Rude Health Porridge Championships 2013

Nick Barnard, aka Speciality WORLD Porridge Champion, brings the competition home and hosts Rude Health’s London Porridge Championship

Come the end of November, you know you’re in Rude Health when your mind is on porridge, not pumpkin pies. The Rude Health Porridge Championship was held in London on the 29^th November in partnership with Trekstock, a charity dedicated to supporting young people with cancer. Crowds and competitors gathered early morning in SW. Hunger levels were high, and the atmosphere was tense - The 'Hungry Games' had commenced.

It seemed appropriate for World Speciality Porridge Winner, and co-founder of Rude Health, Nick Barnard, to judge the porridge-off. The 9 competitors drew their inspiration from dishes such as Coffee and Walnut Cake, Mince Pies, Fuel for an Early Winter’s Run, Tea and Italian desserts. Nick was blown away by the standard of porridge on the day. Each contestant had 30 minutes to produce three portions of porridge. Nick judged each dish on taste, innovation and presentation. And, we’ll be damned; the first Rude Health London Porridge Championship was…a draw! 

Signe Johansen, food writer and Scandilicious cook, and Christina Franco, Arctic Explorer, were crowned joint Rude Health Porridge Champions. Signe created a sweet 5 Coconut Oatmeal, and Christina a savoury Bacon & Egg Mixed Grain Porridge, gaining them both a 52/60 score from the judge.

“We love coconut in Scandinavia. My 5 Coconut Oatmeal is a dairy-free version of classic oatmeal porridge that is full of flavour and contrasting textures. “  Signe Johansen - Scandilicious

“My Bacon and Egg Savoury Porridge draws on my expedition breakfasts where I try to incorporate an entire breakfast and full nutrition in one pot.” Christina Franco – Arctic Explorer  

What set these dishes apart from the rest? “They had a sensational combination of ingredient quality, innovation, presentation, nutritional excellence and taste. In other words - yummy and sustaining. 

Sig's stood out because the base of Rude Health Oatmeal was particularly creamy and the subtle coconut flavours throughout all the components of her porridge were very more-ish and not overly sweet.  

Christina's was, in complete contrast, a savoury recipe and stood out because of the quality of the ingredients and the balance of flavours. It was a nutritionally dense breakfast that would sustain you all morning and taste fantastic to match. The two were delicious extremes." (Nick Barnard)

The day was enormous fun and a huge success, Time Out and The Evening Standard thought so too. The competitors created an oat-standing collection of recipes. In fact, we’re so darn proud of them, you can find them all here on our website rudehealth.com/recipes/porridge/.

A big big thank you to all the competitors, you were all truly scrumptious!

Mince Pie Porridge by Alice Smith -Trekstock

Captain Black's Spiced Oats by Ben Black and Justin Jeffries – My Family Care and Tinies

Chai Spiced Porridge by Hayley - Teapigs

Tiramisu Porridge by Ben Martin - Giraffe

Coffee, Walnut and Banana Porridge by Tristan Plowman – Looking to Cook

Almond, Pear & Fig Porridge by Phil Mundy – Healthy Food Guide

Berrylicious Porridge by Sadie Macleod – Hip and Healthy

Until next year, 

All of us In Rude Health