steak Of origin
STEAKS ARE HIGH IN HUNT FOR TOP SIRLOIN
The prestigious title of 2010 Steak of Origin Grand Champion is now up for grabs.
Farmers have less than three weeks left to register their entries in the popular event which acknowledges excellence from pasture to plate.
The Meat & Wool New Zealand event, run by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and proudly supported by Pfizer Animal Genetics, attracted almost 350 entries last year.
Meat & Wool New Zealand Chief Executive, Dr Scott Champion, says the Steak of Origin competition recognises farming excellence and makes a direct link between the beef produced on farms and the product enjoyed by consumers.
“Farmers are increasingly taking this opportunity show how their skill in the paddock creates great tasting beef on the plate”, says Champion.
There are five classes available for farmers, wholesalers, foodservice and retailers to enter. With a total of $11,000 up for the taking, as well as the bragging rights of being named the Steak of Origin Grand Champ, there are no excuses not to enter.
The sirloins will go through rigorous testing to decide the winner.
Analysis begins at Carne Technologies where they are measured for marbling, pH and cooking loss percentage. Semi-finalists are then confirmed by a tenderometer, a mechanical ‘tooth’ that bites down on the steak to determine its tenderness.
A tasting panel in Christchurch will then sample the top third of entries to decide the finalists.
The last hurdle is the final held at the Beef Expo held in Feilding on 18 May. Here the finalists are tasted by a group of chefs and celebrities to ultimately decide the winner.
The competition is supported by processing plants across the country including: AFFCO, Alliance Group, Ashburton Meat Processors, Auckland Meat Processors, CMP Kokiri, Ken Wilson Meats, Land Meat NZ, Ruakura Abattoir, Silver Fern Farms, South Pacific Meats, Taranaki Abattoir, Taylor Preston, Wilson Hellaby.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The Steak of OriginTM challenge aims to find the most tender, tastiest sirloin steak in New Zealand. It is open to beef farmers, retailers, wholesalers and foodservice.
The Steak of OriginTM challenge has been running for over eight years. It originated from a national carcass competition and since the Beef + Lamb New Zealand has run the competition on behalf of Meat & Wool New Zealand, a taste element has been introduced.
The competition process involves an initial assessment of the sirloin steak at Carne Technologies in Cambridge. Each steak is aged for three weeks before being tested for tenderness, pH and % cooking loss. The most tender steaks make the semi-final and are cooked and tasted by a panel of judges in Christchurch. The finalists (four from each of the four classes) are tasted at Beef Expo, Feilding, Tuesday 18 May by top chefs and celebrities to find the most tasty and tender steak in the country.
The three farmer classes are:
- CLASS 1: Best of Breed – European
- CLASS 2: Best of Breed – British
- CLASS 3: Best of Breed – Crossbreed and Other
The two brand classes are:
- CLASS 4: Best of Brand – Retailers
- CLASS 5: Best of Brand - Wholesaler or Foodservice provider
Timeline for the 2010 challenge:
- Call for entries
Late January - Entries close
Friday 12 March at 5pm (two weeks prior to last day for processing) - Stock to processors
Between Monday 22 February and Friday 26 March - Semi-finalists announced
Tuesday 26 Apri - Semi-final in Christchurch and finalists announced
Thursday 29 April - Public Tasting in Christchurch
Friday 30 April - Grand Final at Beef Expo in Feilding
Tuesday 18 May from 6:00pm
Downloads
Press Releases
- Steaks are high in hunt for top sirloin
25 February 2010
2000 Grand Champion, Catherine Withers from Rotorua with Hon. David Carter
Steak of Origin 2009 REPORT
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Winners from previous years:
- 2003 Mike Curnow, Motueka (Angus/Wagyu Cross)
- 2004 Joe and Lea Fouhy, Pahiatua (Angus)
- 2005 Joe and Lea Fouhy, Pahiatua (Angus)
- 2006 The Neat Meat Company, Auckland (AngusPure)
- 2007 Chris and Karren Biddles, Te Kopuru (Angus)
- 2008 Alistair and Patricia Sharpe, Waihi (Angus)
- 2009 Catherine Withers, Rotorua ( Piedmontese X)
