I know it's extra-dorky, but since this blog is really about my various food and wine discoveries, it still seems appropriate. I, like lots of people of a certain age, tend to start the day with a particular food ritual. More days than not, I start my day with coffee, a slice of wheat toast (my current favorite is Alfaro's 6-grain Santa Cruz from Alfaro's Micro-bakery), and a bowl of oatmeal. Sometimes it's Quaker Old-fashioned with raisins and cinnamon sugar, on a lazy day it could be some kind of steel cut Irish-style oats cooked in the double-boiler. As of yesterday, my new favorite is the Scottish Oats (Original Porridge Style) from Butte Creek Mill in Eagle Point, Oregon. This mill is a historic landmark, dating back to 1872, using French-milled stones brought to the mill over the mountains by wagon 130 years ago.
I've tried their thick-cut, chewy oatmeal before, but it really is just a bit chewier than Quaker, so for the daily oat-head like myself, it's not worth the extra expense.
The Scottish Oats are a different story though. This is the first oatmeal that cooks quickly - start to finish 8 minutes, and has both the creaminess of porridge with bits of chewier oats throughout. For me, at least, this is the perfect texture. I highly recommend it.
I got it at Dean & Deluca in St. Helena the other night, but you can order it direct from Butte Creek Mill.
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