][1]There is less than a month to go before the Taste of Edinburgh festival rolls into The Meadows and the celebrity chef line-up is firming up nicely.
One of the biggest names to join the pan-rattlers is Loyd Grossman. Way back in the day when John Torode was but a nipper and Greg Wallace’s pudding habit was still at two Spotted Dicks a day, the suave Grossman was the man in charge of the original MasterChef kitchen.
Back then, there was no shouting about ‘cooking doesn’t get tougher than this!’ Instead, Grossman’s catchphrase as he announced the winner was ‘We have deliberated, cogitated and digested and come to our conclusion’. It doesn’t trip off the tongue quite as easily as Wallace’s impassioned plea for a ‘a lovely plate of food’ but the show was rather less whiz bang in those days.
While Loyd is perhaps best known for MasterChef and his branded range of sauces, he is a bit of a Renaissance man. As well as being a respected art historian, he also plays with punk band The Pork Dukes.
Loyd will join the Michelin star talent Jeff Galvin, Gordon Ramsey protégé Jason Atherton and Channel 4 culinary duo, The Fabulous Baker Brothers in the AEG Taste Theatre at the festival.
Scotland’s very own Michael Smith of The Three Chimney’s and the Michelin star Peat Inn’s Geoffrey Smeddle will also make a special appearance and master patissier of Cake Boy, Eric Lanlard will show guests with a sweet tooth how to perfect the art of home baking.
Keep an eye on the 5pm Big Deal page for some ticket deals over the next couple of weeks.
Taste of Edinburgh takes place on The Meadows, 6-8 July.