Photo by Stewart Williams
Meet Forridge - Adam Kiani and James Leach!
From childhood school friends to fellow porridge disciples…
2020Forridge was born
In January 2020, with the prospect of a global pandemic still a dystopian fantasy, we both returned from university to discover we had each, independently, developed a culinary fascination with porridge! A feverish excitement overtook us during a late-night conversation in James’ parents’ living room. Porridge. Why was no one talking about it? A dish which promised so much invention, versatility, creativity, seemed like a forgotten word vanished on the lips of the people. Sparks flew as we imagined what a future made of porridge would be like. Whilst we ambitiously conceptualised a porridge cafe; lacking the holy trinity of time, money and knowledge, we founded Forridge as an instagram page for sharing creative plant-based porridge recipes with the people.
2023World Porridge-making Championships
Time went by, and our porridge obsession intensified. By this time, James and Adam were known by most friends as the ‘Forridge boys’. During our respective times at university, we spent humble hours converting friends, family and housemates to the ways of porridge - enforcing oats for every meal, and pouring porridge into conversations at parties where it was (shockingly) absent.
At the perfect moment - whilst living together in North London, like a warm spring gust from a distant land. The Forridge boys learned of the Golden Spurtle, . Immediately compelled to apply, they soon found themselves stirred in with porridge greatness in the porridge capital of the world - Carrbridge, Scotland.
The oaty dream continued as the Forridge boys both found themselves in the final! Amongst all the excitement of a WORLD PORRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL, we managed to forget our serving ladles, so - sharing a single measuring spoon between us, we kept stirring our all the way to the end, until…
… Adam only went and won the thing!!
2024Forridge on the small screen
Flirting with fame?!
Heady with victory, the next year served-up a bizarre cocktail of dizzying experiences….
In October 2023 we appeared on an episode of Channel 4’s “Steph’s Packed Lunch” - cooking porridge on-screen for a few UK celebrities. As we sipped night-caps in the Holiday Inn bar, soaking in the views of a central Leeds car park, we wondered whether we were ready for a life of glamour. Whilst “Steph’s Packed Lunch” was sadly decommissioned a few days after our appearance - we had an absolute blast in our first TV appearance!
In July 2024, we delivered “Porridge and People” to a wonderful group of translation students at The University of Heidelberg. Focusing on the history of porridge, the history of oats - we explored how porridge was embricated in people, history, culture and environment. This experience was essential in expanding our knowledge of porridge’s ancient, sprawling lineages, and ignited a passion for communicating the power of porridge. Also, serving-up a “Black Forest Gateau” porridge for the students at the end of our talk, gave us a taste for bringing porridge to the people…
2024-2025Porridge in the Park
With the aim of translating the momentum of their Golden Spurtle success into something tangible, Forridge began a series of events called Porridge in the Park, partnering with community cafes to serve ‘pay-as-you can’ porridge with creative sweet and savoury toppings.
Porridge in the Park has been an incredible opportunity to bring porridge to local communities. We couldn’t be more grateful for the people and partners who’ve brought Porridge in the Park to life through hosting us at their premises, or helping us out…
The Shed Cafe in Cotteridge Park, Birmingham - for giving us our big break by hosting us for our first PitP. Mornflake, who provide us with their steelcut and medium oats. Downhills Park in Tottenham, London. Markfield Road Festival in Tottenham; Wards Corner in Tottenham; Moseley Hive in Birmingham, and many more who have provided us with invaluable advice and support!
2025Forridge on the BIG screen
Forridge on the BIG screen: In 2025, beyond our wildest dreams, we gawped at our very own enormous heads during the world premiere of ‘The Golden Spurtle’, a gorgeous, warm and nourishing documentary, directed by Constantine Costi. It’s still difficult for us to fathom that the glorious memories of our first trip to the World Porridge-making Championship have been immortalised in this wonderful documentary.
2026Forridge@StirchleyCantina
Now we are lucky enough to be working with the brilliant team at Artefact to bring you Forridge@StirchleyCantina!
