Ramsey chef is set to feature on Countryfile show

‘Someone called to ask if I’d be free to film a cookery demonstration the next week,’ said John, chef at Harbour Lights. ‘I thought it was someone from another restaurant winding me up!’

As it turned out, the request was genuine, and Countryfile crew and presenters Julia Bradbury and John Craven made the journey to the island to film the hour-long Manx-themed episode, to be screened on BBC1 on Sunday at 6pm.

Among other features is an afternoon on Garwick beach with chef John.

‘They were hoping to get out on a queenie boat, but it was a bit rough,’ explained John.

‘It went very well, though it was pouring down which meant instead of doing it all outdoors we had to film it half inside of the boat house.’

John came onto the BBC’s radar as a chef who champions local produce, and brought him a handful of ingredients to work from.

‘I used Greeba portobello mushrooms with wild garlic and queenies, which they supplied,’ he said. ‘Though I brought some Staarvey Farm herbs and Ellerslie Farm rapeseed oil with me.’

And aside from the chance of some television exposure for his cooking skills and for Manx produce, filming for Countryfile was also the chance to meet childhood Newsround anchor John Craven.

‘He was quite cool actually!’ laughed John.

The Ramsey man was winner of the first ever professional I Love Manx Chef of the Year title, and is a hearty supporter of Manx produce.

He estimates he orders around 1,000 lbs of Manx carrots, 300 cabbages, 12,500 eggs and 150 pork loins each year, in addition to the beef, lamb, cream, milk, bread and queenies that are all locally produced.

‘I try and do a lot to promote the island and Manx food produce, on trips to events in the UK and Ireland,’ said John.

Article by IoMtoday and can be found here