A DARLING Downs wagyu has beaten beef from across the country to win Australia’s best steak at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show’s prestigious Branded Beef and Lamb Competition.
Stockyard’s kiwami wagyu, produced near Toowoomba, grilled 41 other entries to take out the John Kilroy Cha Cha Char Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show in the largest competition of its kind in the country.
“It had textbook marbling, luscious juiciness, melt-in-the-mouth tenderness and incredibly well-balanced flavours that were both delicate and robust,” said chief judge Elaine Millar.
Stockyard marketing executive Sophie Kennedy said they were thrilled with the win.
“It’s very humbling and very exciting and it just shows that the work we’re doing with our cattle and our product is paying off,” she said.
“This is one of the hardest competitions to win so we’re very excited that we’ve been able to walk away with the big prize.”
But don’t expect to find the steak at your local butcher any time soon, with the meat bred for exporting to 15 countries including Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
It’s the third year in a row the top gong has gone to a Darling Downs-reared steak, with AACo taking out the prize the past two years.
Meanwhile the best lamb in Australia title went to Woodward Foods Australia for their HRW Tasmanian meat.
Ms Millar praised it for its sweet juiciness, silky texture and complex flavours.
The awards followed two days of rigorous judging this week by some of Queensland’s best butchers, chefs and industry experts.
Online Source: news.com.au
