Like any motivated competitor, Bob Moore, founder of Bob's Red Mill spent the months leading up to the 23rd Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship perfecting his porridge-making technique. Though his company had taken part in the prestigious competition since 2009 and has brought home two world titles, this would be the first time Moore himself competed, and he wanted to be ready.
That hard work paid off on Saturday, October 8, when Moore, cooking with Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats, won the world championship and the coveted Golden Spurtle, awarded to the maker of the best traditional porridge using only oats, water and salt (a spurtle is a traditional Scottish cooking implement used to stir porridge). Moore was ecstatic over the victory.
"I can't even begin to express how meaningful winning the Golden Spurtle is to me personally," the 87-year-old Moore, who still serves as president and CEO of the employee-owned company, said from Scotland. "I've dedicated my entire life to promoting the benefits of whole grains—and, in particular, oats. So to capture this world championship really feels like a pinnacle moment."
The Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship takes place every year in the Scottish Highlands village of Carrbridge. Bob's Red Mill first competed in 2009, not only becoming the first American contestants ever to do so, but also capturing its first Golden Spurtle. Bob's Red Mill found success again in 2012, this time winning a championship in the Specialty category that allows for the use of ingredients beyond oats, water and salt. However, though Moore was on hand for both victories, this is the first time he personally competed.
To prepare, Moore practiced making porridge—using Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats and a handcrafted Oregon myrtle wood spurtle—for months, sometimes in the Bob's Red Mill test kitchen and other times at the Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Store, Restaurant & Bakery in front of customers. On Saturday, Moore bested 17 competitors from around the world in what the event organizers called a "hotly contested" battle.
Before returning to his Oregon home with the esteemed Golden Spurtle trophy in hand, Moore will travel to Paris, France, where he will participate in the 2016 International Food Exhibition. In the meantime, a recap of Moore's victory, including further comments from Moore, can be found on a Bob's Red Mill YouTube playlist.
"I can't wait to return home to celebrate with my team," Moore said. "But first, it's time to continue my journey in sharing the power of whole grains."
