A food and drink festival which showcased over 45 businesses over three days has been hailed a huge success with hundreds of visitors attending the event.
And as part of Taste of Nairn, a new World Tattie Scone Champion has been crowned and a winner chosen of a Showstopper Cake contest.
Taste of Nairn, organised by Nairn Connects BID, took place in the coastal town over three days between 6-8 May.
Businesses and organisations throughout the town and beyond rallied together to create the festival which is now in its second year.
Taste of Nairn featured over 18 individual events including boozy brunches, foraging along the river, meet the brewer, appearances from characters from Charlie and the Chocolate factory and Alice in Wonderland and numerous restaurants created special menus and events.
Non-food retailers also got on board with many offering customer discounts over the course of the weekend.
Events were held in locations throughout the town and on Saturday and Sunday, Nairn Community and Arts Centre was the venue for an Artisan Market featuring stalls and food and drink demonstrations.
On Saturday, the World Tattie Scone Contest was held. Donna Cunningham beat off stiff competition from over 20 other contestants including Widow Twanky and Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
But it was her maple syrup and bacon tattie sone that impressed the judges, STV’s Nicola McAlley, Nairn BID manager Lucy Harding and Vicky Farquhar from Oakwood Cookery School.
Donna, a 55-year-old student from Elgin College UHI’s Hospitality and Tourism Academy said: “I am just delighted that everyone enjoyed them. I have been practicing. My son-in-law Luke will eat anything, so I was trying out different recipes on him. What was important in my recipe was the quality of the bacon. I used the finest smoked loin. I love pancakes with maple syrup and bacon so that was my inspiration.”
Elaine Sutherland, of Oakwood Cookery School who sponsored and organised the contest said: “It’s great to see the World Tattie Scone Contest back and with some very quirky entrants, but Donna really impressed the judges not just with the balance of flavours but with the texture and quality of her tatties scone.”
On Sunday, a new event for Taste of Nairn took place, the Showstopper Cake Contest. Amateur bakers were asked to create cakes with a Nairn theme.
Eleven cakes were presented for the competition sponsored by Lifestyle Magazine.
However, it was Kristin Edward in the adult category and duo Molly Grant and Kayleigh Taylor (both eight-years-old) in the children’s category who took home their star baker aprons and other prizes, including Highland gift cards, which can be spent in over 30 outlets in Nairn.
Rhona Patterson editor of Lifestyle Magazine said: “The standard in both categories was amazing, in both design and quality, particularly in the kids’ category. Everyone should be very proud oof themselves.”
Speaking about the event overall, Lucy Harding, Nairn BID manager said she was delighted with the turnout: “We have had a fabulous weekend not just at the Artisan Market but at other events across the town. Two events that we know of, sold out very quickly and other premises, we are told have been busy.”
For a second time of running this event, Nairn BID is very pleased with how it has gone. It is also our first big event since Covid, but it was busy and Taste of Nairn seems to have brought people out and about into the town. The team has spoken to a number of people who attended and it was great to hear from locals, but also people who have travelled from other towns across the Highlands and Moray to enjoy what was on offer. It’s been a great success!
Cover photo: Showstopper Cake Winner Adult. From Left: Tracy Cameron from Scotland Food and Drink, Showstopper Cake Winner Kristin Edward with her daughter Hannah, and contest sponsor, Rhona Patterson from Lifestyle Magazine.
