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Appetite for Homecoming
03/03/2009
Top Scottish Chefs will be on hand at a number of key Homecoming events to demonstrate how best local, fresh and seasonal Scottish produce can be enjoyed thanks to £10,000 Scottish Government funding.
The First Minister Alex Salmond was speaking at the Scottish Hospitality (ScotHot) trade exhibition in Glasgow, where he met the Scottish Culinary Team who have agreed to lend their expertise to the initiative.
The First Minister also revealed that Homecomers will be able to enjoy high quality Scottish produce at Homecoming events throughout 2009 thanks to the production of a practical sourcing guide to be published later this month, supported by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise with funding of £7,500.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"Scotland's Year of Homecoming offers new and exciting opportunities to develop Scotland's world-class reputation for quality produce. As the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, 2009 has created a huge appetite for Scotland and today's announcement should help give all of our visitors a true taste of what makes us special.
"Our ever expanding programme of Homecoming events is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Scottish produce in the context of celebration and culture. And the Homecoming visitor boost is a key aspect of the Scottish Government's six-point economic recovery plan.
"This week is Scottish Tourism Week, and the significance of this opportunity could not be clearer.
"With professional chefs to help inspire people to try new things and improve access to quality Scottish produce, I have no doubt that everyone who visits in 2009 will find a new dimension to their love of Scotland."
ScotHot is a biennial trade exhibition for the hospitality sector. In 2007 the event was attended by 8,852 people working in hospitality around the world.
The Scottish Government will provide £10,000 to the Federation of Chefs Scotland to assist in the delivery of Homecoming events in Scotland.
The practical guide for Homecoming event managers is being supported by Scottish Government funding of £4,500 and Scottish Enterprise funding of £3,000 - bringing the total cost to £7,500.