Bakers urged to showcase their talents in Taste North Challenge
Keen bakers of all ages are being invited to take part in the 2023 Taste North Challenge – a regional culinary competition that celebrates the use of ingredients produced in Caithness and Sutherland.
It is held as part of the annual Taste North food and drink festival.
Last year’s Taste North Challenge winners were Iona Simpson, in the youth category, and Anne Campbell in the open section. Iona used Ice and Fire Distillery’s Caithness Raiders Dark Rum in her Tropic of the North cake, while Anne opted for Old Pulteney whisky in her twist on millionaire's shortbread.
This year, the challenge has three entry categories – 15 and under, 16-24 and open. Each entry should be an innovative new baking product which must contain a “hero” ingredient from Caithness or Sutherland.
A £50 Taste North voucher prize and trophy will be awarded to each category winner.
The Taste North Challenge is sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce North Highland and Mackays Hotel, Wick.
Ellie Lamont, owner of Mackays Hotel and chairperson of Venture North, said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our sponsorship of the Taste North Challenge, an exciting culinary competition aimed at all age ranges.
"Our hotel is committed to the use of local ingredients in our dishes and it’s inspiring to see how the competitors incorporate local ingredients into their recipes. We hope to encourage more people into the industry through the competition and I can’t wait to see, and taste, this year’s entries.”
This year’s Taste North festival takes place on Sunday, November 5, from 11am to 4.30pm, at East Caithness Community Facility in Wick. Along with food, drink and craft exhibitors from Caithness, Sutherland and the wider Highlands there will be a programme of food and drink demonstrations throughout the day along with the opportunity for the public to view and taste the Taste North Challenge entries.
More than 1400 visitors attended Taste North 2022 and there were 37 exhibitors as the festival returned for the first time since 2019.
Cathy Earnshaw, destination strategy manager for Venture North, said: “Taste North provides a perfect reason to visit the area at a quieter time of year and hits the prime pre-Christmas sales season where locals and visitors can 'love local, shop local' and enjoy the most delicious local food and drink.
"This, combined with other events such as the very popular Dornoch Whisky Festival [October 27-29], contributes to a more sustainable and responsible tourism offer by spreading visitors throughout the year, bringing economic benefit to our regional producers and encouraging a circular economy and climate action by shopping and producing locally.”
Taste North Challenge entry forms can be accessed from www.venture-north.co.uk/taste-north and must be returned to tastenorth@btinternet.com before Friday, October 27, with baked entries brought to Taste North before midday on Sunday, November 5.
