People from across the north east have been flocking to take part in a one-off cookery course with some of the UK’s culinary greats.
The Five Star Chef Week will be held at the Nick Nairn School at Port of Menteith, near Stirling, from November 23-28.
Scotland’s only two-Michelin Star chef, Andrew Fairlie, will lead a course in modern cooking techniques, including how to prepare smoked Johnshaven lobster and Perthshire grouse.
Scottish seafood specialist, Roy Brett, will share some expert tips on fish and shellfish, while Northern Irish chef, Paul Rankin, will be teaching fusion cuisine.
Former Ready, Steady, Cook star Phil Vickery will also spend a day focusing on pork.
So far, almost three-quarters of those who have signed up are from the north east.
Mr Nairn, who opened a second cook school in Aberdeen and now runs a restaurant in the city too, said he was thrilled by the response.
“My brother still lives on the estate and we have 20 letting cabins here, so one night we came up with a plan to have an all-singing-all-dancing week with the best chefs in Scotland,” he said.
“We have had a huge amount of interest in it, it’s just under half full and about 70% of the people are from the north-east.
“This is an absolutely one-off, bespoke event, but it is something we want to do more of in the future.
“This will be cooking at the highest level – not learning to fry a steak, but proper Michelin Star-end cooking.
“I’m hoping the people who come along will look back on the week with nostalgia and fondness.”
More information can be found at
http://www.nicknairncookschool.com/5-starchefweek/Cost/
and places can be booked by calling 01877 389 900.
The Aberdeen cook school opened in 2012 following a £500,000 makeover of the former St Nicholas Kirk hall in Back Wynd.