An Aberdeenshire chef has travelled to New York to act as an ambassador for Scottish food and drink.
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The Kilted Chef, Craig Wilson, proprietor of north-east restaurant Eat on the Green, is participating in Scotland Week in New York.
The event has been organised by the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and Scottish Development International and runs from April 4 to April 11. A programme of events has been set up to celebrate all things Scottish, including the popular Scotland Run and Tartan Day parade.
Craig will be speaking at a tourism lunch at the Modern Museum, led by VisitScotland. He’ll be joined by Fiona Hislop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and external affairs, along with key business and travel media representatives. He will also be linking up with Scottish artists Gerard Burns, Scottish fashion designer Iona Crawford and creative director at Harris Tweed Hebrides, Mark Hogarth, at various events.
Eat on the Green, which is located in Udny Green, near Ellon, Aberdeenshire, is renowned for its passion for local produce with the finest quality ingredients on the menu, including locally reared Aberdeen Angus beef, Stornoway black pudding, Highland venison and homegrown fruit and vegetables.
Since opening in 2004, Eat on the Green has become known as one of the best restaurants in Aberdeenshire, securing numerous accolades in its 10 years. It has also catered for many exclusive events including the International film festival dinner in Edinburgh Castle and the Taste of Success post-Ryder Cup celebration evening at Stirling Castle.
Craig said: “I am truly delighted and honoured to be flying the flag for the North-east of Scotland and excited to share my passion for Scottish food and drink to a vibrant city like New York.
“Scotland has an outstanding and very exciting food scene with abundance of local producers on our doorsteps, with our fish, beef, chocolatiers, gin and whisky industries continuing to thrive. As a local and Scottish chef, I am truly passionate about the food and drink that is produced in Scotland and this year as we come together to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, it is a great privilege to be given the chance to promote our produce further afield and in the words of Frank Sinatra, start spreading the news.”
VisitScotland Chairman, Mike Cantlay said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have Craig Wilson speaking at our Scotland Week business tourism lunch.
“The Year of Food and Drink 2015 raises awareness of the diverse and fresh cuisine on offer in Scotland. Research shows that £1 in every £5 spent by visitors is on food and drink and I’m sure Craig will be a great help flying the flag in New York for our incredible larder.
“North America is one of our biggest markets and therefore this exceptional week of activity provides VisitScotland with the ideal platform to showcase everything that Scotland has to offer.”
