Taste of Nairn food festival calls for entries into World Tattie Scone Championship 2025
Amateur chefs and cooking enthusiasts are being encouraged to gear up and take part to the World Tattie Scone Championship as the contest returns to Nairn next month.
The competition, which will see participants bring their own version of the Scottish cookbook staple, now in its eleventh year, will run as part of Taste of Nairn — a food festival organised by Nairn BID.
It was initially launched in 2013 at Piping at Forres and was held there for six years, and was eventually passed on to the food festival by its sponsors Oakwood Cookery School.
Ahead of the main event, Nairn Academy has also decided to have a slice of action and will host its own version of the competition next week.
Elaine Sutherland, owner of the Oakwood Cookery School said she was delighted the competition is still running and that youngsters are now involved.
She said: “It’s great to be working with the organisers of Taste of Nairn again and we’re looking forward to seeing all the entrants get cooking and coming up with their own twist on the tattie scone. The contest is open to anyone whether they are experienced or not. In fact, in the past, we have had people win, who have literally turned up on the day, with no experience, but have made the best tattie scone.
“We are also delighted that Nairn Academy is getting involved and is hosting its own version of the competition. Hopefully some of the pupils taking part at school will be inspired to come along on May 10 to give it a go.”
The aim of the competition is to make a tattie scone using a set recipe with mashed potatoes and flour, plus the contestant’s own magic ingredient, which they bring in with them. Tables and stoves are set up for contestants to compete in heats.
The most tasty and imaginative scone will be chosen as the winner.
In 2024, the winner was Tracy Chalmers, who wowed the judges with her honey and mustard creation.
Tracy will return as a judge this year, alongside fellow former champion Gary Grant and Tracy Cameron, from Scotland Food and Drink.
Elaine said that over the years, she has seen various “secret ingredients” being used and explained what the judges are looking for.
“We have seen anything and everything from people using prawns to raspberries. It’s such fun to take part in. It might just be that the winning tattie scone is just so innovative, there is no choice but to choose that one, or it may be that it’s a fairly basic recipe, but it’s cooked to perfection.”
There is no fee to enter the Tattie Scone Championships, which is supported by Carr’s Flour and Albert Bartlett potatoes and participants can be aged 12 upwards.
Organising the Nairn Academy contest is home economics teacher Michael Rankin.
He said: “We are delighted to be running our own version of the Tattie Scone Contest. It will be our S3 pupils who are taking part in the challenge, and we think it will be a lot of fun. It’s actually a very basic thing to do, but what we are looking forward to, is seeing which ingredients the pupils pick to make their scones stand out from their peers.”
The World Tattie Scone Championships will take place on May 10 in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre which will also host a food and drink market, food and cocktail demonstrations and a ‘have-a-go’ room with the omelette challenge, decorate a cake, guess the ingredient and DIY fruit kebab activities.”
