Perfect porridge weather

We feared that the weather was going to be so lousy that Rude Health's Porridge Championships on the outdoor terrace of Giraffe's South Bank restaurant would be a washout. In the end we had clear blue skies, crisp fresh air and a fiery but good humoured bunch of competitors.

Gorgeous Dulcie, who looked like she'd just stepped out of a catalogue had a firm vision for her porridge.

It was Lilly however who was crowned London's Porridge Princess:

Rude Health's London Porridge Princess 2009

Lily Woods

Lily created a Fruity Smiley Porridge. Judge and reigning Golden Spurtle World Speciality Porridge Champion, Anna Louise Batchelor aka Porridge Lady, particularly appreciated the pumpkin seed eyebrows:

With the cold air chomping at our finger tips, the adult competitors were all too happy to gather round their stoves. Fiercely competitive, they were also unusually good natured and supportive.

Adjudicators turned a blind eye to the Porridge Princess' assistance. I'm not sure this freshly crowned member of the Porridge Royal Family was that impressed to be put to work so swiftly after her coronation:

...she nonetheless helped to produce this indulgent creamy peach porridge

And whilst cheering at the odd spill here and lost ingredient there, some mind-boggling creations emerged. To my mind this looked as if it was going to be a tiramasu porridge ....

In fact it turned out to be a sophisticated and complicated Porridgino - created by Becca Arnold - a creamy mascarpone porridge layered on top of an espresso soaked, caramelised biscuit base and Kahlua soaked sultanas, topped with natural yoghurt, chocolate shavings and toasted amaretto almonds. The end result with a spoonful removed .....

William Gould's cheeky Ronnie Barker Porridge, a coconut porridge with dark chocolate ‘convict’ stripes would have won if humour had collected more points. Carefully positioning his chocolate prison bars....

...which melted enticingly over the coconut porridge....

The justifiably proud creator....

Dave Evans' All American Breakfast Porridge won many surprised admirers for its sweet maple porridge with crispy bacon and sausage and extra maple syrup:

All the finalists in the freestyle, adults' gourmet competition gave the winner a good run for his spurtle:

But there could be only one winner.....

Rude Health's London Porridge Champion 2009

Tom Baxter

A keen amateur cook, Tom, 25, confounded judge and public alike with his Mexican Street Food Porridge, a chilli chocolate porridge with a twist of lime. Its spiciness was unexpectedly moreish:

In addition to judging the competition, Anna Louise Batchelor aka Porridge Lady - demonstrated the dish that clinched her the speciality category at the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championships:

Porridge Lady's spotted dick porridge pudding with vanilla custard was swooped upon and gobbled up by awestruck porridge aficionados. ..

Her recipe is reproduced here: www.rudehealth.com/breakfast-club/recipes/anna-louise

New York Restaurant Hit List

Let's make this clear from the outset, I am NOT an expert when it comes to dining out in NYC however since I've put in the leg work to think out and type up a list of restaurant recommendations for a friend of mine here in the UK, I might as well record it for future use. Any suggestions as to restaurants / bars / delis / street food stalls that I should add to the list will be hungrily considered.

FAVOURITE NEW YORK EATERIES

One of the Momofukus. My favourite is:

Momofuku Ssam Bar

www.momofuku.com/ssam

Daniel Boulud's eponymous fine dining restaurant Daniel is unforgettable, at least I'll never forget the pressed duck he made for us, crushing the blood out of the carcass at the table - not half as gruesome as it sounds - however if I were heading back to NYC I'd make a beeline for his new, much more casual French brasserie meets American Tavern:

DBGB

http://danielboulud.com/dbgb.html

My mouth waters at the thought of returning to:

Katz Deli

www.katzdeli.com

And memories of a unique midday madness coming flooding back

Per Se was and I'm sure still is magnificent but *whistles* boy is it expensive:

The Bouchon Bakery

http://www.bouchonbakery.com/

however is an affordable treat.

If I was going to push the boat out and go somewhere new (at least new to me) I'd make a reservation for:

Corton

http://www.cortonnyc.com

Another place that I haven't been to but is edging up my must-try list is:

Blue Hill New York

http://www.bluehillfarm.com/food/blue-hill-new-york

And if I fancied a pizza I'd go to:

Co

http://www.co-pane.com/

And finally:

Prune is just the kind of place I like to eat:

http://www.prunerestaurant.com/

Suggestions from Twitter friends.....

