Salmon, langoustine, fudge and vegetables provided by Highlands and Islands food producers Wester Ross Fisheries, the fishing vessels Mara Cestina and Replenish, the Isle of Skye Fudge Company and Williamson Foodservice feature on the tantalising menu for the Williamson Foodservice Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards ceremony dinner taking place on 23 October 2009.  

The top quality produce from the Highlands and Islands will be enjoyed by over 250 diners at the Awards dinner, including Mr Richard Lochhead, MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, as they gather to hear which of the 35 shortlisted businesses and individuals from throughout the area will be named as winners in the ten categories of this year’s Awards. Particularly exciting is the new Award for the Young Ambassador of the Year, giving an opportunity for young talent in the food and drink industry of the Highlands and Islands to be recognised.

Guests at the Awards dinner will be entertained by Albert Roux, OBE and Maître Cuisinier de France. World-class chef Mr Roux opened his first Scottish restaurant, Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve, in Inverness earlier this year. Mr Roux recently declared the Highlands, with its abundant quality local produce, as his new passion.

Albert Roux said: “I fell in love with this wonderful area and its natural abundance of superb quality local produce.  That’s why I chose Inverness as the location for my first Scottish restaurant, Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve, and it is why it’s such a pleasure to be involved in the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards. 
“At Chez Roux we believe in instilling our passion for food and cooking into the next generation of gourmets and chefs so that youngsters truly appreciate the rich and diverse range of ingredients on their doorstep. So I am particularly pleased to see one of this year’s new awards, Young Ambassador of the Year, acknowledging the important role of young people in the industry.”

Celebrating excellence and achievement in the industry, the Awards are sponsored by Williamson Foodservice, organised by the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum, and supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scotland Food & Drink. The Awards Dinner will be held at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, and tickets are available online by visiting www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com or by telephoning 0845 838 2748.

Hazel Gordon, chairman of the Highland & Islands Food & Drink Forum, said: “We are delighted to have been able to accept the generous donations of salmon, langoustine, vegetables and fudge from the Wester Ross Fisheries, Williamson Foodservice, Isle of Skye Fudge Company and the fishing vessels Mara Cestina and Replenish, to contribute to the menu of the Awards dinner. These companies are excellent examples of the top quality produce and high standards the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum aims to encourage through the Awards.”