Six hopefuls do battle for top culinary prize

Andrew Fairlie scholarship in sights

Each have shown a fine sense of drive and commitment to themselves to develop Stephen McLaughlin

The finalists in the search for the recipients of the second annual Andrew Fairlie Scholarship have been revealed.

The local area was well-represented when Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland recently announced the names of six contenders for the top prize, set up in tribute to the late Perthshire chef – renowned for the top restaurant which bears his name at Gleneagles Hotel.

The finalists include Josh Wilkinson, currently working as senior chef de partie at the Isle of Eriska Hotel, and Zdenka Tomova, first commis chef at The Strathearn restaurant, which is also at Gleneagles.

Amy Stephenson, chef de partie at The Torridon in Wester Ross has also made the final, as has Spud Henderson, chef de partie at Craig Millar @ 16 West End in Anstruther.

There are also two returning finalists from last year’s competition – Ryan McCutcheon, now chef patron at Achray House Hotel in St Fillans – and Peter Meechan, junior sous chef and a colleague of Zdenka’s at The Strathearn.

Spearheaded by HIT Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government and Gleneagles, the scholarship recognises two individuals each year – one male and one female – who are forging ahead with their culinary careers and working in Scotland.

The final stage of the competition will take place at Gleneagles, where each of the finalists’ skills will be put to the test before the winners are announced.

The date for finals day has been postponed until later in the year due to COVID-19.

The winners will gain industry-wide recognition as Andrew Fairlie Scholars and be given the opportunity to showcase their skills in an international kitchen, and at Michelin-starred restaurants Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and Core by Clare Smyth.

Stephen McLaughlin, head chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and the competition’s head judge, declared: “I am thrilled to have selected six chefs from our many applications for the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship finals day.

“Each have all shown in their applications a fine sense of drive and an unwavering commitment to themselves to develop, learn and rise to the challenges in front of them.”

“We have returning finalists from last year’s scholarship, who I hope and also do expect to have grown and learned from their experience.

“As well as this they will have been able to share their experience with aspiring and future applying chefs.

“This is, of course, part of the essence and privilege that comes with the importance of being part of the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship journey.

He added:“Being ‘match fit’ will be key for finals day. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing how our finalists have been keeping their minds sharp and their knives keen during what has been odd and difficult times – when they perhaps wouldn’t have had as much time behind their stoves as they would have wished.”