The ‘Highland Hospitality’ competition invited students to create a dish that celebrated the spirit and stories of the Highlands. Ally’s “Haggis Fusion” impressed a panel of judges, all renowned food and drink enthusiasts, for its bold reimagining of Highland flavours and its homage to local culinary heritage.
Charleston Academy was buzzing with excitement today as 13-year-old student, Ally Franklin, was announced as the winner of the Inverness Castle Experience’s ‘Highland Hospitality – Tales from Around the Table’ recipe competition. His inventive dish, “Haggis Fusion,” claimed top honours for its blend of traditional Highland ingredients with a modern twist. It will soon feature on the restaurant menu at the Inverness Castle Experience, set to open in 2025.
To mark the occasion, Ally and a few enthusiastic classmates recreated the award-winning dish for a delighted audience at the school. The event coincided with the opening of Charleston Academy’s new student-run café, where students will gain valuable hands-on experience in the hospitality industry.
Councillor Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness City and Area and Co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, attended the event and praised the impact of the competition. “This event has highlighted our young people’s fantastic talent and imagination. Ally’s dish shows how traditional Highland flavours can be enjoyed in new ways, and it’s wonderful to see him recognised. Well done to Ally and everyone who participated—you’ve all done the Highlands proud.”
Michael Golding, Chair of High Life Highland’s Board of Directors, said, “We’re thrilled with the success of this year’s recipe competition, which has highlighted the exciting potential for young people across the Highlands to pursue a rewarding career in hospitality. At High Life Highland, we’re committed to empowering local youth to develop their talents and explore diverse career opportunities across various industries.”
Lizzie Rudge, Faculty Head of Technologies at Charleston Academy, expressed her pride in Alasdair’s achievement. “We are absolutely thrilled for Ally and immensely proud of him. We are even considering adding his winning dish to our café menu—it’s a fantastic way for our students and visitors to celebrate his success and enjoy his creation right here in the school.”
Student, Ally, still beaming from his victory, shared: “I’m thrilled to have won! Creating the Haggis Fusion recipe was such an exciting challenge. Mum has been making ‘Greek Haggis’ for years, combining traditional and vegetarian haggis with tzatziki and salads, letting everyone enjoy the fun of assembling what we now call Haggis Fusion. It’s a firm family favourite – quick, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser.”
The Inverness Castle Experience project, opening in mid-2025, will benefit from £30m investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.
The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.