Porridge Perfectionists Heading for World Porridge Championships

2016-porridge-logo

A Swedish model, a Scots blogger, the founder of a Scottish oatcake company, an English TV presenter, an American engineer, a Scottish food writer, and an American miller are amongst the line up for this year’s World Porridge Making Championships, which take place in the highland village of Carrbridge on Saturday 8th October.

The competition, now in its 23rd year, is one of the most popular events in Scotland’s culinary calendar, attracting entries from across the globe, with professional and amateur chefs, food producers, food bloggers, small business owners and home cooks with a passion for porridge, all vying for the coveted title and Golden Spurtle trophy.

The title of World Porridge Making Champion and the coveted Golden Spurtle trophy, is awarded to the contestant deemed to have made the best traditional porridge using just three ingredients – oatmeal, water and salt.

The current champion is Simon Rookyard, an astrophysicist from Greater Manchester, who had submitted his PhD thesis on pulsars two weeks before last year’s competition, before turning his hand to perfecting his porridge recipe. Simon is returning to defend his title in October, and says that while he will be bringing the trophy up to Carrbridge with him, he has no intention of going back home without it!

As well as the traditional porridge competition, there is also a speciality category for oatmeal combined with any other ingredients, leading to a wide variety of sweet and savoury entries. The current speciality winner is Norwegian Thorbjorn Kristensen who impressed last year’s judges with his porridge waffles. Past winning recipes have included sticky toffee porridge, fruity date porridge and a savoury Italian pinhead torta.

Crime-writer, Lin Anderson, will MC this year’s competition. Former Gleneagles Head Pastry Chef, Neil Mugg will be chairing the judging panel, joined by writer and experienced culinary competition judge, Craig Robertson, and a third judge to be announced.

The World Porridge Making Championships is organised by Carrbridge Community Council, and is sponsored by Hamlyn’s of Scotland, producers of Hamlyns Scottish Oatmeal and Hamlyns Scottish Porridge Oats. Managing Director Alan Meikle said: “Hamlyns of Scotland is absolutely delighted to continue our sponsorship of the World Porridge Making Championships, which celebrates one of Scotland’s favourite foods, as well as demonstrating the versatility of oats as an ingredient in a variety of sweet and savoury recipes from around the world.”

Full details of the event are available on the event website goldenspurtle.com.

Comments are closed.