QUEENSLAND’s best bacon has been revealed.
Loveday’s Quality Meats in Burleigh Waters took out the top spot in the full rasher competition and Gray’s Modern Meat Mart, Toowoomba, took out top spot in the short cut in the Queensland category of the Australian PorkMark Bacon Awards.
The awards were held as part of Australian Bacon Week, celebrating the best bacon made from 100 per cent Australian pork. More than 125 entries were received from across the country, with the judging panel assessing qualities like appearance, aroma and taste.
Judges said the full rasher bacon from Loveday’s Quality Meats had a nice colour, mild aroma, very good texture and incredible taste. They awarded Queensland’s second place to Circle T Meats, Raceview, and third to Master Butchers Whitsunday.
In the short cut category, Gray’s Modern Meat Mart won over judges with a bacon that had a very good colour, great smell, great after taste, slight smoke and perfect texture. Slade Point Meat Specialists, Mackay, took second place and Proserpine’s Downtown Butchery was third.
Australian Bacon Week runs from June 25 to July 1, drawing attention to the competition local bacon faces from imported products. This year, people are being encourage to share their favourite way to enjoy the magical meat.
“Aussie bacon is a regular feature of my breakfasts and even pops up to add a highlight and flavour boost in the occasional lunch or dinner,” Mr Edwards said.
“This Australian Bacon Week, we’ve got chefs and restaurants serving up delicious dishes, and we also hope people will share their favourite Aussie bacon dishes on social media.
“Here in Queensland, we have restaurants on board serving up dishes like a peanut butter and maple bacon pork burger, bacon and egg rolls, and the Gold Coast’s Bam Bam Bakehouse is even serving up a Croissant French Toast with Bacon.”
Mr Edwards said it shocked people to learn that more than 70 per cent of bacon sold in Australia is made from imported pork.
“Australian Bacon Week is about celebrating our best bacon, but also reminding people that they need to look for our pink PorkMark logo or the words ‘Product of Australia’.”
CLICK HERE for recipes and participating restaurants in Australian Bacon Week, which runs until July 1.
WINNERS
National. Overall: Griffith Butchery, Griffith, ACT Full rasher: 1. Griffith Butchery, Griffith, ACT. Kanmantoo Bacon and Quality Meats, Kanmantoo, SA. 3. Meatways Kambah, Kambah, ACT. Short cut: 1. Barossa Fine Foods, Edinburgh North, SA. 2. Rob’s British Butcher, Dandenong, Vic. German Butchery, Mona Vale, NSW
Queensland. Full rasher: 1. Loveday’s Quality Meats, Burleigh Waters. 2. Circle T Meats, Raceview. Master Butchers Whitsunday, Airlie Beach. Short cut: 1. Gray’s Modern Meat Mart, Toowoomba. 2. Slade Point Meat Specialists, Mackay. 3. Downtown Butchery, Prosperpine.