Celebrity chef Tony Singh will be ‘cooking up a storm’ at Taste North 2024

Tony Singh with the 2018 Taste North Challenge overall winner, Annie Mills (centre), and Trudy Morris of Caithness Chamber of Commerce.

Celebrity chef Tony Singh is looking forward to savouring the “amazing local produce” of Caithness and Sutherland and meeting some of the people behind it as he returns to the annual Taste North festival.

The 53-year-old starred at the 2018 event in John O’Groats and says he can’t wait to come back for Taste North 2024 at Wick High School on Sunday, November 3.

The festival attracted more than 1700 visitors last year and has been shortlisted in this year’s Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards. It will have a large exhibitor marketplace as well as family-friendly activities, the Taste North Challenge and cookery demonstrations.

Taste North attracted more than 1700 visitors last November. Picture: Alan Hendry

Tony said: “I can’t wait to be back at Taste North again this year. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into all the amazing local produce, meeting some of the incredible people behind it and, of course, cooking up a storm at the cookery theatre.

“It’s going to be a brilliant day out, so make sure you come along, have a nibble, and say hello.”

A second-generation Sikh, Tony was born and raised in Leith and learned at his mother’s knee the cookery skills that would see him create a unique fusion of Scottish and Asian flavours.

He is a firm favourite on television, starring in BBC programmes A Cook Abroad: Tony Singh’s India and The Incredible Spice Men, with Cyrus Todiwala.

Tony also makes regular appearances on cookery shows such as The Great British Menu, Saturday Kitchen and Ready Steady Cook. In 2016 he was awarded an MBE for services to the food and drink industry.

Tony Singh at John O’Groats in 2018. He is looking forward to Taste North 2024, this time in Wick. Picture: Alan Hendry

Ellie Lamont, chairperson of Venture North and owner of Mackays Hotel in Wick, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Tony Singh back to Taste North and we’re looking forward to enjoying his infectious sense of humour and culinary passion.

“We can’t wait to show him the vast array of produce we have at Taste North 2024. It’s a great gathering for people to come along and shop to their heart’s content.”

Taste North is organised by Venture North, the destination management organisation for Caithness and Sutherland, and provides a pre-Christmas opportunity for visitors to enjoy the wealth of Highland food and drink with a strong “support local” ethos.

Taste North is supported by RWE Camster Wind Farm Community Fund, Stroupster Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and RWE Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Community Fund (Latheron, Lybster and Clyth), all administered by Foundation Scotland. Sponsors are Developing the Young Workforce North Highland, Dunrobin Castle and Mackays Hotel, Wick.

More information on Taste North, including confirmed exhibitors, can be seen at www.venture north.co.uk/taste-north

Speaking in John O’Groats during his last Taste North appearance, Tony said: “It’s fantastic â€" it’s Highland hospitality at its best. It has been awesome.

“In Scotland we’ve got an amazing larder that is applauded around the world and the stuff up here is wonderful. We are surrounded by amazing food and we need to get people back into just talking about it.”

Tony Singh during one of his masterclasses at Taste North 2018, assisted by Rhiannon Mackay from Thurso who was 14 at the time. Picture: Alan Hendry Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.