One of Scotland’s best-known skippers, Jimmy Buchan, is hitting the road this weekend bound for Germany and the “Culinary Olympics”.
Mr Buchan, best known for his starring role in BBC’S Bafta-winning series Trawlermen, is driving from Peterhead to Erfurt to deliver hand-dived scallops, lobster, squid and langoustine to Team GB competitors.
Held every four years in Erfurt, central Germany, the International Culinary Exhibition began in Frankfurt in 1900, launched by Carl Matthaus Banzer who was director of the German Federation of Chefs at the time.
The Culinary Olympics, attended by 45 nations from around the globe, runs from 22-25 October.
With over 40 years’ experience in the fishing industry, Mr Buchan was chosen by the British team to be their official seafood supplier. To give it the ‘Jimmy Buchan touch’, he’s driving to Germany to deliver the catch personally. He’ll be supervising the packing of his scallops at 7am this morning before driving to Newcastle to catch an overnight ferry to Amsterdam. From there is another six-hour drive to Erfurt.
Last night Mr Buchan said: “It’s a fantastic honour to have been chosen by the British team for the Culinary Olympics. This event attracts hundreds of participants from countries around the world so there is no better stage to showcase the very best from Scotland’s seafood larder.
“I’ll be setting off bright and early in the morning to supervise my hand-dived scallops being harvested and packed, before travelling to Newcastle and onto Germany on Sunday. It’s a new challenge for me but I’m always up for new adventures. I’m delighted to have been given this amazing opportunity.”
The cook-off event attracts chefs from around the world who have completed an apprenticeship or culinary training. Participants will compete to create original dishes with judges awarding points based on consistency, preparation and execution and presentation.
“One of the main rules of the competition is that competitor showpiece dishes should only use natural ingredients,” said Mr Buchan. “This is where I come in. Is there anything more natural than fish and seafood pulled straight from Scottish waters and delivered while still alive? Everything I am taking with me has been sourced locally. I’ll leave no stone unturned to ensure I deliver only the very best, with provenance at its core.”
Mr Buchan also intends to spend time with the team so see exactly how his seafood will be cooked and presented.
After spending over 40 years as a fishermen skippering his own vessel Amity, the trawlerman launched his own online business in 2015 called Skipper’s Choice which, sells fish boxes directly to consumer from its base in Peterhead.
