Tim & Kelly Brittain from Otorohanga have been awarded the 2017 Grand Champion title for their Angus steak. Photo / Supplied
Last night, New Zealand's most tender and tasty steak was announced at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin competition awards dinner, held in association with PGG Wrightson.
Tim & Kelly Brittain from Otorohanga have been awarded the 2017 Grand Champion title for their Angus steak, in the competition's 15th year.
Being recognised as the country's top beef producer is an achievement Tim and Kelly are extremely proud of.
"Each year our entries into this competition have stepped up a level and I am so proud that tonight all our work and efforts can be celebrated. This outcome is a significant achievement and something that Kelly and I have been working towards," says Tim.
The panel of judges, including renowned chefs, Ben Bayly, Gareth Stewart and Shaun Clouston completed two rounds of judging before the Brittains' steak was deemed the county's top from an initial line-up of 64 semi-finalists.
Chef judge, Shaun Clouston recognises the way in which this competition shines light on the country's beef farmers, acknowledging that the high quality of beef within the New Zealand food service is down to their fine-tuned farming activities.
"The paddock to plate link is one that New Zealanders are really interested in. It is important for us chefs to appreciate this and understand that an outstanding steak dish and dining experience starts well before the restaurant kitchen," says Clouston.
Prior to the judging day, scientists at Carne technologies tested all 305 of the competition entries to determine the top 20% in each competition class to progress through to judging.
The two rounds of judging had the chefs assess each steak against a set of criteria such as aroma, tenderness, juiciness and taste. The first round of judging determined the medal placings in each class, results which were also announced at the awards dinner last night. From here the gold medal winning steaks in each class, excluding Lifestyle, were re-judged to decide the 2017 Grand Champion and the 2017 Brand winner.
The competition's six Best of Breed classes were open to all New Zealand beef farmers and included classes for European, British Angus, British Hereford, British Other and Crossbreeds and a class for Lifestyle farmers. The Best of Brand competition included a class for retailers and a class for wholesalers and foodservice suppliers.
The 2017 Brand winner was also announced with Countdown taking home the title with their Countdown Angus brand and the Processor of the 2017 Grand Champion was Auckland Meat Processors/Wilson Hellaby.
The competition is sponsored by PGG Wrightson and supported by AFFCO Moerewa, Alliance Group Ltd, Ashburton Meat Processors, Auckland Meat Processors/Wilson Hellaby, Cabernet Foods, CMP Kokiri, Harris Meats, Land Meat NZ, Oamaru Meats, Progressive Meats, Silver Fern Farms and Taylor Preston.
The 2017 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin award winners are:
2017 Grand Champion: Tim & Kelly Brittain, Otorohanga (Angus), processed at Auckland Meat Processors/Wilson Hellaby
2017 Brand Winner: Countdown (Countdown Angus)
CLASS 1: BEST OF BREED - EUROPEAN
Gold: AA & LA Partridge, Leeston (Simmental), processed at Ashburton Meat Processors
Silver: Jon Knauf, Wairoa (Simmental), processed at Land Meat
Bronze: Malcolm Entwisle, Te Kauwhata (Simmental), processed at Auckland Meat Processors
CLASS 2: BEST OF BREED - BRITISH : ANGUS
Gold: Tim & Kelly Brittain, Otorohanga (Angus), processed at Auckland Meat Processors
Silver: Dougal Stringer, Gore (Angus), processed at Silver Fern Farms Finegand
Bronze: Ceri Lewis, Otautau (Angus), processed at Silver Fern Farms Finegand
CLASS 3: BEST OF BREED - BRITISH : HEREFORD
Gold, Silver & Bronze: Robin & Jacqueline Blackwell, Inglewood (Hereford), processed at Land Meat
CLASS 4: BEST OF BREED - BRITISH : OTHER
Gold & Bronze: Graeme John Dyke, Pahiatua (Red Devon), processed at Silver Fern Farms Pacific
Silver: Anita Erskine, Tuatapere (Shorthorn), processed at Silver Fern Farms Finegand
CLASS 5: BEST OF BREED - CROSSBREED & OTHER
Gold: AA & LA Partridge, Leeston (Charolais Simmental X), processed at Ashburton Meat Processors
Silver: AA & LA Partridge, Leeston (Simmental Angus X), processed at Ashburton Meat Processors
Bronze: Michael McCool, Auckland (Wagyu), processed at Auckland Meat Processors
CLASS 6: BEST OF BREED - LIFESTYLE
Silver: Janie McPhee, Levin (Speckle Park), processed at Land Meat
CLASS 7: BEST OF BRAND - RETAIL
Gold & Bronze: Countdown (Countdown Angus), Auckland (Angus), processed at Auckland Meat Processors
Silver: AngusPure (PAK'nSAVE Gisborne), Gisborne (Angus), processed at Silver Fern Farms Pacific
CLASS 8: BEST OF BRAND - WHOLESALE & FOODSERVICE
Gold: AngusPure (Neat Meat), Auckland (Angus), processed at Auckland Meat Processors
Silver: Bowmont Meats (Hereford Prime), Invercargill (Hereford), processed at Bowmont Meats
Bronze: Countdown (Countdown Angus), Auckland (Angus), processed at Auckland Meat Processors