ColbostDunvegan
Scotland
IV55 8Z

Phone: 01470 51 1258 (+44 1470 51 1258)

Fax: 01470 51 1358 (+44 1470 51 1358)

If you take a look through any of the Food and Drink sections of the Scottish papers, you will come across Shirley Spear and her restaurant, The Three Chimneys, being exulted as a foodie Mecca. So why is the remote part of Skye considered a Mecca for foodies? Well there is only one reason why she has won so much column space, and that is because her restaurant, that she runs with her husband, Eddie, is consistently producing the some of the best food you can find.

With her belief that the food should speak for itself, Shirley takes the best seasonal Skye and Highlands produce to create dishes that are simply wonderful in taste. A glance at the menu reveals a wide range of dishes to choose from, be it locally caught seafood, Skye lamb, game or vegetarian, there is something on the menu for everyone.

We visited the restaurant over Christmas, so luckily had three nights to try the great food on offer. Our first night we were exhausted from our trip (see our other review The House Over-by and our Tourist Route: A Foodie Trip to Skye and Inverness). Though tired and a bit stressed from our 5-hour drive to the Hotel, I found that I soon relaxed and unwound, part due to Eddie Spear's easy-going nature and part due to the ambience of this converted crofter's cottage.

So, let's talk about the food! Being the Christmas period, you can expect the focus on traditional Christmas faire. Well, certainly it was, but these Christmas dishes are the season's best! Shirley went out of her way to ensure that the ingredients were the best that could be bought, with an aim to please not only the customers but her high standards as well.

Some of the starters that we had were:

All were great, with my favourite being the Game Terrine of Pheasant, which had lovely depth in texture and taste.

Between courses, we were pleased to see the Soupçon. Missing from so many restaurants now, it is a lovely touch, reminding me of when I was a young boy living in my grandmother's hotel, where it was the done thing to serve. Some of the Soupçon dishes included:

Included is Shirley's homemade bread. She is rightly proud of her bread, very nice complement to the soup.

Mains were of equal quality, including the:

With the mains we couldn't decide on our favourite, as they were all excellently cooked and tasted great.

If dessert is your thing, then you are in for a real treat! Covering such dishes as:

Funny thing is that no matter how full you thought you were, you seem to be able to manage one of their desserts. They are a great way to finish off the meal, but if you prefer, order the fine selection of Scottish Cheeses, served with Hebridean Oatcakes and Fresh Fruits.

Being at the northern end of Skye, this is not a restaurant to pop in to, but it is more that worth the effort to visit. Along with the House Over-By, you couldn't find a better place to have a romantic weekend. Skye itself is a wonderful place to visit, so make a long weekend of it and get to experience some of the best food in Scotland.