'MacChef' Gary Maclean, centre, joins SSC employees from Portavadie on his recent trip. Photo: SSC

Scottish Salmon Company nets MasterChef champ

The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) has announced MasterChef: The Professionals champion and Scotland’s first national chef, Gary Maclean, as a food ambassador.

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SSC says Maclean, who has taught at City of Glasgow College for more than 17 years, and is known as ‘MacChef’ to his students, will champion the company's values of pride, passion and provenance and its focus on health and wellbeing.

New SSC food ambassador Gary Maclean creates a dish using Scottish salmon. Photo: SSC

The company has a long-standing relationship with Maclean, having previously worked on recipe development alongside other staff and students at City of Glasgow College. In his new role with SSC, Maclean will continue creating new recipes using fresh Scottish salmon, as well as educating and inspiring fellow chefs and people across Scotland to use salmon when cooking.

'Exciting new recipes'

All of the recipes created with the MasterChef winner, plus nutrition and cooking tips, will be available on the SSC website.

Maclean said: “As a chef born and bred in Scotland, it is fantastic to be working with the Scottish Salmon Company. I’m passionate about cooking with local produce from the great Scottish larder, especially salmon, and I’m looking forward to developing some exciting new recipes.

“I had a great time visiting the Portavadie marine site and Cairndow processing plant [both at Loch Fyne] where I was able to talk to the teams who play such a big part in bringing the salmon from sea to plate. It’s going to be a very interesting 12 months ahead and as a teacher I am sure my students will be excited to learn more about my experience working with SSC.”

Asset to the brand

SSC chief executive Craig Anderson said: “It is great to have Gary on board as our new food ambassador. His passion for quality and provenance perfectly mirrors our core values and we are excited to be working closely with him.

“Gary will be a valuable asset to our brand. He is committed to health and wellbeing and education and we are looking forward to developing our partnership and showcasing the quality of Scottish salmon.”

See a video of Maclean's visit to Portavadie and Cairndow below.

https://youtu.be/crKK8g9EIWU