Page 5 - Essentially Catering Issue 85

Essentially Catering Magazine - January 2019

Industry News

Food festival raises

more than £250k

for charity

Signature, Scotland’s only fine dining festival - that was held at The
Chester Hotel in Aberdeen - has raised more than a quarter of a million
pounds for charity, more than doubling the amount raised at the 2017
event. A total of £239,000 will be donated to the Friends of the Neo Glynn Purnell
Natal Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and £12,000 was also raised
for Friendly Access, a charity that supports those living with hidden
disabilities. The sale of a guitar signed by more than 30 Scottish
celebrities including Sir Andy Murray, Ewan McGregor, Sir Chris Hoy
and Sir Alex Ferguson was split equally between the two charities.
Seven of the UK’s best-known chefs including Glynn Purnell, known as
the Yummy Brummie, Atul Kochhar the first Indian chef to be awarded a
Michelin star and Martin Wishart took part in the event.
The Yummy Brummie Glynn Purnell - a Saturday Kitchen regular and
winner on the Great British menu commented: “An event like Signature,
where all the money goes to the Neo Natal Unit is fantastic. For the owners
of the hotel, Graham and Gillian Wood, to put on such a great event, not
just for fun and great food, but also to raise serious amounts of money for a
serious cause, is terrific.” Atul Kochhar
Winners of 2018 FreeFrom

Eating Out Awards announced

This year’s winner of the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards has been
announced as The Willow in Kingston on Thames, Surrey.
The Willow was described by the judges as: “An allergy-free
heaven. A jewel in Kingston – we don’t know of any other restaurants
quite like this. High quality, nutrition-focused food that tastes
amazing and yet caters for so many diets - plus 11 gluten free beers!’
Runners up included Café Nouveau in Somerset, Indigo at One
Aldwych in London’s Covent Garden, Leadbelly’s Kitchen and Bar
in London’s Docklands, Totties Garden Centre in Holmfirth near
Huddersfield and Knife and Fork in Banbury.
“The overall standard of entries this year was extraordinarily high.
It appears that if an eaterie decides to go ‘freefrom’ they do it 110%
and nothing is too much trouble to ensure that their food-sensitive
guests are not only kept safe, but have a really enjoyable eating
experience,” said Awards Director, Michelle Berriedale-Johnson. Gale Zappacosta and Ped Millichamp of The Willow
receiving their award from awards director, Michelle
Full details of all 2018 winners can be found on the Berriedale-Johnson
awards website.

Email: editor@essentiallycatering.co.uk • www.essentiallycatering.co.uk 5