Two national porridge-making champions have triumphed in the annual world championships held in the Scottish Highlands. Gina Saarberg, 28, from the Netherlands, took the coveted Golden Spurtle using the same recipe that earned her the Dutch championship in July. Her winning dish consisted of organic pinhead oats, salt, and water, which she brought from her home country.
Australian champion Rob Reid, 36, from Sydney, won the Speciality Porridge category. His creation, a porridge cannoli, was an oaty take on a Sicilian dessert. Reid developed the recipe, which included a cream filling blended with porridge and shells made with Sicilian Marsala wine, after realising the seriousness of the Australian national porridge championships.
The contest, held each year at Carrbridge, just north of Aviemore, saw thirty competitors from 14 countries participate. Saarberg, who started eating rolled oat porridge as a student, only began making the traditional variety after learning about the Dutch contest. Reid, who previously owned a café, now installs blinds and curtains, using his free time for culinary creativity.
The annual contest was established in 1994 by a local hotel owner to promote the health benefits of porridge and raise the profile of the area.