Sydney Royal Competitions will soon click over 200 years, but this time-honoured organisation can never be accused of not keeping up with trends, particularly in food.
Take for example jerky, a standalone class at the completed Sydney Royal Spring Fine Food Show at Sydney Showground.
Jerky is lean meat which has been trimmed of fat, cut into strips and dried with the addition of salt and spices.
Entries have increased in number since 2016, proof of this meat class’ growing popularity in Australia.
Jerky attracted a gold medal and five silvers in the show which culminated in the unveiling of championship winners across all categories.
More than 1100 entries were catalogued for judging across 126 classes in categories ranging from pasta, olive oil, regional food and branded meat to smallgoods and charcuterie.
In the regional food competition, three of the four champions in 2018 were first time entrants in Sydney Royal, while Sydney took the crown as top region by claiming the most medals overall.
Fine Food committee chairman Lachlan Bowtell was pleased with the standard at this year’s show.
“Despite the punishing drought, this year’s entrants demonstrated an increase in quality,” Mr Bowtell said.
“The exhibitors are making it tougher on our judges each year and that is a good thing.
“Seeing producers from the 2017 competitions take on board judges’ feedback and return with a better product is what it is all about.”
Champions included:
- Pasta – Bianco Group was declared champion in the Durum Wheat Specialty Pasta class for its Gnocchoni filled with goats cheese and chives.
- Regional Food – Regional Foods demonstrated a changing of the guard this year with three out of our four champions being first time entrants. Champion Sweet Preserve went to Bunny Chow Down for its Rosella Apple Chilli Jam. Winner of Champion Savoury Preserve was Jam and Jelly by Jewel’s Beetroot Jelly. Hazelbrae Hazelnuts (Tasmania) claimed the Champion Regional Food Specialty Product for its Hazelbrae Hazelnuts Oil. Hum Honey was awarded the Champion Regional Food Other Product for its Cold Fusion Organic Lemon Myrtle.
- Olive Oil – Alto Olives received its first championship since 2014 in the Champion Olives category. Former Sydney Royal President’s Medal winner Cobram Estate also took home two championships for Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Champion Flavoured Olive Oil went to Kyneton Olive Oil for its Basil Infused Oil. Gooramadda Olives was named Champion Boutique Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
