New Zealand's best sausage has been crowned in the 2017 Devro Great New Zealand Sausage Competition.
The Boudin Noir sausage, from Akaroa Butchery & Deli beat 500 other entries to take the win with their French style black pudding creation.
Akaroa butchery owner, Brendan Foster and his talented team produced the sausage that stood out to the 48 judges, including head judge Kathy Paterson who was impressed with the flavour and balance of the Boudin Noir.
"We are really excited about this result. Black pudding or in this case, Boudin Noir, is a polarising sausage. Some won't touch it with a bargepole while others love it and then there are those who think it falls into the superfood category.
"This Boudin Noir is a well-crafted, perfectly balanced sausage with a beyond sensational texture. I encourage all Kiwis to go out and give this one a go. Add to a potato dish, use in a savoury tart or pan-fry and crumble over soup," says Kathy.
Brendan put the success of the sausage down to his team's passion for handcrafted products and stated that the award was a career highlight.
"Black pudding sausages originated as a means of avoiding food waste. For mine to now be recognised as New Zealand's best is a pretty huge achievement, especially for a small independent butchery. Proud is an understatement," said Brendan.
Devro Great New Zealand Sausage Competition 2017 full results:
Supreme Award: Akaroa Butchery & Deli - Boudin Noir
Devro NZ Wildcard Award: Ashby's Butchery, Christchurch - Pepperoni Bierstick
People's Choice Award: Mad Butcher Albany - Pumpkin, Feta and Chicken
BEEF
Gold: Eastbourne Village Meats - Traditional Beef
Silver: PAK'nSAVE Cameron Road - Pure Beef
Bronze (TIE): Aussie Butcher New Lynn - Old English Beef and Ellerslie Meats - Traditional Beef
PORK
Gold: Hellers - Free Farm Country Pork
Silver (TIE): Waipawa Butchery - Famous Pork and The English Sausages Ltd - English Style Breakfast Pork
POULTRY
Gold: Mad Butcher Albany - Chicken, Pumpkin & Feta
Silver: Cameron Harrison - Chicken, Lemon & Sage
Bronze: Aussie Butcher New Lynn - Chicken, Lemon, Ginger & Coriander
PRECOOKED
Gold (TIE): Greytown Butchery - Saveloy and Wild Game Salami - Beard Brothers Old School Saveloy
Bronze: Peter Timbs Meats - Pork, Lemon & Leek
FLAVOURED
Gold: Greytown Butchery - Beef Flavoured
Silver: Hellers - Pork Flavoured
Bronze: Leonard's - Pork Flavoured
BLACK PUDDING
Gold (tied): Akaroa Butchery & Deli - Boudin Noir and Eastbourne Village Meats - Black Pudding
Bronze: Greytown Butchery - Black Pudding
CONTINENTAL FRESH
Gold: The Produce Company - Fresh Chorizo
Silver: New World Bishopdale - Merguez
Bronze (TIE): L'Authentique - Breakfast Toulouse and New World Nelson - Boerewors
CONTINENTAL READY TO EAT
Gold: Ashby's Butchery - Pepperoni Bierstick
Silver: Swiss Deli - Mini Wienerli
Bronze: Hellers - Continental Frankfurters
TRADITIONAL
Gold: Zamora - Pork & Sage
Silver: Bethlehem Butchery - Lamb, Pea, Feta & Chives
Bronze: Elite Meats - Pork & Fennel; New World Rototuna - Lamb, Mint & Rosemary; Mangawhai Meat Shop - Pork & Fennel
GOURMET BEEF
Gold (TIE): Hellers - Sticky Ginger Beef; Raeward Fresh Tower Junction - The Carolina Reaper - Beef, Chilli & Cheese
Bronze: Aussie Butcher New Lynn - Beef, Mushroom, Onion & Parmesan
GOURMET PORK
Gold: Bangerrito Inc. Worldwide Global Limited - Pork Bangerrito
Silver: L'Authentique - Luganaea Pork & Parmesan
Bronze: New World Bishopdale - Pork, Turmeric & Chilli; New World Elles Road, Pure Pork - Blue Vein Cheese & Garlic; New World Greenmeadows - Free Farm Pork with Apple & Cider; Peter Timbs Meats - Pork & Peach
GOURMET VARIETAL
Gold: New World Havelock North - Lamb & Mussel
Silver: PAK'nSAVE Cameron Road - Mussel
Bronze: Deep Creek Deli Butchery - Alpine Venison, Red Wine & Bacon