Arabic version: روبرت ريد يفوز بأول لقب أسترالي للعصيدة

According to ABC News, former Sydney cafe owner Robert Reid has been crowned Australia’s porridge-making champion after winning the inaugural Pearly Spurtle at Pearl Beach on the NSW Central Coast.

Eighteen competitors took part in three heats and a final, with 30 minutes to produce traditional porridge made only with oats, water and salt, plus a creative oat-based dish. Reid’s winning entries included traditional porridge and a porridge “cannoli”. He said a mix of specially shipped Celtic salt and regular sea salt was “the difference maker”.

The Pearly Spurtle is recognised as Australia’s official porridge-making contest by the committee behind Scotland’s Golden Spurtle. Reid has qualified to represent Australia at the world porridge-making championships in Carbridge, Scotland, in October.

Melbourne food stylist Caroline Velik, who won the Golden Spurtle’s creative category last year with a porridge jaffle, will coach Reid before the global event. Reid said he plans to practise cooking on induction equipment because the Golden Spurtle uses induction cookers.

Tickets for the Pearl Beach festival sold out in advance, prompting organisers to establish an overflow area with a live stream. Founder Karina Stafford said plans were already being considered for a larger, two-day second annual event, potentially in July.