Masterchef contestant returns to Banbury for town's food fair

Banbury Food Fair 2015. Pictured, dried chillies NNL-151008-100729009

Andrew Scott was raised in Banbury and his love of cooking was nurtured by his parents.

At the age of 13, he won his first cookery competition and was offered a job washing up at Whately Hall.

When he was 16, he enrolled for a three-year hospitality and catering course at North Oxfordshire Catering College, continuing to work part-time at the hotel.

His training took him to Mallory Court, in Warwickshire, under Simon Haig, where he was an apprentice for four years. He later returned as head chef after working for Simon Rogan at L’Enclume in Cumbria.

Now he runs Restaurant 56, in Faringdon as executive head chef. He has also appeared in Masterchef The Professionals and is to be a contestant on the Great British Menu.

He will be demonstrating two dishes at the food fair with his sous chef Nick Bennett.

He said: “My parents encouraged my interest in cooking. I am therefore particularly looking forward to them being in the audience as Nick and I demonstrate how to prepare tuna tartare with mint, apple and broad beans and duck breast with orange, chicory and candied walnuts.

“We are both looking forward to meeting and talking to people from Banbury and having the chance to look around the 100-plus stalls to sample and buy the best food and drink produced locally.”

The food fair runs from 10am to 4.30pm and includes the Banbury Flower and Produce Show.

Demonstrations will be held in the town hall.

Mr Scott and Mr Bennett will be joining Jean-Christophe Novelli at the fair, which will celebrate locally produced food and drink.

The food fair is also fully licensed and there will be hot and cold food to eat on site as well as food to take away including fresh meat, cheeses, bread, cakes and preserves.

The show is sponsored by former Banbury businesswoman, councillor and mayor Rosemarie Higham.

The show is in its 10th year. Banbury Town Council will run a free park and ride between Cherwell District Council’s offices in Bodicote to the town’s bus station.