A champion Perthshire porridge-maker is to defend his title against international competition.
Chris Young will square up to a Finnish biochemist, a Swedish doctor, a Norwegian museum manager, a Swiss miller and a South African chef in this year’s World Porridge Making Championships.
Last year he scooped the title in the contest’s speciality category with a savoury dish.
The former chef, who lives near Crieff, wowed judges with a mushroom risotto dish where he replaced the traditional rice with pinhead oatmeal.
This year he will also be up against some of the UK’s best porridge-makers including the current world champion, NHS renal consultant Dr Izhar Khan from Aberdeen, previous two-time champion John Boa and previous champion, former army chef, Coleen Hayward McLeod.
The title of World Porridge Making Champion is awarded to the competitor who makes the best traditional porridge using only three ingredients oatmeal, salt and water.
Contestants are also encouraged to enter the speciality section, where oatmeal must be the main ingredient in any sweet or savoury porridge-based dish.
After winning the speciality award last year, Chris is determined to defend his title but for now he is keeping his plans firmly under his chef’s hat.
He said: “It’s going to be something special and I have plenty of time to perfect it.”
Chris sold his deli business to focus on an enterprise that had begun as a sideline, Perthshire Oatcakes.
He said since winning the award he has had inquiries about the products from across the globe.
Judging this year’s entries will be Neil Mugg, head pastry chef at the Gleneagles Hotel, Masterchef Colin Bussey, who has 34 years’ experience in the food industry including at the Savoy and Gleneagles, and guest judge Jonathan Engles of Crossbilll Gin in Aviemore, the gin distillery and bar crowned 2015 Shed of the Year.
The event, which will be held in Carrbridge tomorrow, will begin with a pipe band parade from the famous Old Packhorse Bridge to the village hall, where competitors and judges undertake the traditional “toast to the porridge”.
The first of four heats begin at 10.45am, with the final cook off at 2.45pm, and announcement of the winner at 3.30.
The event is organised by Carrbridge Community Council and sponsored by Hamlyns of Scotland.