NEWS RELEASE

14.3.2012 PPA 051

GREAT BRITISH FOOD FESTIVAL

Celebrity British chef to woo Indian palates, hearts and minds by showcasing whats GREAT about British food The British High Commission will be hosting the GREAT British Food Festival with an aim to showcase Britains diverse and delicious food. The festival is a part of the India launch of the GREAT Britain campaign which was announced by the British PM to promote Great Britain as a GREAT place to live, work and play. The British Food Festival will be launched in New Delhi on 17th March with celebrity ChefRob Rees creating a Taste of Britain menu at the India Today Conclave Gala Dinner. Speaking before his visit to India, Chef Rob Rees said: Representing your country in anything is always a privilege and an honour. To do so with food and drink is truly fantastic as food is such a leveller and introduction to cultures around the world. Food in Britain is truly GREAT. From the crabs of Cromer, the Cotswold spring beers of the countryside to the artisan cheeses from the pastures we have an eclectic larder that can inspire the world In Delhi, Chef Rob Rees will host a Taste of Britain menu at the launch of the GREAT campaign at the India Today Conclave Gala Dinner, prepare a Taste of Britain media preview lunch for influential journalists/food critics and host a five-course dinner for corporate clients/ patrons of the Orient Express, the award winning restaurant at Taj Palace, New Delhi, serving contemporary European cuisine. In Hyderabad, Chef Rees will host dinner at the exclusive Business Club - Chambers, Taj Krishna and in Bangalore, Chef Rees will prepare the menu for the Queens Birthday Party at the Taj Westend, Taj Westend is a former British hotel celebrating 125 years this year. Another British gourmet chef Gary Rhodes comes to New Delhi mid-May for a week of exhibition cooking and media appearances. Notes to editor:

About Chef Rob Rees: Rob Rees MBE is one of the UK's leading chefs and consultants dedicated to creating a better food culture for Britain. He balances social aspects of his work with his private interests of consultant, campaigner, demonstrator, food columnist, writer and chef.Rob has actively campaigned on education, health, nutrition, food safety and consumer issues for many years. Amongst Rob's current work he is Board Member of the School Food Trust, Non-Executive Director NHS Gloucestershire, Board Member Visit England and Food Ambassador for Gloucestershire Food Vision. Rob is often featured in local, regional and national media commenting on food-related matters and for many years, in particular with Visit Britain and others, has had a role in promoting the UK and its food culture around the globe. In January 2006, Rob Rees was awarded an MBE for "Services to the Food Industry. THE GREAT CAMPAIGN uses the 2012 Olympic Games, Paralympics and the Queens Diamond Jubilee to showcase Britains capabilities, to enhance our reputation abroad and to maximise the economic potential of the Games. It centres on areas of British excellence focusing on Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Knowledge, Green, Heritage, Sport, Shopping, Music and Countryside. More detail: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/about-uk/GREAT/

Marcus Winsley, Director, Press and Communications British High Commission, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021Tel: 44192100; mail to:Harleen.Sachdeva@fco.gov.uk;Visit us at: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk; Follow us on: http://twitter.com/ukinindia Check out our new Hindi website on http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/hi