Judges selected for Highlands’ Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship
Award winning chefs and a Scottish sporting legend will be judging dishes when Carrbridge is the centre of the porridge world on October 5 for the 31st Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship.
To add to the stellar line up Inverness BBC MasterChef finalist and culinary author Sarah Rankin will act as master of ceremonies once again.
Neil Mugg, KJ Gilmour and Scottish and British Lion rugby star John Beattie will have their taste buds challenged in judging 30 bowls of porridge while Ms Rankin will keep the audience informed and, during the heats, chat with competitors as they prepare their porridge.
Mr Beattie said. “How we take our porridge is up to our own personal taste, which is why I am looking forward to trying as many of the different entries as possible. I love porridge and have it almost every morning of my life. And there is nothing finer than going somewhere to be surprised at a twist someone has put into their dish.”
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Porridge Chieftain Alan Rankin said: “We are delighted to have Neil, Kj and John as judges. They have a big job to do that needs not just a critical and balanced view of each dish but perhaps more importantly stamina as they taste over 30 bowls of porridge.
Entry to the competition is open until next Thursday (June 20). Each year the event attracts competitors from across the world. This year being no exception with entries received amongst others from Australia, Canda, Australia, Germany and Jamaica.
Neil Mugg returns as head judge, having enjoyed a fantastic career as a chef in Scotland. He worked at The Gleneagles Hotel and enjoyed mentoring students at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Kj is a passionate, straight-talking, award-winning chef, artisan baker and author. Originally from New Zealand, she travelled and cooked around the world, coming to own Aviemore’s popular Mountain Cafe, which won many accolades over the 16 years it was open. She is the owner/ head chef/ baker at Kj’s Bothy Bakery, an award-winning bakery on the outskirts of Grantown.
Sarah Rankin returns as MC having wowed the audience last year with her engaging and knowledgeable chat with competitors and judges. Sarah loves to celebrate local suppliers, sustainable food practices and Scottish produce and has just published her first cookbook ‘Kith’ which celebrates Scottish flavours, seasonality, local producers and the joy of cooking.
Sarah said “I am thrilled to be back hosting the Golden Spurtle. As a former judge, I’ve seen both sides of the event and getting to spend time with competitors from all over the world as they share their love of our national dish is such a joy.
Competition rules and entry forms can be found at www.goldenspurtle.com
