Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival Chef Demonstrations champion young talent this year!

Chef demonstrations are an integral part of the annual Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival, which celebrates the rich and diverse food and drink heritage of the Bushmills.

Much loved Celebrity Chefs Paula McIntryre MBE and Gary Stewart traditionally curate a number of cookery demonstrations to showcase their skills and include well-known local Chefs. This year, they have extended their showcase to include young local talent.

Over their impressive careers, Gary Stewart and Paula McIntyre have worked tirelessly to encourage and support young people who are considering a career in Hospitality and Catering. They have championed the need for greater support for young graduates to help them achieve their potential within a challenging industry.

In addition to her many accolades and experiences, Paula has worked at NRC Ballymoney as a Culinary arts tutor to level 3 catering students. Gary has been a long-standing supporter of skills training and development within his successful restaurant, assisting the NRC over the years.

They have consciously highlighted the importance of supporting young people, graduates and students of the NRC and the Building Me programme, a registered charity based in Bushmills Village focused on skills development for young females. Both Gary and Paula are Board members of Building Me. They are keen to highlight the potential of getting young local people involved but, more importantly, enable the limelight to rest on our young people and celebrate their achievements.

Paula McIntyre will be in Sharvagh House on Saturday 7th, October and the Main Cookery Area on Sunday 8th, October, supported by Building Me girls. Tanya McVeigh will be taking the lead. Tanya joined Building Me in 2016 whilst studying at Dunluce School and completed three years at the NRC Ballymoney. She now works full-time at the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre. She finds herself baking and preparing a delicious range of freshly prepared meals for the vast number of daily visitors and travellers from all over the globe.
On Sunday, spectators will have the opportunity to see Tyler Campbell, an enthusiastic and talented young Chef who works at Tartine at Distiller's Arms and a recent graduate of NRC Ballymoney. Tyler is passionate about his work and will demonstrate an impressive dish you want to replicate at home. Creative and inventive, he is an impressive baker with his own following but is working his way up through the ranks at Tartine at Distillers Arms with the full support of Gary, Robbie and the extended team.

You will also meet Kerry Neil, a current NRC student and other young Bushmills local developing skills in this growth industry. Spectators will have the opportunity to hear about the exciting plans the NRC will soon unveil with the redevelopment of the NRC Coleraine and beyond.

The Chef demonstration lineup also includes accomplished Chefs and producers such as Ruaridh Morrison from North Coast Smokehouse, Niall McGinn from Dundarave Estate, Rob Curley from the Slemish Market Supper Club and Craig Garrott from The Atlantic Hotel Portrush. See(bushmillsbanquet.com) for details.