As part of Australian Bacon Week, which runs from 21-27 June, Australia’s bacon has been put to the test in the Australian Bacon Awards.
Three specialist judges independently scrutinized the entries for appearance, flavour and other characteristics. Judges Fleischmeister Horst Schurger, who has a Masters degree in butchering and smallgoods; experienced judge and chef, Simon Bestley, and Australian Pork’s Mitch Edwards, assessed 135 entries over two days.
For the second consecutive year, the judges named Pialligo Estate Smokehouse Australia’s Best Artisan Bacon. The dry cured and smoked shortcut rashers produced by the Canberra company were described by the judges as beautifully marbled, with a nice smoky aroma and a nice balanced taste.
Bertocchi Smallgoods also became a back-to-back winner, taking home the Best Nationally Available Bacon. This year they impressed judges with their Bertocchi Brothers’ Long Rindless Hickory Smoked Bacon, which is available in the chilled aisle of Coles stores. The judges said it had the perfect aroma with a nice, gentle smokiness, minimal shrinkage and a great balanced taste.
Australian Bacon Week runs from 21-27 June celebrating 100% Australian bacon, but also drawing attention to the competition local bacon faces from imported product.
Australian Pork Limited’s Peter Haydon said “Many people are shocked to learn that more than 70 per cent of bacon sold in Australia is made from imported pork and so it’s also about sharing the tips on how to identify Aussie. The pink PorkMark logo or the words ‘Product of Australia’ mean the bacon is true blue.”
And the winners are…
Australia’s Best Artisan Bacon
Pialligo Estate Smokehouse dry cured and smoked shortcut bacon, Pialligo Estate, ACT
Australia’s Best Nationally Available Bacon
Bertocchi Brothers Long Rindless Hickory Smoked Bacon, Bertocchi Smallgoods
National Winners
Full Rasher
- Southlands Quality Meats, Mawson, ACT
- Country Meats Lismore, Lismore, NSW
- Circle T Meats, Raceview, QLD
Shortcut
- Pialligo Estate, Pialligo, ACT
- Campbell’s Superior Meats, West Pymble, NSW
- Meat on Melville, Numurkah, VIC
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