Tony Singh (chef)

Early life

Singh was born and raised in Leith to a second-generation Scottish Sikh family. While he was growing up his father, Baldev "Billy" Singh Kusbia, became one of the first Sikh lorry drivers in Scotland while Singh's mother looked after their family home. As a youngster Singh shared his home not only with his three siblings (two brothers and one sister), but with his aunts, uncles, grandmother and great grandmother also. This upbringing showed him the value of family life and the importance of sharing what you have with who you can.

Singh was educated at Lorne Street Primary, then Leith Academy Secondary School before moving on to Telford College at 16 where he earned an OND in Hotel Management. During his time at college, Singh also enrolled himself in a Youth Training Scheme where he earned an equivalent to City and Guilds 7061 and 7062 qualification in Professional Cookery.

Career

After formal training at Telford College, his distinctive style soon developed and lead him to positions with some of the most prestigious restaurants in Britain including The Balmoral Hotel, Gravetye Manor, The Royal Scotsman Train, Greywalls Hotel, The Royal Yacht Britannia and Skibo Castle.

In 2001 at age 30, Singh became the Chef Patron at Oloroso; a roof-top bar and restaurant on Castle Street Edinburgh. This restaurant won many accolades during its time including Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year and Cocktail Bar of the Year. Singh was also the former owner of Roti in 2005; a fine-dining Indian restaurant considered one of the finest in Scotland. which he had for four years before selling it on. Then in 2009 Singh opened Tony's Table; a modern style bistro also in Edinburgh which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2010.

After starring in his successful TV show ‘The Incredible Spice-Men’ with noted chef Cyrus Todiwala, Singh and Todiwala published a recipe book in 2013 and by 2014 Singh released his own solo-book called ‘Tasty’. Both these books characterize Singh's fun loving, arty and accessible style of cooking while highlighting his love for Scotland's amazing ladder.

In 2015 Singh ran his own pop-up restaurant for the Edinburgh Festivalat the Apex Grassmarket Hotel which featured an eclectic range of foods – including his signature dish haggis pakora.

Throughout his career, Singh has been a huge advocate of staff development and training, and continues to strive for the best customer service in his restaurants and bars. Singh still works hand in hand with schools and colleges throughout Scotland to achieve just that.

Currently

Today, Singh is still known for his contemporary Scottish cooking, which combines his love of local Scottish produce with influences and additions from around the world. In the most recent months Singh has become a resident feature of the Apex Grassmarket Hotel with his "Tony Singh's Roadtrip" while also opening another pop-up restaurant under its own same in Glasgow, based in the Alea Casino.

Awards and honours

Singh is a respected chef in the UK's culinary world and a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Master Chefs of Great Britain, Craft Guild of Chefs. He has also received several awards for his culinary talents including; the Drambuie Chefs Association Best New Restaurant of the Year, Scottish Chefs Award Scottish Chef of the Year and SLTN Best Restaurant catering in Scotland chef of the year. In December 2016, he was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his services to the Food and Drink Industry.

Charity work

Singh has always had a love and desire to do what he can to give back to the community and wider-world. He has supported and worked closely with Sick Kids Edinburgh, McMillian Cancer Research, the Scottish Blood Service, Food Train, Scottish Air-Ambulance, Water Aid, St. Columbus Hospice and the Back Up Trust.

Television

Singh first appeared on TV as a competitor of the ITV Chef of Year Awards in 2000; this was the first televised cooking competition in the UK which he also won.

Once Oloroso was opened and running smoothly, Singh featured on the famous Ready Steady Cook with James Martin in June 2008. Afterwards, Singh appeared in Series 3 of the BBC's Great British Menu which then lead to his reappearance in Series 5 and 6.

In 2013 Singh partnered with Cyrus Todiwala to present their own cookery show on BBC 2 called ‘The Incredible Spice Men’.

Singh then went on to feature in food and personality shows around the country including The One Show, The Paul O’Grady Show, Country File and Celebrity Mastermind as well as joining Radio Scotland, Radio 1, Radio 4 and BBC Radio Asia. In 2015 Singh and Todiwala pared up again and appeared on the Celebrity edition of Pointless.

In the same year Singh then starred as one of the chefs on BBC 2 ‘A Cook Abroad’. Here Singh went to India during Diwali where he explored and presented traditional food on the Punjab and his Indian heritage.

Books