Carnegie Club chef Eddie Brown crowned 2022 Andrew Fairlie scholar

Eddie Brown, sous chef at the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle in Dornoch, has been crowned winner of this year’s Andrew Fairlie Scholarship.

The final was held on 17 November at Perth College UHI and the winner was announced afterwards at Gleneagles.

Brown impressed the judges with his dish of rabbit, fig and brioche. As part of the skills test, contestants had been asked to cook a choice of Scottish furred game, alongside two garnishes and poivrade sauce.

He will gain industry-wide recognition as an Andrew Fairlie scholar as well as experience in Michelin-starred restaurants such as Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles and Core by Clare Smyth in London.

The Andrew Fairlie Scholarship, which is in its third year, is sponsored by HIT Scotland and the Gleneagles Hotel. It is also supported by Perth College UHI and Restaurant Andrew Fairlie.

The judging panel included Stephen McLaughlin, head chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Russell Plowman, senior sous chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, MasterChef: The Professionals winner Gary Maclean and Tom Kerridge.

McLaughlin said: “This year’s winner, Eddie, has shown great skill and a real understanding of the tasks that we had set out for them. He has displayed a rich understanding of their craft as a chef and also used their knowledge of Scottish and French culinary heritage to help set them apart as this year’s recipient of the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship”.

David Cochrane, chief executive of HIT Scotland, added: “This group of chefs all showed extraordinary dedication and passion for the task at hand, and I commend them all for their sterling efforts in the kitchen. Special congratulations must of course go to our winner Eddie, who has excelled in their culinary talents and displayed a creative flair that Andrew would have been proud of.”