Crieff man’s tapas wins top prize

Crieff man Chris Young has caused a stir in Carrbridge – by winning at the World Porridge Making Championships for the second time.

Mr Young won the competition’s speciality porridge category, which judges oatmeal combined with other ingredients. His oat inspired tapas – including mussels stuffed with skirlie, Mexican greens and steak with an oat gremolata – wowed judges in Carrbridge, north of Aviemore.

He said: “I never take the easy way out. So to show the versatility of oats I made an eight-part platter, using some of my competition porridge for the taco souffles. I also used oat flour, medium oats and pinhead oats as the main ingredients in my platter.”

Mr Young’s entry triumphed over a range of other recipes including a six spice chocolate chilli porridge, corn and blueberry salad with feta and oats, and an oat and barley broth with honey soy salmon.

The World Porridge Making Championships is organised by Carrbridge Community Council and sponsored by oat firm Hamlyns of Scotland.

Colin Bussey, former head chef at Gleneagles, and Neil Mugg, chef lecturer at Perth College UHI and former head pastry chef at Gleneagles, were among the judges.

They awarded the competition’s main prize – the Golden Spurtle trophy – to Calle Myrsell and Per Carlsson from Sweden.