TV chef Gregg Wallace has visited Dundee ahead of his appearance at next month’s Flower and Food Festival.
The MasterChef favourite visited iconic city butcher shop Yorkes to help launch a new campaign to promote Scotch Lamb.
Gregg famous for his sweet tooth and love of hearty portions is on a “whistle-stop tour” of the area, which will include linking up with former MasterChef champ, Arbroath’s Jamie Scott.
Although the kitchen king admitted he had known little about Tayside before arriving, he said he has been very impressed by the quality of the area’s farming as well as its food.
Fresh from wrestling a sheep on a local farm a tussle he insists he won Gregg said: “I haven’t seen much of Dundee yet, if I’m honest.
“My first stop is the beautiful butchers shop and, I must say, it’s of serious quality. I’d be very happy if there was one of these round the corner from me.
“I’m on a bit of a whistle-stop tour of Dundee. I’ve learned about the farming. I’m here to talk to the butcher to find out about the cuts and, after this I’m being reunited with a professional former MasterChef winner Jamie to do some cooking.
“We’re taking the whole step-by-step journey of the husbandry of the sheep, the care and welfare of the sheep, as well as different cuts and ways to cook lamb.
“Scotch Lamb has a very good reputation throughout the UK and abroad. This is a beautiful part of the world and there is a serious commitment to providing quality food here. It’s actually taken me by surprise. I had no idea the level of care and welfare taken.”
Carol McLaren from Quality Meats Scotland said she hopes Gregg’s intervention will help boost the popularity of Scotch Lamb among Scots. She said: “Gregg is a huge lamb fan it’s his favourite food. However, he’s never been on a sheep farm in his life.
“To get him on to a farm was a real coup and he’ll take that knowledge with him for the rest of his career.
“Scots don’t eat anywhere near as much lamb as people do south of the border, so we need consumers to know about the quality of Scotch Lamb.”
Dundee City Council environment convener Craig Melville said “I am delighted to welcome Gregg Wallace to Dundee this week, where he will get to sample some excellent food.”