Phil Vickery revealed as Coeliac UK food ambassador

Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with coeliac disease, announced at the Hotelympia event this week that celebrity chef Phil Vickery is their new food ambassador and that he will be judging this year's Gluten-Free Chef of the Year competition.

The competition is launched in association with the Institute of Hospitality and the Craft Guild of Chefs for chefs throughout the UK to design a three course gluten-free meal with a cook-off for the three finalists in each group which will take place at KNORR'S Kitchen Culinary Business Development Centre in Leatherhead in November 2010.

The recipe competition comprises two categories; 'Gluten-free Chef of the Year' and the 'Up and Coming Gluten-free Chef of the Year'.  The Charity is calling on all chefs, from those who are well established to trainees, to design recipes for an innovative three course gluten-free meal.

Phil Vickery has worked with Coeliac UK for the past few years to help raise awareness of the condition and for the need for more catering establishments to offer gluten-free menu options. Last year in association with the Charity he published a best selling cookbook, Seriously Good Gluten-Free Cooking which has sold over 70,000 copies worldwide.

"I am very honoured to accept the role as Coeliac UK's Food Ambassador and to continue to support the work of the Charity.  I'm passionate about improving knowledge in the food industry and the necessity for more gluten-free cooking as more and more people are diagnosed. 

"Since embarking on the cookbook I have learnt so much and it is essential that chefs understand the importance of having gluten-free recipes.  I am therefore delighted to be judging this year's competition and urge chefs of all experience to enter."

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten.

Words: Maria Bracken

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