The efforts of a young chef from the north of Scotland to produce a showstopping meal with Aberdeen-Angus Scotch Beef were rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia.
Hayley Bruce, of McBains Catering, which is based at Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club, has recently returned from Sydney where she spent time doing work experience at Jason Atherton’s Michelin star restaurant Kensington Street Social.
The 21-year-old chef won the opportunity to go on the trip after landing the overall champion prize in last year’s Aberdeen-Angus Scotch Beef Award.
The cooking competition was run by the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to coincide with the World Angus Forum being staged in the UK.
Students were tasked with devising a main-course dish featuring Aberdeen-Angus Scotch Beef as the main ingredient.
“The competition was a fantastic opportunity to reward young talent in the industry and we are ecstatic Hayley enjoyed her time in Australia,” said QMS chief executive Alan Clarke.
“The main ingredient in the competition – Aberdeen-Angus Scotch Beef – has earned a global reputation for quality and we have been delighted to see how enthusiastic young chefs like Hayley are about our top-quality beef.
“The commitment shown by Hayley throughout the competition was inspiring and showcased the very best of Scottish produce. She has, without doubt, a very exciting career ahead of her.”
Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society president and Aberdeenshire farmer Angela McGregor said: “In the summer of 2017, the World Angus Forum attracted delegates from 24 different countries.
“The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society along with QMS were keen to encourage young chefs to use their imagination and skills to develop dishes using Aberdeen-Angus beef to win an experience of a lifetime.”
