Celebrated Manx chef Colin Clague will be cooking up delights using local produce at this year’s Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival.

The popular festival takes place on 19th and 20th September in the Villa Marina Gardens, Douglas.

Colin, who is from Ballabeg, spent his childhood among the Island’s farming and fishing communities and took an early interest in seasonal dishes and quality local ingredients.

He has worked alongside such well-known names in the restaurant industry as Sir Terence Conran in London and Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton in Singapore and has overseen the operations of Caprice Holdings, a restaurant group in the United Arab Emirates.

He now works as executive chef for multi Michelin-starred chef Jean Georges Vongerichten in Dubai.

He retains his enthusiasm for seasonality and sourcing local produce and recently won Pro Chef Middle East’s prestigious Chefs’ Chef Award for his creative, contemporary approach to traditional Arabian cuisine.

At the festival, Colin will give three cookery demonstrations using local produce and join the panel of judges for the Isle of Man Chef of the Year and Student Chef of the Year competitions as well as meeting Manx food and drink producers who are exhibiting.

Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘Due to the growing interest in locally sourced food, and Tynwald recently approving Food Matters, our strategy to grow the contribution of the food and drink sector to the economy, we are especially looking forward to welcoming Mr Clague home to the Island and showcasing the quality and diversity of Manx products.’

Colin said: ‘I am really looking forward to coming home for the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival and creating some special dishes that have featured in my restaurants around the world with the Island’s fantastic ingredients.’

For more information about the festival, like the Isle of Man Food and Drink page on Facebook, follow @iomfoodanddrink on Twitter or visit www.gov.im/categories/leisure-and-entertainment/manx-food-and-produce/isle-of-man-food-and-drink-festival/  or ww.visitisleofman.com/whatson/festivals/foodanddrinkfestival.xml. 

Photo - Colin Clague.