The sixteenth annual World Porridge Making Championship, or Golden Spurtle, gets underway from 9.30am this Sunday in Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Sponsored by Hamlyns of Scotland, the slightly mad competition attracts expert porridge makers from far and wide who each year battle it out for the honour of winning the prestigious Golden Spurtle trophy. This being the Homecoming Year, there are entrants signed up from as far afield as Canada and the United States.
The championship gets underway with a pipe band parade of competitors and judges along the main street followed by the traditional ‘Toast to the Porridge’. Look out for appearances by Edinburgh-based actor and Burns impersonator, Christopher Tait who has performed the work of Scotland’s most famous poet across the globe and is the official Robert Burns for Homecoming 2009.
Dressed in period costume, the Burns lookalike will be out and about during the day providing snippets of some of the poet’s best known verse. He will also be helping stir up interest in the auctioning of a replica of a wooden porridge bowl which once belonged to Robert Burns himself.
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 sponsored by RE/MAX Cairngorm with fund raising in aid of Maggie’s Highland.
As well as competing for the title of world porridge making champion – which is awarded to the contender judged to have made the best traditional porridge using oatmeal and water – contestants are also invited to enter the speciality porridge competition for porridge with other ingredients added.
This has resulted in numerous original dishes being created over the years including porridge with marshmallows and butterscotch liquer, porridge ice cream and even, oh yes, porridge combined with a medley of seafood. Eat your heart out, Hestenthal.
The Golden Spurtle site invites internet visitors to submit their favourite recipes which can be rated by other website users to find the most popular. The voting will close on the morning of the World Porridge Making Championships to take place on Sunday 11 October 2009 in Carrbridge with the winning submission to be awarded a specially inscribed championship spurtle.