Chocolate research? Somebody has to do it!

An afternoon spent talking to people who make good food and drink, with the chance to taste what they’ve brought, rarely needs much selling to me. Taste North usually falls at a time of year when I have a little more freedom from touring, so it’s an event I’m pleased to make room for. Venture North began bringing producers and visitors together in 2015, and much of the pleasure is being able to ask the person behind a stall about something you’re trying. You can find yourself enjoying a food or drink you might never have picked off a shop shelf.

I remember watching a local seafood expert demonstrate how to prepare and cook fish, then listening to a chocolatier explain her craft before inviting us to taste the results. I’m a fairly willing audience for somebody who finishes an explanation by offering me chocolate. Around the demonstrations are stalls with cakes, pies and plenty else to tempt you into another conversation. Some producers make their living from it, while others have turned something they love doing into something they can share. Either way, you get to hear how much thought and effort has gone into what you’re eating.

That can lead to more than a purchase. I first met the owners of Black Isle Brewery at Taste North, and after tasting their beer and talking to them, I thought a brewery visit might suit some of my guests. It subsequently became part of a tour for somebody particularly interested in Highland food and drink. By then I already knew a little about the people we were going to meet, which is one of the advantages of an event like this. You can buy something to take home and also come away with an idea for somewhere to go.

The 2026 event was held at Wick High School on Sunday 1 November, with free admission and no ticket required. If you’re planning a future visit, check Venture North’s programme for the next date and arrangements, and give yourself time to stop and talk as you work your way round. There are crafts and family activities alongside the food, drink and demonstrations, so people can follow their own interests without everybody having to be fascinated by the same stall. I’d leave a little room in the shopping bag, though. Hearing somebody explain what they’ve made can be remarkably persuasive when they’ve also given you a taste.

To learn more, book one of our North Coast Explorer private tours.