Angus-based MasterChef champion Jamie Scott is to grace Arbroath Sea Fest in his home town this month.
The 2014 victor of BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals 2014 is to be one of the star attractions at the August 15/16 event and has admitted he is relishing the opportunity to showcase his talents at the harbourside.
Jamie, who lives in Arbroath with his wife Kelly and was previously head chef at Rocca in St Andrews, will be hosting a special Sea Fest cookery demonstration at 2pm on Sunday August 16.
“I always enjoy doing cookery demonstrations and it’s great to have the opportunity to undertake one in my home town,” he said.
“For me, one of the best aspects of working in a restaurant is seeing the reaction to my dishes so having an audience watch me cook makes me very happy.
“And, as I spend long hours working in a hot kitchen, the opportunity to cook outdoors in the lovely setting of Arbroath Harbour is a real bonus.”
The demonstration is a Sea Fest return for Jamie, who previously appeared at the event around 10 years ago when he was working at the Colliston Inn, which his parents owned at the time.
“I was 17 or 18 and very nervous so I was delighted when I was asked to come along to Sea Fest and showcase the culinary skills which helped me win MasterChef: The Professionals.”
Jamie revealed he is planning to make a lobster dish during his Sea Fest cookery session.
“I simply want to show people what I do and introduce them to the very good produce available locally.
“Arbroath’s fresh shellfish and fresh fish in general is excellent.
“My grandfather on my mum’s side was an Arbroath fisherman so I like to reflect my fishing heritage in my cooking whenever I can,” continued Jamie, whose Masterchef-winning menu featured savoury doughnuts with an Arbroath smokie filling.
Marco Macari, who is Arbroath Sea Fest committee chairman, told The Courier: “Jamie’s cookery demonstration on the Sunday afternoon is a fantastic addition to our already-packed programme.
“We’re so lucky to have a chef of Jamie’s calibre on our doorstep and even luckier that he’s happy to share a few of his culinary secrets with us.”
Organisers are hoping as many as 25,000 people will flock to this year’s event, which includes a host of maritime-related attractions, music and even a pie-eating contest.