Morton and Lepherd to appear at food festival

BAKER and brewer James Morton and chef Michelle Lepherd are set to appear as headline guests at this year’s Taste of Shetland festival.

The event is due to take place at the Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick between 15-17 September.

Morton, who is originally from Hillswick, rose to fame after finishing as a runner-up on the third series of the Great British Bake Off in 2012.

The medical student then released two books about baking and one about brewing, while he is also working on a new publication about Shetland’s relationship with food.

Morton will speak at the VIP opening of the festival on Friday 15 September before appearing in the food theatre the following day at 11.30am.

He commented: “Shetland produces some of the finest, purest, ingredients as well as some of the tastiest products. It’s fantastic to see how, in the last couple of years particularly, Shetland’s food and drink industry has become more noticed. I cannot wait to attend the festival and help the industry celebrate its success.

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“With the writing and photographing of this new book, I’ve returned and revisited Shetland with a fresh set of eyes. Although I’m home regularly, never have I immersed myself in Shetland’s food and culture in such a way. I’ve been amazed, it’s been amazing. It feels like I’m coming home.”

Lepherd, who is described as “one of the UK’s most interesting chefs”, has worked in a Michelin-starred restaurants.

She started working in E’cco Bistro in Brisbane, which was a regular winner of American Express and Gourmet Traveller awards, before moving to London to join Hammersmith’s River Cafe.

Lepherd has also a head chef at the Refugee Community Kitchen in Calais, making two meals a day for up to 2,200 refugees based at the so-called Calais “jungle” and Dunkirk refugee camps.

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She said: “I’ve worked with produce from all over the world but Shetland’s produce is hard to beat.

“The freshness and quality of the ingredients is exceptional. I can’t wait to both meet the producers behind Shetland’s food and drink industry as well as celebrate Shetland’s fantastic larder.”

Lepherd will hold the first public session in the food theatre at 7.30pm on Friday 15 September before appearing again the following day at 2.30pm.