Husband and wife team Mike and Yvonne Crook of Good Highland Food have been named Food & Drink Ambassadors of the Year at this year’s Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards 

The husband and wife team behind Moy-based event and outside caterer, Good Highland Food, were awarded the prestigious Highland Food & Drink Ambassadors of the Year Award at the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards held in the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness on Friday, 27^th October 2023. The award, sponsored by Saffrey Champness, recognised the commitment the couple had made to the Highland food and drink sector over its twenty years in business and the past year during Covid Recovery.

The judges also commended the couple’s commitment to developing the food and drink sector in the Highlands and Islands through their leadership and investment in the development of a new website promoting food producers, distilleries, and food experiences throughout the Highlands. The site was launched earlier this year as part of the Highland branding developed by Highland Tourism CIC ambassadors and communities.

As the couple celebrate their 20^th year in business, Company Director Yvonne Crook paid tribute to her husband’s tireless efforts to work with local producers and tell local stories, she said: “Mike’s passion for developing great food and drink experiences has been made easier by the fantastic array of producers in the Highlands and Islands, whose passion shines through and makes it easy for us to deliver some of the best hospitality experiences in the world.”

She continued: “During covid, it was a chance for us to reflect and to consider the future of Good Highland Food, which is wider than business growth. Our passion is the community we work with, the Highlands as a destination and a commitment to using local producers and creating the best local food and drink experiences we can as well as leaving a legacy for the future.”

Anja Baak of Great Glen Charcuterie said: “Good Highland Food are one of our longest-standing customers, and as we celebrate our 20 years anniversary together, we are so proud to be one of their top suppliers and to see them win this award for all they have delivered for the food and drink industry in the Highlands.”

Over the past 20 years, Good Highland Food has become renowned as the top event and outside caterer in the Highlands. Catering for the prestigious opening dinners of the Speyside Whisky Festival and the annual dinner of the Moray Chamber of Commerce.

Sarah Medcraf, CEO of the Moray Chamber of Commerce, said:“Mike and Yvonne don’t just cater our annual business dinner; their energy for the food and drink sector in the Highlands and Islands is immense and we are proud to be associated with them as every year they continue to produce some of the best food and drink experiences with the best of Highland & Moray Hospitality. We are delighted they are one of our Premier Partners and that their exceptional efforts for the food and drink sector in our region have been rewarded.”

Celebrating the award, Mike & Yvonne said that during their year as Highland Food and Drink Ambassadors, they would continue to put the produce of the Highlands and Islands at the heart of an experience to the Highlands through their commitment to establishing ‘brand Highlands’ through Highland Tourism CICand its founding sponsor Tomatin Distillery.