Balthazar - had a great breakfast or 3 there

City Pie on 72nd and Bway - "an antidote to all the raw food restaurants my aunt took me to"

Cafe Lalo - "so many desserts to choose from"

Commerce in W Village

Gammercy Tavern - "always good"

Alexandra Forbes kindly sent me her recommendation along with a wonderful illustrated review of:

Danny Meyer's 11 Madison Park

http://newyorkforinsiders.blogspot.com/2009/09/eleven-madison-park-restaurant-jewel-on.html

Next time I'm off to New York I will definitely examine her blog "New York for Insiders" before making any decisions:

http://newyorkforinsiders.blogspot.com/

Who will be London's Porridge Champion?

On Saturday 28th November, as part of their porridge extravaganza, RudeHealth is holding a Freestyle Gourmet Porridge Contest with their lively friends at Giraffe, the global family-run restaurant group.

Whilst Rude Health roller-skaters hand out complimentary bowls of their scrumptious porridge, fellow porridge fanatics who didn’t make it up to Scotland for the World Porridge Making Championships last month, are invited to try their luck at this new London event.

To enter simply dream up your ultimate breakfast concoction whilst emailing hello@rudehealth.com for an application form.

The 10 best entries will be invited to the final cook-off at Giraffe restaurant on the Southbank. The winner will be crowned Rude Health’s London Porridge champion 2009 and presented with their prize.

With the only prerequisite being that competitors use Rude Health’s Daily Oats, an expertly-made blend of organic jumbo and porridge oats, the world really is their oyster. From creamy porridge served with poached, seasonal fruit and an almond tuille, to rocky road porridge, the possibilities are endless. Those feeling adventurous might even go down the savoury route with pumpkin porridge risotto or parmesan porridge dumplings; the more inventive and imaginative the recipe the better.

Competitors will be provided with a single porridge pan and stove, and can pick their mixing implement of choice, be that a spoon, spurtle or spon. They have 20 minutes to prove their worth.

There’ll be plenty more going on at this porridge party. Giraffe will be hosting a junior contest to find London’s little Porridge Prince or Princess. Here 12 junior finalists will be given 5 minutes to transform a bowl of plain porridge into a tantalising breakfast treat and dazzle the eminent porridge judges with their culinary creativity.

One of the judges on the day, the 2010 World Porridge Champion – Anna Louise Batchelor– will be demonstrating her spectacular Spotted Dick Porridge Pudding. This dish recently won the Speciality category at this year’s Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championships in Scotland.

Who will be London's Porridge Prince or Princess?

As part of their porridge extravaganza on Saturday 28th November, Giraffe, the family-friendly restaurant group, is hosting a kid’s porridge-making competition, the brainchild of porridge aficionados Rude Health.

Whilst Rude Health roller-skaters hand out complimentary bowls of their scrumptious porridge, budding cereal alchemists are invited to transform a bowl of plain porridge into their own tantalising breakfast treat and dazzle the eminent porridge judges with their culinary creativity.

Entering little ones is simple. Whilst they dream up their ultimate breakfast concoction, contact Rude Health at hello@rudehealth.com for an application form.

The 12 best entries will be invited to the final cook-off at Giraffe restaurant on the Southbank. The winner will be crowned London’s Porridge Prince or Princess 2009 and presented with their prize. 2 runners up will also be rewarded.

With no experience or ingredients necessary, just healthy creativity and a talented palate, children can let their inner chef free as Rude Health throw open the doors to a magical store cupboard of produce. A professionally-prepared porridge base could be garnished with juicy tropical fruits, bejewelled with ruby red cranberries, embellished with dried apricots, drizzled with golden honey or topped with a shower of sultanas.

Those with a sweet tooth could pile on marshmallows, chocolate chips even a splash of toffee sauce. The possibilities are endless, the more inventive and imaginative the creation the better.
There will be plenty more going on at this porridge party. For the grown-ups, Rude Health will be holding a Freestyle Gourmet Porridge Contest. Here 10 finalists will be given 20 minutes to wow the judges with their original porridge creations.

One of the judges on the day, the 2010 World Porridge Champion – Anna Louise Batchelor– will be demonstrating her spectacular Spotted Dick Porridge Pudding. This dish won the Speciality Round at this year’s Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championships.

Easy Tasty Magic Launches at Selfridges!

The Easy Tasty Magic range went into Selfridges Food Hall last week and was met by a media and public 'gold rush!' Products from Laura's enchanting larder have flown off the shelves with orders coming in from all across the world and news reports from as far as South America commenting on the new glamourous culinary craze.

Read more about Laura's launch here;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1221444/Fit-king-Why-edible-gold-silver-new-glamorous-culinary-craze.html

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23758009-edible-gold-and-silver-sprinkles-are-the-latest-culinary-craze.do