First Minister gives support to porridge championship

Organisers of the World Porridge Making Championship presented Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond with a specially commissioned  wooden spurtle marking the official countdown to this year’s Golden Spurtle contest.

The presentation took place at Clashmore Hall, Dornoch on Monday night as Scottish ministers hosted a reception for champions of the Highland-based food and drink industry to announce backing for some of the  events  planned to celebrate Scotland’s reputation as a Land of Food and Drink.
The World Porridge Making Championship, sponsored by Scotland’s leading oatmeal producers, Hamlyns of Scotland and organised under the umbrella of Carrbridge Community Council, is one of  a number of events included in the year long programme.
Scott Bruce, chairman of Carrbridge Commmunity Council commented that with its international following, the World Porridge Making Championship has become one of the best known events on the Scottish food and drink calender.   ”Carrbridge  is at the northern gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, an area steeped in a rich heritage of traditional and contemporary culture and renowned for its  mountain and moorland landscapes,” he said.
“It is also a natural larder providing some of the best local produce with an ever increasing number of restaurant, hotels and other dining establishments making use of the finest home-grown ingredients to create a real taste of the Highlands.”
Mr Bruce added; “As part of the Land of Food and Drink initiative, we will be looking to work with local producers to extend the World Porridge Making Championship to provide a platform for those involved in the local food and drink industry to showcase what the area has to offer.”

The specially commissioned inscribed spurtle was made by Inverness-shire wood turner, Peter Tyler from Dunlichity, Farr. It was presented to Mr Salmond by porridge championship co-ordinator Linda Jolly and Sam Faircliffe, managing director of the award wining Cairngorm Brewery based in Aviemore – one of the local producers who will be offering product tastings at this year’s championship.
The presentation marked the launch of  an invitation to both amateur and professional porridge makers from far and wide to compete in the 17th annual championship to be held in Carrbridge on Sunday October 10.
Entries are invited from professional restaurant and hotel chefs as well as guest house owners, B&B operators and individuals  who believe they can make a first class bowl of porridge.
The title of world porridge making champion and the prestigious Golden Spurtle trophy is awarded to the contender judged to have made the best traditional porridge using oatmeal and water.
As well as the coveted title, the winner of the competition will receive a cash prize of £250.
Contestants are also invited to enter the “speciality porridge” competition for porridge with other ingredients added. The speciality section has a cash prize of £150 while the winner also receives a special trophy named in memory of  legendary four-times world porridge making champion,  the late Duncan Hilditch.
The panel of judges for 2010 is to be headed up by George McIvor  and Colin Bussey of the Master Chefs of Great Britain. They are to be joined by this year’s guest judge, Herald columnist, and best selling author, Tom Shields.
Among those who have already signed up are last year’s Golden Spurtle winner,  Matthew Cox from Bob’s Red Mill in Oregon who will be returning to defend his title against a line up of contenders including fellow American, Patrick Potter, from the Los Angeles based company, Real Foods USA.
Other  confirmed competitors include the 2009 Speciality winner, Anna Louise Batchelor, an environmental researcher from Reading in Berkshire,  Pia Redin winner of the first Nordic Porridge Cooking Competition held in the town of  Sunne in Sweden. David Susans from Fernvilla Guest House, Ballachulish, Nick Barnard from the London based company, Rude Health and Canadian foodie writer and big porridge fan, Catherine Caldwell from Calgary.
The championship, which this year falls on the iconic date 10.10.10, also encompasses World Porridge Day, an international celebration of Scotland’s traditional national dish, with porridge ambassadors across the globe invited to host their own porridge/ oatmeal event to raise money for  Mary’s Meals  – a Scottish based charity which daily feeds more than 400,000 of the poorest and neediest children across the globe.
The porridge making event, supported by Highland Council, starts with a pipe band parade of competitors and judges along the main street of Carrbridge followed by the traditional ‘Toast to the Porridge’.
Other  highlights of the day include local produce and craft stalls, product tastings, street entertainment and live music as well as the Carrbridge Challenge 5km and 3km Forest Run and minis fun run sponsored by RE/MAX Cairngorm with additional fund raising in aid of Mary’s Meals.
More information and entry forms for both the World Porridge Making Championship and Forest Run can be found on the website at www.goldenspurtle.com

Posted 27/07/2010