CELEBRITY chef Tony Singh has teamed up with children from the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh to create a special Braille recipe book in celebration of National Braille Week 2012.

The cookbook is being produced in Braille and also in large print to help raise awareness of alternative formats. Dishes such as Haggis Pakora, Blood Bay Scallops with Lemon Galette and Rioja Cake with Figs are among the many mouth-watering recipes included.

Tony, who owns exclusive Edinburgh eatery Oloroso and has appeared on TV’s Ready Steady Cook, explained his reasons for getting involved in a project which aims to highlight the ongoing importance of Braille today:

"Cooking is about creating and enjoying delicious meals together and visual impairment should not act as a barrier to this fundamental, fun part of life.  We wanted to create something in the cookbook that would allow people, through the ever-important medium of Braille, to both celebrate the art of cookery and use the recipes in a practical way to actually make delicious meals together with friends and family.  It’s something I was delighted to be a part of".

The cookbook was printed and bound by the Scottish Braille Press which prints Braille for many major clients across the UK.  It contains 43 recipes including starters, main courses and desserts ranging from staple Great British classics to Scottish dishes with an Indian twist.

Royal Blind Chief Executive Richard Hellewell commented:

"National Braille Week runs from the 4th to the 11th of January each year and was initiated by Royal Blind to mark the birthday of Louis Braille, who created Braille in 1825.  

"Through this cookbook we want to highlight the vital importance of Braille, which is as essential to the lives of those who depend on it now, as it has ever been. Braille enables inclusion and opportunity and allows us to dispel the myth that people with visual impairments cannot participate in the joys of everyday life, such as cooking".

The special Braille cookbooks are available from Royal Blind by calling 0131 229 1456 or from the Braille press shop: www.royalblind.org/shop

Donations to Royal Blind can be made via the National Braille Week website at www.nationalbrailleweek.org or by calling 0300 321 0000.