Indian-origin chef to host Scotland's top tourism award

Indian-origin celebrity chef Tony Singh is set to host Scotland's prestigious Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) 2015, a media report said on Tuesday.

"I am delighted to be hosting this year's HITA awards which is such an important occasion for people involved in the industry. To be recognised by your peers and the people who visit this area is fantastic," the North Star quoted Tony Singh, a fourth generation Scottish Sikh, as saying in a statement.

As a host of this year's HITA gala final in the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on November 13, the celebrity chef will oversee the presentation of awards in 15 categories. Each winner will go on to represent the region at the national final of the Scottish Thistle Awards next year.

Tony Singh is a familiar face on television, having appeared on shows like "Ready Steady Cook" and "The Great British Menu". He also recently appeared on BBC's "A Cook Abroad" when he visited India and explored and cooked the traditional food of Punjab.

Tony Singh has been in the restaurant industry for over 20 years and is renowned for his contemporary Scottish cooking, which incorporates influences from all around the world.

He has cooked for some of the most famous people, including the Sultan of Brunei, former US president Bill Clinton, the Prince of Wales and Prince Albert of Monaco.