Downright Gabbler, Coul House Hotel and Cabot Highlands have won the Inverness and Loch Ness heat of the Highland Shortbread Showdown.
The Inverness and Loch Ness heat, organised by Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN), took place at the Victorian Market in Inverness on Saturday 18th February.
There, the public were able to vote for their favourite shortbread. Around 400 people attended, with 250 people casting votes for their favourites.
Downright Gabbler, Coul House Hotel and Cabot Highlands will now go on to the grand final at Inverness Cathedral on 25th March 2023.
The Highland Shortbread Showdown, a competition for tourism businesses across the Highlands to enter their version of the region’s favourite biscuit for the chance to be crowned the ultimate winner, attracted 10 entries from the Inverness and Loch Ness area.
The competition is part of a wider food and drink strategy to promote the Highlands as a foodie destination.
Other local tourism businesses who entered their signature shortbread included Whitebridge Hotel; Highland Experiences; Blaeberry House; Café Ness By the Cathedral; and Highland Security.
During the event at the Victorian Market visitors enjoyed live music from Calum MacPhail and Sean Cousins, as well as a treasure hunt.
There was also an opportunity to donate to the Highland Hospice via the sale of sunflowers.
Emma Harrison, Destination Development Manager at VILN, said:
“Congratulations to Downright Gabbler, Coul House Hotel and Cabot Highlands on winning the Inverness and Loch Ness heat of the Highland Shortbread Showdown!
“The event and the shortbread went down a treat, and it was great to see so many people come along to the Victorian Market and cast their votes for their favourite shortbread.
“Well done to everyone who entered and good luck to our three winners as they head into the final.”
The three bakers from Inverness and Loch Ness will face the best bakers from Moray Speyside, the Cairngorms, Nairn, Caithness, Sutherland, Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh at the final.
There, the ultimate winner of the Highland Shortbread Showdown will be decided by a judging panel made up of five well-known bakers from the Highlands – Kirsten Gilmour (KJ) from KJ’s Bothy Bakery (formerly Mountain Café); Jeni Iannetta from Bad Girl Bakery; Craig Wilson aka The Kilted Chef; Steven Traill from Rain Bakery; and Andrew Mackay, Head Pastry Chef at Gleneagles.
A recipe book of all the shortbread recipes entered into the Highland Shortbread Showdown will be on sale at the final event at Inverness Cathedral to raise funds for the Highland Hospice.
The Highland Shortbread Showdown is sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink, Walker’s Shortbread, Dean’s, Grain and Grind and the Highland Council Common Good Fund.
