Cairngorms Hostel Owner scoops porridge award

This year’s golden spurtle, the Oscar’s of the porridge world, has been awarded to Ian Bishop who runs the Slochd Mhor bunkhouse, skiing centre and bike shop, near Carrbridge in the Cairngorms. Ian, who has now been crowned World Porridge Making Champion, has entered every year for the last fifteen years, and is one of only a handful of local winners.

Ian put his success down to perserverance and local water taken from a bore hole near his house. “I remember the first year when it was organised and I had never made porridge before,” he said. “I saw the lumps and was told I had to stir like hell. I am delighted to have won it at long last.”

He was presented with the Golden Spurtle, a wooden stick traditionally used to stir porridge (clockwise only according to tradition), by Miss Scotland. Entrants had to use traditional oatmeal, salt and water, however chefs in the speciality section could add whatever ingredients they liked.

The winner in this section was Addy Daggert, a professional chef from the Netherlands, who also made it to the final of the porridge-making contest for the Golden Spurtle. Addy made his special porridge with a mixture of marzipan and home-made ice cream laced with 18-year-old Glenfiddich.

The World Porridge Championship has been held in Carrbridge for the last fifteen years and always attracts a large entrant of professional chefs, bed & breakfast landladies, and enthusiastic amateurs.