US beats Scotland to win oat cuisine title

Published on Sunday 11 October 2009 22:24

SCOTLAND'S reign as home of the world's porridge-making experts has come to an end as the best recipe is now American.

At the world championships yesterday in the Inverness-shire village of Carrbridge, Matthew Cox took the coveted golden spurtle trophy for achieving the perfect bowl of porridge.

He beat the 2008 champion, Ian Bishop, who put his success down to using spring water from a bore-hole he made himself.

But Mr Cox claimed it was the oats he and colleagues brought from their home state of Oregon. The team all work at wholegrain firm Bob's Red Mill Natural Food, whose products include Scottish oatmeal. The "speciality" category has also left Scotland now, with Anna-Louise Batchelor taking the title home to Reading for her steamed porridge spotted dick with custard.

Mr Cox, who was the first US entry to the competition, said last night: "The key to our porridge is our oats. We have tried oats from everywhere and we use a process that is unlike any other and that's what makes ours special.

"We were quite uneasy at first about entering the competition. Scots are the true masters and our biggest threats in this competition. Porridge is to Scotland as bread is to France."

Mr Cox, 35, is a marketing director with the US firm and said his team perfected their technique by practising daily porridge-making drills.

More than 1,000 people attended the event in Carrbridge – population 708.

The event, which saw competitors from Canada, Sweden and England, was held in conjunction with World Porridge Day, declared by Carrbridge Community Council who organise the competition, now in its 16th year.

Money is raised from the competition for Argyll-based charity Mary's Meals, which provides a healthy daily meal for 350,000 children in 15 countries.

The charity, which started from a tin shed, said it was delighted so many people had joined in the spirit of the first-ever World Porridge Day.