Dorset Chef Russell Brown to Feature in Austrian Culinary Festival

By James Euinton

Russell Brown, of of Sienna in Dorchester is to be the first UK chef to feature in an annual international summer culinary fest in Austria. The Culinary Jakobsweg project is in its 6th summer and this year's event, to be launched at the beginning of July, will be the first to feature a dish by a UK chef.

He said “ I am delighted to have been asked to take part in the Culinary Jakobsweg in the Austrian Tirol. My menus are based on simple dishes using the best regional produce and my wife and I both enjoy walking on the West Country coastal paths and beaches so an event involving regional food and hiking seems a perfect fit!”

Culinary Jakobsweg has become a popular draw for holidaymakers who appreciate great food. The project is led by top Austrian chef Martin Sieberer, who has a restaurant in Ischgl, and is supported by Austrian Chef of the Century Eckard Witzigmann.

In addition to Russell, the three other guest chefs are Alfio Ghezzi from Italy; Dieter Müller from Germany; and Giovani Oosters of Belgium.

Each of the four guest chefs creates a recipe for one of the four main mountain lodges along Jakobsweg and teaches the kitchen staff how to prepare it all summer long for holidaymakers.

Russell, who became the first and only Dorset chef to achieve a Michelin star in 2010, will represent the UK. His full recipe will be cheek of beef braised in beer and onions with whipped potatoes and onions four ways – pickled shallot rings, fried onions, spring onion and sweet onion purée.

Paznaun-Ischgl Tourist Director Andreas Steibl said “We are so pleased to have a UK chef participating in our popular Culinary Jakobsweg this summer. He will add a new dimension to our summer culinary event. We are looking forward to welcoming him and many British holidaymakers."

The dishes will be on the summer menu of each mountain lodge until 21 September. On opening day at the beginning of July, the four guest chefs will hike with holidaymakers up to the Heidelbergerhütte above Ischgl, where they will prepare and serve their dishes to visitors.

For more information on Culinary Jakobsweg, visit www.paznaun-ischgl.com