Australian Bacon Award winners have been announced, signalling the beginning of Australian Bacon Week.
Attracting 125 entries this year, they were independently judged over two days by fleischmeister Horst Schurger, and top chefs, Paul McDonald and Simon Bestly.
Pialligo Farm Smokehouse ACT took out top honours, with its Full Rasher Smoked and Dry Cured Bacon named Australia’s Best Artisan Bacon.
‘We are absolutely delighted and very proud to have achieved this benchmark award,’ said Pialligo Estate’s master smoker and Smokehouse Manager, Peter Curry.
‘It is a great honour to know that our bacon has been judged as Australia’s Best Artisan Bacon, especially given the record number of entries,’ he said.
In addition to the Full Rasher and Shortcut competitions, a new Nationally Available category was introduced to recognise the top Australian bacon available right across Australia.
And the winners are…
Australia’s Best Artisan Bacon
Pialligo Farm Smokehouse Full Rasher Smoked and Dry Cured Bacon, Pialligo Farm Smokehouse, ACT
Nationally Available
Bertocchi Hickory Smoked Pan Size Bacon, Bertocchi Smallgoods
National Winners
Full Rasher
First place: Pialligo Farm Smokehouse, Pialligo, ACT
Second Place: Circle T Meats, Raceview, QLD
Third Place: Schulte’s Meat Tavern, Plainland, QLD
Short Cut
First Place: Kanmantoo Bacon, Kanmantoo, SA
Second Place: Edwards Family Butchery, Woy Woy NSW
Third Place: Slade Point Meat Specialists, Mackay QLD