Showcasing food and drink

Scotland’s national chef Gary Maclean and GlobalScot chef John Higgins have cooked up a range of dishes to showcase Scottish food and drink in Canada.

Featuring a menu designed to highlight the best of Scotland’s larder, guests at the First Minister’s reception in Ottawa had the opportunity to sample Scottish langoustines, smoked salmon, Scotch Beef, haggis and a selection of Scottish cheeses.

Canada is a top 20 export partner for Scotland, with exports of goods and services totaling £580 million in 2017. Food and drink exports accounted for approximately £107 million in 2017 – an increase of 14% on the previous year.

The First Minister said:

“Scottish food and drink is already known and loved around the globe and Canada is an important and growing export market for the sector.

“We want to see exports continue to increase, and the range of creative and delicious dishes from our National Chef Gary Maclean and GlobalScot chef John Higgins served at this reception used some of our best food and drink.

 “I hope this showcase involving Scottish langoustines, smoked salmon, Scotch Beef and cheeses further boosts the reputation of our produce in Canada.”

Gary Maclean said:

“Getting out here and spreading the word about Scottish food is incredible and the really special thing for me is when you work with people who know their food and they’re presented with top Scottish produce and it blows them away. Seeing chefs getting excited about food from my country makes me really proud.”