Burton’s Butchery takes home, well, the bacon for the second year in a row at the 100% NZ Bacon and Ham Awards.
The butchery based in the heart of Thames Valley snapped up a silver medal for its Manuka Smoked Loin Bacon on June 30.
“It’s a good feeling,” owner Elliot Burton told The Profile of his award.
“You know, we put a lot of work and effort into it, so it’s good to be recognised as well and not from just our loyal customers [but also] from the judging panel.”
It was a three-day process that pulled together a panel of experienced butchers and culinary experts, who made a careful assessment of 233 entries from across the motu, all made using 100 per cent New Zealand pork.
“So it’s just quite a good thing to be up there with all the other players,” he said.
Culinary judge Greig Buckley of Kai Foods said the competition helped shoppers take the guesswork out of choosing bacon and ham, and highlighted the quality products they could buy with confidence.
Elliot described his award-winning bacon as an “old-fashioned sort of style”, with a “real strong hint” of Manuka throughout, which came to life through the wood-fired smokehouse.
“Lots of commercial places or other bigger butcher shops, they have the electric sort of smokehouses and that these days, where[as] we’re still out there tending to a fire.”
One thing was certain, he had a lot of gratitude for his patrons.
“Without our customers, we wouldn’t be entering awards and trying to keep improving our business,” he said.
“The support of all our customers allows us to be able to do this sort of stuff.”
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
