Champion's reign supreme.
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If you didn't believe the first time, you should probably believe it the fifth; Stockyard Beef has claimed the title of Australia's best steak for the fifth time with their Stockyard Black wagyu at the Royal Queensland Food Awards presentations in Brisbane.
After facing the scrutiny of 12 judges the premium wagyu brand, produced at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs, beat 52 other entrants to take home the coveted trophy at the national competition, which also crowned the Australia's best lamb, cheese and ice cream.
Stockyard Beef's David Clark said that winning the award for the fifth time felt all the better, following the year that was 2020.
"We've had a challenging last 12 months, COVID-19 was not in anyones business plans. After seeing all of our food services fail overnight, it feels like a great see a reward on the other end of that."
Mr Clark said the secret to the Stockyard's success "must be consistency" and thanked everyone behind the scenes.
"The award recognises the constant consistency that our team puts in to create our premium product."
Fellow Darling Downs branded beef company Mort & Co picked up five medals including the Champion MSA Graded branded beef of show for their Grandchester Angus product.
Mort & Co General Manager of Livestock and Logistics, Brett Campbell, said the result was a pleasing achievement, not just for the business, but for Mort & Co's valued producer partners."
"Central to Mort & Co's success is our ability to obtain cattle from quality Australian producers," Mr Campbell said.
Three of Mort & Co's submissions came from of Booroomooka Angus. Their involvement with Mort & Co dates back to 1997 when the feedlotting business was first established.
Before Wagyu, the Mallers bred Herefords, and at the end of the 1970s, crossed them with Simmental. In an effort to differentiate, the family purchased five fullblood Wagyu heifers and have since contributed to a swathe of Mort & Co's branded beef awards, including this year's RQFWS. With three of the Mort & Co competition submissions bred by Hamilton Park Wagyu, Selwyn Maller said the results were nothing short of exceptional for their family operation.
"It's good to be recognised. You know that you're breeding animals that are capable of being on the centre stage, and these awards are proof that you are travelling in the right direction with your breeding ideals."
The best lamb went to Victorian company Midfield Meat International, Warrnambool, for their Union Station premium lamb.
Chief judge for the branded beef and lamb leg of the competition, Elaine Millar said the quality of the beef and lamb entries this year were some of the best she had ever seen.
"Due to the extraordinary marbling in both the beef and lamb entries, the uncooked visual judging was overwhelmingly the best we have ever experienced," she said.
"Unlike any other year, there was extreme diversity in visual, flavour, texture and juiciness which provides a wonderful opportunity for retail, food service and ultimately the end diner to experience the multiplicity of taste sensations the seasons, regions and breeds bring to our plate."
Australia's best cheese went to Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese from Gippsland for their Riverine Blue cheese.
Peter Gross from Calendar Cheese Co, accepted the award on cheesemaker Barry Charlton's behalf. Mr Gross said Mr Charlton deserved the title as the "best cheesemaker in Australia" following a difficult year.
"Barry really makes the best blue cheese there is in Australia. It is so silky, smooth and creamy. It's not in your face, it's very subtle. The high fat makes it something that even a blue cheese beginner would enjoy," he said.
"COVID was tough for everyone, but for primary producers it was incredibly tough. The market everyone was use to went down overnight. From airlines to restaurants, a massive part of business was lost over night."
Scenic Rim producers Summer Land Camels won the non-cow cheese award for their Persian Style Feta.
Summer Land Camels CEO, Paul Martin said it was great that the awards recognised regenerative agricultural practices.
" The award goes to show the value in our artisan and farming practices. We oversee every stage of the process on our farm, so that we can create the best quality products."
"We have been stepping up our regenerative agricultural practices. Our camels forage on a special multi-species mix that we grow here on our farm, which is the key to creating such amazing products. This has culminated in all of the awards that we have won this year."
"Our feta has won so many awards now, and to be recognised by the Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show as Champion is such an honour."
Queensland also claimed Australia's best ice cream went to Milani Minus Eight Degrees in Sunnybank, for their Dark Chocolate Lemon.
Chief judge for both cheese and ice cream categories Russell Smith said the benchmark has continued to rise in the competition.
"The standard of the cheese and dairy competition were higher than previous years, in part due to several small businesses who submitted their high quality products for the first time," Mr Russell said.
Other Beef Winners
CHAMPION MSA GRADED BRANDED BEEF OF SHOW
Grandchester by Mort & Co
King Street Grain Fed Class
Gold: Grandchester by Mort & Co
Silver: Ebony Black Angus by Kilcoy Global Foods
Bronze: Five Founders by North Australian Pastoral Company
King Street Grass Fed Class
Gold: JOSDALE by Australian Meat Group
Silver: Southern Ranges by Australian Meat Group
Bronze: JBS Queenslander by JBS Australia
Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less
Gold: ICON XB Wagyu by Paradigm Foods
Silver: The Phoenix by Mort & Co
Bronze: Roam Australian Wagyu by Paradigm Foods
Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+
Gold: Stockyard Black by Stockyard
Silver: ICON XB Wagyu by Paradigm Foods
Bronze: Master Selection by Mort & Co
Open Class
Gold: Stockyard Gold by Stockyard
Silver: JBS Yardstick by JBS Australia
Bronze: Ebony Black Angus by Kilcoy Global Foods
OTHER LAMB TROPHY WINNERS
Meat & Livestock Australia Branded Lamb - 20kg or Less
Gold:Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
Silver: 246 by Midfield Meat International
Bronze: Union Station by Midfield Meat International
Branded Lamb - More than 20kg
Gold: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
Silver: Lamb of Tasmania by Tasmanian Lamb Company
Bronze: Australian Lamb by Woodward Foods Australia
Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb - More than 24kg
Gold: Union Station by Midfield Meat International
Silver: 246 by Midfield Meat International
Bronze: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
OTHER CHEESE AND DAIRY TROPHY WINNERS
Champion Cow's Milk Cheese of Show
Oak Blue by Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese
Champion Non Cow's Milk Cheese of Show
Riverine Blue by Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese
13cabs Champion Dairy Dessert or Yoghurt of Show
Probiotic Kefir by Cheeses Loves You
Dairy Australia Champion Butter, Milk or Cream of Show
Real Cream by Maleny Dairies
Champion Buffalo, Goat, Sheep or Other Non Cow's Milk Product of Show
Camel Milk Marinated Cheese - Persian Style Feta by Summer Land Camels
Champion Queensland Cheese or Dairy Product of Show
Blackall Gold Washed Rind by Woombye Cheese Company
OTHER ICE CREAM, GELATO AND SORBET TROPHY WINNERS
Champion Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry Ice Cream or Gelato of Show
Dark Chocolate by Milani House of Gelato
13cabs Champion Flavoured Ice Cream or Gelato of Show
Dark Chocolate Lemon by Milani Minus Eight Degrees
Dairy Australia Champion Ice Cream or Gelato of Show
Dark Chocolate Lemon by Milani Minus Eight Degrees
Champion Sorbet of Show
Queenslander Mango by The Standard Market Company
Champion Queensland Ice Cream, Gelato or Sorbet of Show
Dark Chocolate Lemon by Milani Minus Eight Degrees
