented restaurateur receives no shortage of requests to join an array of epicurean events, however Signature 2019 appealed because of both its location and its charitable element. Last year’s event made an incredible £239,000 donation to Friends of the Neonatal Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, with a further £12,000 going to Friendly Access – a charity supporting those with hidden disabilities. This year’s event will once again raise funds for good causes.
Phil said: “I’m asked to do all sorts of things and Signature’s charitable side is great, and Aberdeen is somewhere I would like to get to know.
“Scotland has the best shellfish in the world. No other country can beat Scottish lobster, scallops or langoustine. Then there’s game, hare, venison and grouse, some phenomenal produce. I will have Scottish ingredients well represented on my menu.”
● More information is available via the website www.signaturefood festival.co.uk