It was a full house for
the 2012 delicious Produce Awards presentations at South Bank last night as Sydney’s food luminaries flocked to Brisbane, rubbing shoulders with a strong representation from food producers from around Australia and particularly Queensland.
With sparkling city lights over the river as a back drop,
Matt Preston announced the awards to a packed gathering at
Stokehouse.
Amongst the impressive list of judges, which included Matt
Moran, Cheong Liew, Alla Wolf-Taster, Martin Boetz and Valli Little, were
locals Kym Machin, Philip Johnson and Shane Bailey.
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| The Barambah Organics herd |
Queensland producers scooped the pool in the From the Dairy
section with Barambah Organics taking top Primary honours for their luscious,
perfectly balanced All Natural Yoghurt and The Cedar Street Cheeserie achieving
a win in the Artisan section with the Trevor Hart’s handmade haloumi created
from milk sourced from a dairy near his micro-cheesery in Maleny. The Cedar Street Cheeserie also took out a Best New Product Award.
“Haloumi has traditionally been done better overseas, but
we’re now hitting the mark in Australia,” said judge Simon Marnie.
The Producer of the Year award went to SchuAm Berkshire Pork
from the Barossa, which also won From the Paddock. SchuAm is famed for the delicate, marbled
meat and nutty flavour of its pork.
“The heritage breed, the feed and the way the pigs live all
influence the outstanding flavour,” says Maggie Beer.
Here are the Queensland products that made the tough cut of
the finals. Look out for them when you are shopping.
FROM THE EARTH
- Devereux
Organics (Artisan)
- LiraH
- Midyim Eco
Produce – Medal winner
- Noosa
Chilli (Artisan)
- OlivFresh
Organic Olives
- Suncoast
Limes
- Vanilla
Australia
FROM THE PADDOCK
- Bendele
Farm Organic Poultry
- Mallow Lamb
– Medal winner
- Silverwood
Organics
- Stella May
Fine Foods (Artisan)
- Vitulus
Lowline Stud
FROM THE DAIRY
- Barambah
Organics - winner
- Ivyhome
Dairy – Medal winner for their Mud Cream
- The Cedar
Street Cheeserie (Artisan) - winner
Full list of winners
Full list of winners
WINNERS, FROM THE SEA
Tathra Oysters, NSW (Primary)
The panel swooned over these Sydney rock oysters, grown in
the pristine waters of Mimosa Rocks National Park on the NSW south coast. “They
tasted as if they were plucked straight from the sea,” says Alla Wolf-Tasker.
The Stock Merchant Sustainable Crab Stock, NSW (Artisan)
This innovative new product was praised by judge Martin
Boetz for its delicate balance of flavour and restaurant quality, as well as
its sustainability.
WINNERS, FROM THE DAIRY
Barambah Organics All Natural Yoghurt, Qld (Primary)
Queensland ruled the Dairy category this year, with seasoned
performer Barambah Organics taking top honours for their luscious, perfectly
balanced natural yoghurt.
The Cedar Street Cheeserie Buffalo Haloumi, Qld (Artisan)
Trevor Hart makes this handmade haloumi using milk from a
dairy near his micro-cheeserie in Maleny. “Haloumi has traditionally been done
better overseas, but we’re now hitting the mark in Australia,” says Simon
Marnie.
WINNERS, FROM THE PADDOCK
Schuam Berkshire Pork, SA (Primary & Producer Of The
Year)
This Berkshire pork from the Barossa, with its delicate,
marbled meat and nutty flavour, was a standout. “The heritage breed, the feed
and the way the pigs live all influence the outstanding flavour,” says Maggie
Beer.
Pure Pie Braised Beef, Red Wine & Rosemary Pie, Vic
(Artisan)
Pure Pie’s recipe for braised beef in a rich red wine gravy
with rosemary is one for success. “The beauty of these handmade pies is in
their freshness and simplicity,” says Valli Little.
WINNERS, FROM THE EARTH
Otway Forest Shiitake Mushrooms, Vic (Primary)
The national judges were captivated by these velvety Asian
mushrooms, delivered in fairytale style on the eucalyptus log they were grown
on in Victoria’s Otway Rainforest.
Sweetness The Patisserie Florentines, NSW (Artisan)
In the artisan category these petite Florentines were a
sweet success. “They’re made from good, honest ingredients, sourced with
integrity, and that’s what we were looking for,” says Simon Marnie.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
SchuAm Berkshire Pork, SA (Primary) See above
BEST NEW PRODUCT
Otway Forest Shiitake Mushrooms, Vic (Primary) See above
The Cedar Street Cheeserie Buffalo Haloumi, Qld (Artisan)
See above
HALL OF FAME
Mondo White Rocks Veal, WA
This benchmark product joins Blackmore Wagyu Beef, Holy Goat
Cheese La Luna and Spanner Crabs Noosa in our Hall of Fame. “This veal is an
amazing product and in high demand here and overseas,” says Philip Johnson.
OUTSTANDING FARMERS’ MARKET
Gasworks Farmers' Market, Albert Park, Vic
“At Gasworks you see restaurateurs, chefs, bloggers and home
cooks all mingling together,” says Victorian state judge Paul Wilson. “This
Melbourne market gives exposure to Victoria’s best suppliers all in one arena.”
THE REGIONAL AWARD
Daylesford Macedon Ranges, Vic
This region is widely recognized as the driving force behind
Victoria’s food scene. “Nowhere else in Australia are the results of a new,
sustainable and organic approach to food as evident,” says John Lethlean.
OUTSTANDING USE OF REGIONAL PRODUCE BY A CHEF
Annie Smithers, Annie Smithers' Bistrot, Vic
“Annie’s wonderful regional restaurant just keeps getting
stronger, thanks to her uncompromising attitude to produce,” says Matt Preston
of chef Annie, who’s acclaimed for her eponymous Kyneton restaurant.
HERITAGE AWARD
Duncan Garvey, Perigord Truffles of Tasmania, Tas
“Duncan has invested a huge amount into what was an unknown
product in the southern hemisphere 17 years ago,” says Tasmanian state judge
Daniel Alps of the man who has pioneered the truffle industry in Australia.
OUTSTANDING PROVEDORE
John Susman, Fisheads Seafood Strategy, NSW
“John knows more about seafood than anyone else in the
country,” says Necia Wilden of this passionate seafood advocate and pioneer of
sustainable fishing practices.
ABC LOCAL RADIO COMMUNITY AWARD
Penelope Dodd, Produce to the People Tasmania, Tas
Penelope’s organisation collects excess produce from
people’s gardens to deliver to hundreds of families in need.
MAGGIE BEER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN
FOOD
Joe Grilli, Primo Estate, SA
“Joe has been at the forefront of the olive oil industry in
this country,” says Maggie Beer. “His Joseph Extra Virgin Olive Oil showed me
20 years ago what was possible for a benchmark oil in Australia.”
The medallists in the four major produce categories are:
MEDALLISTS, FROM THE SEA Brilliant Food Smoked Ocean Trout,
NSW (Artisan) Marine Produce Australia Cone Bay Ocean Barramundi, WA Cleanseas
Hiramasa Kingfish, SA Kinkawooka Petit Bouchot Mussels, SA Petuna Ocean Trout,
Tas Yarra Valley Hand-Milked Salmon Caviar, Vic
Read the full story in the August edition of ABC
delicious, on news stands tomorrow.
