Baking is often considered one of the most heartfelt ways to express love so what better way to celebrate the up and coming World Shortbread Championships than with a tray of freshly baked heart shaped shortbread!
Furthermore – what a great way to also announce who has just secured the enviable job of Head Judge for the inaugural competition – it’s none other than Jeni Iannetta of Bad Girl Bakery fame!
But there is nothing bad about Jeni or her love heart shortbread – only a business filled with tasty baked goods, baking classes and books, that are loved by all her customers.
A self-taught baker, Jeni started Bad Girl in 2015 as a small, at-home business. Since then, the business has expanded to include two award winning café bakeries in Muir of Ord and in the Victorian Market in Inverness, baking classes and a sister company called Good Girl Greengrocer.
Her first book, Bad Girl Bakery, was released in 2021 and her recipes have also been published in the national press – she’s a regular recipe contributor to The Times, Scotland and a member of the Guild of Food Writers.
Speaking about her new role as Head Judge for the World Shortbread Championships, Jeni said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be judging the World Shortbread Championships. A celebration of baking, talent, Scotland and great ingredients is something I’m really proud to be part of.
“The thing I love most about baking is turning a few simple ingredients into something special and shortbread definitely falls into this category! I’m so looking forward to seeing what our entrants create”.
The first ever World Shortbread Championships are being organised by High Life Highland and take place on 21 November at Inverness Leisure.
“We are incredibly lucky to have secured the services of such a prestigious baker as Jeni,” said James Martin, High Life Highland’s Director of Community, Leisure and Sport.
“The World Shortbread Championships are still 10 months away but the excitement is already building. There’s been a lot of interest both here at home and from further afield. I think people are keen to be part of something new – even though shortbread is very old – having been around for centuries!”
Battling it out for the shortbread honours will be junior bakers and amateur bakers alongside professionals, with traditional and speciality categories leading to the crowning of the first World Shortbread Champion! The event is being hosted by professional chef, food writer and broadcaster Sarah Rankin.
Participants can enter a traditional shortbread and a speciality shortbread, or they can just enter one or the other. The winner of each category will go forward to the grand final with the baker with the most points being crowned Champion.
The World Shortbread Championships build on the very popular Shortbread Showdown, which has been a staple in the Visit Inverness and Loch Ness calendar for the last three years.
You can keep an eye on all things World Shortbread Championships by visiting the dedicated website: www.shortbread.world. Potential competitors can expect an announcement in due course about entry opening and closing dates.
