Scottish Budding Chefs return from France

Six young Scottish chefs headed to France last month for the Budding Chefs exchange programme. They were joined by executive chef, Craig Sandle of caledonian hotel The Pompadour by Galvin and Galvin Brasserie de Luxe at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh. They have now returned from their week-long trip exploring the cuisine of Paris and Brittany.

The Budding Chefs were Emma Mills (Cannonball), Lucy Evans (The Bon Vivant), Kacper Krawczyk (Scran & Scallie), Miquel Salom (Ondine), Rafal Reda and Scot Hendry (Monachyle Mhor Hotel).

“We visited some amazing places, producers and were met with the friendliest welcomes," explained their mentor Craig Sandle. "We got to go behind the scenes at the farms and restaurants where they showed such passion about their products. The French know how to eat and drink, that is for sure!”

Their trip began in Paris, where they toured the Rungis Wholesale Food Market, the largest of its kind in the world. The followed this with a visit to the wine bistro Juveniles, owned by Tom Johnston, a Scotsman himself, to launch the Year of Food and Drink Scotland 2015, in conjunction with VisitScotland. Their final stop in the capital was Le Taxi Jaune, where they enjoyed a 100% horse meat menu prepared by chef Otis Lebert.

Budding Chef Emma Mills was not entirely convinced on the ‘100%’ part. She said: “I was not so sure on the brain; I don’t think I will be putting that specific part on the menu here at Cannonball!’

Moving on to Brittany next, the chefs visited a number of producers and farms to gain an overview of the local larder, including oyster farm Les Huitres de Celine (Cancale), Bouchot mussels in Le Vivier-sur-mer and poultry farm La Pommerais  near Dinard. Other highlights included Breton establishments such as Olivier Roellinger’s restaurant Le Coquillage in Cancale, the 5-star hotel Grand Hotel des Thermes and Pascal Pochon’s chocolate laboratory in Saint Malo.

On their last day, the Budding Chefs toured the second largest farmer’s market in France, the Marché des Lices in Rennes, where they took up the ‘back from the market’ challenge. In this, they were required to buy products from the market within a limited budget and cook a Saturday lunch for themselves and their hosts in a family house.

Emma said she was “honoured” to have taken part in the experience. She said:“I would highly recommend this trip to any budding chef out there.”

The next Budding Chefs trip will take place in March 2015, when the French chefs from the Breton establishments will be travelling to Scotland.

Click here for more details, or check out their twitter: @BuddingChefs