More than 150 of the finest chefs, restaurateurs and food producers in Britain were today being honoured at a reception at Number 10 Downing Street.
Number 10 was hosting the cream of the UK’s hospitality industry to launch Food is GREAT, a key part of Visit Britain’s GREAT Britain campaign. The event, in association with the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), featured a delegation from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, including Ferran Adria of El Bulli, Ignatius Chan from Iggy’s in Singapore and Thomas Keller of The French Laundry and Per Se, who along with over 50 leading chefs from across the globe are in London for these prestigious annual awards this evening.
The guests were invited as they represent the very essence of British food and play a key part in attracting tourists and businesses to Britain. Six of the country’s most celebrated chefs: Raymond Blanc, Brett Graham, Ruth Rogers, Atul Kochar, Angela Hartnett and Fergus Henderson, appeared in a short film that was shown at the reception and will be used as part of the campaign to promote British restaurants around the world.
Between them, the six chefs listed roast chicken, Stilton, Roe deer, Cornish pasties, crumble and smoked salmon, as some of their favourite British foods.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I am hugely proud of Britain’s food industry and we’re launching food is GREAT to showcase what we have to offer. Our farmers produce some of the best quality food anywhere in the world with high welfare standards and excellent local produce. We’ve produced exceptional British chefs and attracted incredible talent from overseas and as a result you can find outstanding cuisine throughout the country. From sticky toffee pudding from Cartmel, to oysters from Whitstable, salt marsh lamb from North Wales, or smoked salmon from Scotland, our food is key to our cultural identity. British food showcases our heritage, openness, creativity and diversity.”
The event was being catered by Brett Graham, chef patron of SRA member and two-Michelin-starred London restaurant The Ledbury.
He said: “People returning to Britain from living abroad or coming here on holidays have seen a massive change in cuisine offered in Britain, the type of food offered in restaurants, and seem genuinely surprised.”
Raymond Blanc, of Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, said: “London is one of the great gastronomic cities, not just in Europe, but in the world. Food was separated from life but now it is part of our consciousness. British chefs know where their food comes from and so does the consumer.”
The SRA was delighted to work with Number 10 to assemble so many leading lights in the hospitality industry to celebrate GREAT British food.
Mark Linehan managing director of the SRA said: “Food is Great and the Sustainable Restaurant Association share a common goal: to promote the excellence of British restaurants and British food. What better way of championing the very best in the industry than bringing them together at Number Ten.
“The SRA is helping restaurants across the UK match diners’ values by serving high quality, high welfare, locally sourced food, making UK restaurants global leaders in sustainability.”
The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) is a membership organisation helping 1,000 UK restaurants become more sustainable and diners make more sustainable choices when eating out.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna is organised by Restaurant magazine. The announcement of the List will be made at an invitation only event at The Guildhall. www.theworlds50best.com.
The GREAT initiative is an international campaign to maximise the tourism and business opportunities of the UK hosting the 2012 Games