Peterhead fishing skipper Jimmy Buchan is toasting a successful trip after three days on a North Sea accommodation rig showcasing some of his catch.
Mr Buchan and Calum Richardson from multi award-winning The Bay Fish and Chips in Stonehaven were on the COSL Rival installation as a guest of caterer ESS Support Services Worldwide
With some help from the ESS catering team, led by executive chef and food operations manager Graham Singer, the pair served up meals for 350 offshore workers as part of a mission to champion Scottish seafood.
Mr Buchan was put through his paces with a full day’s graft as sous chef in the galley kitchen.
He used the opportunity created by his 280-mile round trip from Aberdeen to see at first-hand how the food supply chain works offshore.
This included prepping vegetables, frying cod with Mr Richardson’s batter mix and serving his own langoustine and mackerel to hungry workers. All produce was sourced from Peterhead.
Mr Buchan said: “This visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the amazing seafood on offer in Scotland to a new audience.
“Offshore is a really tough environment, so good healthy food is vital to the wellbeing of the teams onboard.
“Both Calum and I work very closely together, and were really keen to get stuck in with the ESS team and help deliver the first-class service they provide daily to their clients.”
He added: “I’m incredibly passionate about what I do and to be given such an amazing opportunity to showcase and promote the fish and seafood I have caught or selected was too good to miss.
“Even in the difficult climate this sector is experiencing, service and standards remain the highest priority and it’s very encouraging to see the focus being put on the sustainability and provenance of a local supply chain.”
After serving lunch and dinner, Mr Buchan, Mr Richardson and Mr Singer told workers about the importance of a local supply chain and explained how locally caught fish reached their plates.
Mr Buchan, skipper of the Amity II, shot to fame in the BBC’s Trawlermen series. He recently launched an online business, Skipper’s Choice, which sells fish boxes directly to consumers.