Porkstars: Christmas Hams in Season & Victoria's Best Revealed
Decorations have been up for months, but the appearance of Christmas hams is the sure sign the festive season has arrived and Victoria’s best have today been revealed. The World Loves Melbourn ewas invited to the launch of Christmas Ham Season in Sydney.
Australian Pork Limited Marketing Manager, Mitch Edwards, said Christmas ham season had arrived and the Australian PorkMark Ham Awards helped people find a great tasting ham for their celebrations.
“A judging panel assessed more than 140 entries against a range of criteria, from appearance and aroma to texture and taste,” he said. “The Australian PorkMark Ham Awards recognise the best hams made from 100% home-grown pork and once again our judges were impressed by the quality.”
Fleischmeister Horst Schurger, who has a Master’s Degree in Butchering and Smallgoods from the Master College in Monchengladbach, Germany, joined chefs, Paul McDonald and Simon Bestley, on the judging panel.
In Victoria, the top performing ham was from Lago and Paramount Smallgoods, taking out first place for its traditional bone-in ham, plus third place nationally. Rounding out the Victorian bone-in category was Andrew’s Choice, second, and Otway Pork, third. The best Victorian boneless ham was from Andrew’s Choice, with Peter Bouchier, second, and Lago third.
“Judges were again impressed with the quality of entries and we hope this will help people select the perfect centrepiece for their festive feasts,” Mr Edwards said.
“While all Traditional Bone-in Hams are proudly Australian, many people are surprised to find more than two thirds of ham sold in Australia is made from imported pork.
“So, if you’re buying a boneless ham, look for the pink PorkMark or the words Product of Australia.”
Australia’s Best Artisan Ham and Best Boneless Ham was won by Pingelly Quality Meats, Pingelly, Western Australia. Australia’s Best Traditional Bone-in Ham was won by Barossa Fine Foods, Edinburgh North, South Australia. Best Nationally Available ham was awarded to Woolworths, for its Woolworths Half Leg Ham – Bone In.
For more winners of this year’s Australian PorkMark Ham Awards, plus recipes, tips and tricks for your Christmas ham, visit www.pork.com.au
And the winners are…
VICTORIA
Victoria’s Best Traditional Bone-in Ham
1st Lago and Paramount Smallgoods Melbourne 0401 748 879
2nd Andrew’s Choice Melbourne (03) 8360 8688
3rd Otway Pork Melbourne 0408 966 706
Victoria’s Best Boneless Ham
1st Andrew’s Choice Melbourne (03) 8360 8688
2nd Peter Bouchier
3rd Lago and Paramount Smallgoods Melbourne 0401 748 879
NATIONAL
Overall Winner and Best Artisan Ham
Pingelly Quality Meats
Australia’s Best Traditional Bone-in Ham
1st Barossa Fine Foods Edinburgh North, SA (08) 8255 3900
2nd Noosa Meat Centre Noosaville, Qld (07) 5474 1666
3rd Lago and Paramount Smallgoods Melbourne, Vic 0401 748 879
Australia’s Best Boneless Ham
1st Pingelly Quality Meats Pingelly, WA (08) 9887 1416
2nd Sunvalley Fine Foods Warana, Qld (07) 5437 6730
3rd German Butchery
Nationally Available
1st Woolworths
Media hotline (02) 8885 1033
2nd Bertocchi
(03) 9355 5109
HC Woolworths
Media hotline (02) 8885 1033