Why is she the UK’s No 1 chef? Because her food is absolutely amazing: Lorna McNee on Clare Smyth

They are women who have enjoyed a landmark 12 months that has helped shape Scotland and the world.

We asked our women of the year to name theirs.

Lorna McNee had a spectacular year after being appointed head chef of Glasgow restaurant Cail Bruich in August 2020. Five months later, in January 2021, it won a Michelin Star – the city’s first in 18 years.

She is the only female chef in Scotland who currently holds a star and was named “champion of champions” on BBC’s Great British Menu in 2019 but, she says, her inspiration, and woman of the year, is Clare Smyth, the first British woman to win three Michelin Stars.

McNee, 34, said: “She’s a pretty big name in cheffing and her food is absolutely amazing, so I’d have to nominate her as my woman of the year in the industry.

“She’s got to be the No 1 chef in the country at the moment, she’s won three Michelin stars, which is absolutely incredible, and is definitely deserving of so much praise and admiration.

“She is the first and only British female chef to hold three Michelin stars in the UK as well as being awarded the title of World’s Best Female Chef in 2018, while also being appointed MBE for services to the hospitality industry.”

McNee had an honourable mention for rising star Chloe Oswald who opened Chocolatia, an artisan chocolate shop which draws on ingredients from Perthshire, after being furloughed from her position at the Gleneagles Hotel.

McNee enthused: “She’s done amazingly as a chocolatier and has opened her own unit.

“She is doing so well in the chocolatier world, making amazing creations and is definitely one to watch.”