BBC2 Great British Menu winner Durrant will use the role to raise awareness of the food and drink on offer in the county and encourage food tourism.
He said: “Hampshire’s a great place to escape to, especially for people living in London. It’s got the slower pace of life you’d want for your down time, but also really good quality places to eat and stay.”
You can find James Durrant’s recipe for roast calves liver here
Duties
Durrant’s first job in the role will be to host an exclusive London dinner for food and lifestyle journalists showcasing the region’s food, cooking a menu using Hampshire produce alongside three other chefs; Luke Holder of Lime Wood, New Forest, Andres Alemany of the Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover and David Wykes of Verveine, Milford-on-sea.
He is also set to take part in Visit Hampshire’s Great Hampshire People campaign, aimed at celebrating well-known figures from the county.
Ploughing away
The Plough Inn came forth in this year’s Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropubs, simultaneously being named highest climber, having risen from position 29 in 2014’s awards.
The pub was also listed amongst The Observer’s 40 Best Restaurant in Britain, which was chosen by the country’s top chefs.
The Plough Inn was nominated by Emily Watkins, chef proprietor of the Kingham Plough, Oxfordshire, who called Durrant's food “interesting, up to date and beautifully executed”.
