Bob’s Red Mill Invites Oatmeal Lovers to “Spar for the Spurtle”
Contest provides chance to win spot in the 2011 Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in Scotland
Portland, Ore. – June 29, 2011 – Think that you have what it takes to dish up the world’s best bowl of oatmeal? Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, official purveyors of “The World’s Best Oatmeal,” wants to find out.
The company announced today the launch of its “Spar for the Spurtle” Porridge Making Contest. The contest invites home cooks and professional chefs alike to submit videos demonstrating a unique recipe that makes use of Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats – the World’s Best Oats. From the entries, three finalists will be flown to Portland, Ore. to compete in a live cook-off. The winner of that cook-off will travel with the Bob’s Red Mill team to compete in the 18th Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in Scotland.
The prestigious Golden Spurtle competition is held every year in Carrbridge Iverness Shire in Northern Scotland. Bob’s Red Mill first competed in the championship in 2009, becoming the first American representatives to do so. That year, they won the coveted Golden Spurtle and the title of World’s Best Oats (a spurtle is a Scottish kitchen tool dating back to the 15th century that is traditionally used to stir porridge and prevent it from becoming lumpy).The world title is awarded to the porridge-maker deemed to have made the best traditional porridge using oatmeal, salt and water. Now, the company is looking for assistance in winning its first title in the Specialty Section, which is for porridge that includes any additional ingredients.
“We are honored to have won the title of World’s Best Oats at the 2009 Golden Spurtle competition,” said Bob Moore, founder of employee-owned Bob’s Red Mill. “Now we’re looking to our fans to show just how creative people can be when they set out to cook whole grains for every meal of the day.”
To enter the Spar for the Spurtle contest, interested cooks should visit www.SparForTheSpurtle.com to submit a video demonstration of an original recipe that makes use of Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats. Videos should be no longer than three minutes and should demonstrate a creative use of the oats. Dishes can be sweet or savory – they just need to be able to be created from start to finish within 30 minutes.
The videos will be posted on www.SparForTheSpurtle.com where fans will be able to vote for their favorites. The top three contestants will be selected as the finalists to be flown to Portland for the live cook-off. Finalists will also receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the Bob’s Red Mill facility led by Bob Moore himself.
During the live 30-minute cook-off, the three finalists will prepare their oatmeal recipes from scratch for a panel of celebrity judges in conditions that mirror those of the Golden Spurtle competition. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Scotland, including $2,500 in cash, to compete in the 18th Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship!
“Having seen first-hand how creative the competition is in Scotland, we wanted to put out the call for help in bringing home another victory at the World Porridge Making Championships,” said Matthew Cox, the 2009 World Porridge Making Champion and marketing director at Bob’s Red Mill. “We’re looking forward to returning to Scotland to celebrate our passion for porridge with the friends we’ve made over the past couple of years.”
Prizes
Based on the video submissions, three finalists will be chosen to receive the ultimate trip for Bob’s Red Mill fans. The finalist prize package includes:
· Roundtrip airfare to Portland, Oregon
· Three-nights’ accommodations at a downtown Portland hotel
· A tour of Bob’s Red Mill led by company founder Bob Moore
· A gift basket filled with Bob’s Red Mill products and merchandise
· $100 Bob’s Red Mill Gift Card
· A spot in the live cook-off for a chance at the Grand Prize
· $100 for cook-off supplies
The winner of the live cook-off will receive the grand prize, which includes the following:
· Round-trip airfare for two to Scotland to help represent the Bob’s Red Mill team at the 18th annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in October 2011
· Two nights’ accommodations in Edinburg, three nights’ accommodations in Carrbridge (for two)
· Rail transportation between Edinburgh and Carrbridge
· $2500 cash
To submit a recipe, vote for a video, read the contest’s official rules or learn more about the World’s Best Oats, please visit www.sparforthespurtle.com. The deadline to submit entries is July 30, 2011.
ABOUT BOB’S RED MILL
Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, a distinctive stone grinding miller of whole grains, was founded in 1978 with the mission of moving people back to the basics with healthy whole grains, high-fiber and complex carbohydrates. Bob’s Red Mill, now an employee-owned company, offers a diverse line of more than 400 all-natural, organic and gluten-free flours, cereals, meals and mixes for pancakes, breads and soups that are available throughout the U.S. and Canada. With its dedicated gluten-free manufacturing facility and strict organic protocols, the company has emerged as a leader in providing safe and delicious natural, organic and gluten-free products. For more information, please visit www.bobsredmill.com. Additional information is available at www.Twitter.com/Bobs_Red_Mill, www.Facebook.com/BobsRedMillNaturalFoods and www.bobsredmill.com/blog/.
There you have it, I got this in my email. I have never made porridge in my life, but there is a first time for everything. What about you, are you ready to try your hand at it?
