Young chefs from Dunvegan Primary School have swapped their classroom for the kitchen at one of Skye’s most celebrated restaurants.
The Three Chimneys, world-famous for its island produce and fine dining, opened its doors to a group of budding cooks aged nine to twelve for a hands-on culinary experience led by head chef Paul Green and his team.
For one unforgettable day, the restaurant turned its kitchen into a classroom, giving pupils a rare chance to see what it takes to run one of Scotland’s most respected dining rooms.
The children were welcomed into the busy heart of The Three Chimneys, where they rolled up their sleeves to explore, taste, and learn.
They handled local ingredients, many featured on the restaurant’s menu, while discovering the importance of provenance, seasonality, and sustainability in modern Scottish cooking.
Paul Green guided them through every step of the process, from preparation to plating, showing how the best ingredients from Skye’s land and sea can be transformed into something extraordinary.
By midday, the group were creating a meal together that would make any chef proud.
The menu they cooked included black garlic, onion and oregano rolls, crab tagliatelle, Vatten Croft lamb, and strawberries with mint and vanilla yoghurt mousse, all inspired by the flavours of their island home.
For P6 pupil Tate Field, the experience was unforgettable.
“It was exciting to be in a proper restaurant kitchen and see what goes on,” they said.
P7’s Isobel MacLean agreed, “I enjoyed trying food that had been grown locally and seeing it being cooked in front of me.”
Fellow pupil Eli Varney added simply, “I loved seeing the food being prepared by the chefs.”
For the teachers, the day offered something more than just cooking.
Class teacher Mrs MacGregor said:
“The children had an amazing experience at The Three Chimneys.
“It gave them an insight into the vast amount of produce available on their doorstep and how it can be turned into a first-class dining experience for people from all over the world.”
Head teacher Miss Muir said the visit tied beautifully into the school’s wider approach to learning.
“At Dunvegan Primary, we are passionate about developing the skills our young people need for learning, life, and work.
“Experiences like this show how the skills they build in the classroom connect to real-world opportunities.”
The Three Chimneys’ pop-up kitchen classroom was part of its long-standing commitment to supporting local communities and charities across Skye.
Every year, the team selects local causes to benefit from guest donations, and this year their chosen community partners are Dunvegan Primary and Carbost Primary near Talisker.
General Manager Kieran Walker said the project had been a joy to host.
“Creating a fun, hands-on space for budding young chefs to learn about local produce has been such a rewarding experience,” he said.
“We hope it inspires the next generation of hospitality professionals and helps them see a future for themselves here on Skye.”
He added:
“The Three Chimneys is rooted in the communities that make the Isle of Skye.
“Thanks to our guests’ generosity, we’ve been able to support schools and local charities including Portree Food Bank, Skye Mountain Rescue, RNLI Portree, and the Scottish Ambulance Service at Dunvegan.”
Since opening in 1985, The Three Chimneys has been a trailblazer for island hospitality, inspiring visitors from across the world to discover the taste of Skye.
Today, its spirit continues through The Three Chimneys at Talisker, a partnership with Skye’s oldest distillery that celebrates the island’s creativity, community, and love of local food.
For more information on The Three Chimneys and The Three Chimneys at Talisker, go to https://threechimneys.co.uk and https://talisker.threechimneys.co.uk
For more information on Dunvegan Primary School, go to www.dunveganprimaryschool.com
