Spice going!

An Indian restaurant in Perth has become the first in the country to secure a Taste Our Best award from VisitScotland.

Tabla, which serves authentic Indian cuisine using ingredients from Scotland, has been recognised for using and promoting locally sourced produce on its menu.

Inspired by his own upbringing in a small rural community in south India, owner Praveen Kumar works with suppliers in Perthshire and the surrounding areas to source ingredients from across Scotland such as fish, lamb and seasonal vegetables.

Taste Our Best is a joint initiative between VisitScotland and the Scottish Government, with support from Scotland Food and Drink, which aims to form stronger links between the places people visit and the food and drink experiences on offer.

As part of the scheme, restaurants, hotels, B&Bs, takeaways, cafes, visitor attractions and pubs or bars are assessed on not just the quality of their food and drink offering but also how they include and promote Scottish produce on their menus to give consumers choice.

Tabla Owner Praveen Kumar said: “Growing up, fresh ingredients were a big part of my early eating experiences. The difference they make to a dish is unmistakable and because of this, I’ve always tried to use the freshest local produce in my cooking. What is great about Scotland is that it has some fantastic products, particularly its seafood, venison and game - all of which we use regularly on our menu.

“Aside from the great taste, using and promoting produce from Scotland allows me as a business owner to support the community and work with local farmers. I’m proud of my links to both India and Scotland so I’m delighted that Tabla has secured this award.”

Patrick O’Shaughnessy, VisitScotland Taste Our Best Project Manager, said: “Tabla is a fantastic example of the diverse range of businesses across Scotland who are committed to using local produce.  Praveen and his staff may serve Indian cuisine but they are also proudly showcasing the finest ingredients from our natural larder in their recipes.

“As we celebrate the Year of Food and Drink 2015, there is an increased desire by visitors for authentic experiences and products unique to Scotland or a particular area. The growing popularity of Taste Our Best, which now has almost 600 accredited businesses, shows that there is clearly an appetite in the tourism industry to respond to this trend and where possible promote and use local produce.”

The Taste Our Best scheme is the latest addition to VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance (QA) Schemes, which aim to drive up quality in tourism products across the country. Taste Our Best will provide businesses with an assessment of their food provision and their menu by qualified assessors, with those meeting the necessary criteria gaining the award.

For accommodation providers and visitor attractions, the assessment will take place at the same time as the main VisitScotland Quality Assurance grading, meaning that many tourism businesses that already participate in the QA Scheme will no longer have to apply and pay for a separate food and drink assessment.

Further information on Taste Our Best can be found at: www.visitscotland.org/quality-foodanddrink.aspx