HIGHLAND PARK DEBUTS WITH SLOW FOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 

Highland Park single malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, and Slow Food UK, are set to introduce an innovative new award, the Slow Food Restaurant of the Year Award, at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. Organised by Restaurant magazine, the celebrations will take place in London’s Guildhall on 30 April.

Reinforcing its credentials in the food arena, Highland Park will sponsor the Award at this prestigious event. 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the awards ceremony – a globally recognised and respected reference point which showcases the leading trends and the very best of global dining. This new award, judged by Slow Food UK, Restaurant magazine, Highland Park and renowned food critic Matthew Fort, will go to the restaurant within the World’s 50 Best that creates pleasurable food with an outstanding commitment to community and the environment.

With shared beliefs and values, promoting a passion for flavour and craftsmanship, Highland Park and Slow Food UK established a dynamic new initiative, the Slow Food Chef Alliance, and the new award is a natural progression for the partners. Going from strength to strength, the Slow Food UK Chef Alliance, supported by Highland Park, is engaging with chefs in actively supporting Slow Food UK, by championing small scale producers and sustainably sourced, quality produce. 

Peter Sandstrom, marketing director, Maxxium commented: “We are extremely excited about our involvement with The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and this annual gathering of the world’s culinary greats.  It’s fantastic to be bringing a different dimension to this year’s celebrations with the new award, in partnership with our friends at Slow Food UK.  I look forward to presenting the award on the night with great anticipation.”

Catherine Gazzoli, Slow Food UK CEO, commented: “It’s a great opportunity for us to encourage and fully acknowledge the importance that many chefs are attaching to offering their diners an authentic and involving experience.

“The award will also highlight our plight to save edible biodiversity; honouring those chefs who have demonstrated a willingness to use and promote Ark produce, a catalogue of forgotten foods which will disappear if chefs and others fail to use them.”   

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 800 international restaurant industry experts and is a credible indicator of the best places to eat around the globe. Last year’s best restaurant winner was top Danish restaurant Noma, known for its dedication to foraging. The shortlist and winners of the Highland Park Slow Food Restaurant of the Year Award will be revealed on the night in front of some of the world’s top culinary masters.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Highland Park and Slow Food UK on this new initiative,” says William Drew, editor of Restaurant magazine. “Now feels like the perfect time to highlight and reward those restaurants within the World’s 50 Best list that best reflect notions of locality, heritage, sustainability and the revival of forgotten foods. One deserving restaurant will emerge with the coveted new title of Highland Park Slow Food Restaurant of the Year on April 30.” 

Notes:

http://www.highlandpark.co.uk/ 

Highland Park:

Five keystones contribute to making the Best Spirit in the World:

• Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Cask harmonisation ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky. 

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world.  For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection.   Its core range of 12, 18, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malt is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts. 

Slow Food UK:

In the fast modern junk food environment, Slow Food, a non-profit organisation, is the voice of calm reason and quality. We work to promote the greater enjoyment of food through a better understanding of its taste, quality and production, Working with local member groups across the country, our network of chefs and artisan producers, we deliver educational projects and events to reconnect people with where their food comes from, how and where it is produced and the implications of the choices we make on the environment, biodiversity and our own health. 

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants:

Restaurant magazine is the UK’s leading publication for restaurateurs and chefs, and has been publishing The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2002 and the Awards since 2003. Restaurant magazine is solely responsible for organising the awards, collating the votes and producing the list.

S.Pellegrino and Aqua Panna are main sponsors of the awards. S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being.

The results and the awards are staged and published by Restaurant magazine in the UK.

•  S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors, but do not have any involvement with the results or awards and their compilation. Neither do any other commercial partners.
• Restaurant magazine has no influence whatsoever on the results.

Sponsors:

Acqua Panna & S.Pellegrino – Main event sponsors, official water suppliers, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ sponsor, ‘The Highest New Entry Award’ sponsor

Veuve Clicquot – ‘World’s Best Female Chef’ sponsor and official Champagne supplier

Lavazza – ‘Slow Food Reception’ sponsor and official coffee supplier

Birra Moretti – Official beer supplier

Silestone – ‘Chefs’ Choice Award’ sponsor and official quartz work surface supplier

Cacao Barry – ‘Highest Climber Award’ sponsor and official chocolate supplier

Highland Park – ‘Slow Food Award’ sponsor and official whisky supplier

Les Concierges – ‘The One to Watch Award’ sponsor and official concierge services supplier

Action Against Hunger – Official Charity Partner 

For more information about 50 Best Restaurants of the World please visit: http://www.theworlds50best.com/