Stockyard’s Wagyu Kiwami has won the battle of the beef for the third year in a row, taking out the title of Australia’s best steak at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Branded Beef and Lamb Competition Awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday (May 3).
The premium Wagyu brand, produced at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs, steaked the coveted John Kilroy Cha Cha Char Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show trophy over 49 other entrants.
Chief Judge Elaine Millar said the balance and length of flavours were extraordinary. “The flavour profile excited with both the delicacy of young roasted hazelnuts and the richness of bonito flakes and field mushrooms - perfect for Japanese cuisine or treated with respect on any open-coal Australian barbecue,” she said. The Darling Downs also stood out in the hunt for Australia’s best lamb, with Queensland raised lamb winning a medal for the first time in the competition’s 10-year history. Karbullah at Goondiwindi claimed a bronze medal in the Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb class for their lamb entry fed on saltbush. “The judges were impressed with their free-range, hormone free, Old Man Saltbush grazed merino entry and I hope to see Karbullah lamb on many more menus in the near future,” Ms Millar said. The medals are usually dominated by Tasmanian and Victorian bred lamb, so it was no surprise when Woodward Foods Australia’s HRW Tasmanian Lamb was named Australia’s best. Tasmanian produced lamb has won the award the past three years, with the HRW Tasmanian Lamb brand also taking out the title in 2017. Chief Judge Elaine Millar said it delivered sublime delicate flavours and fine textures that worked harmoniously together. “Although the flavours of pureed almond, butter beans and pale cereal were delicate, the length on the palate was outstanding,” she said. A record 73 entries were received in the Branded Beef and Lamb Competition this year - an increase of more than 20 per cent on last year. The entries were judged by a team of 11 food experts over two days this week, including Chief Judge Elaine Millar and Stokehouse Executive Chef Richard Ousby. Some of Friday’s award-winning beef and lamb will now feature on the menu at the Royal Queensland Steakhouse presented by JBS at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka), which is just 98 days away. MAJOR AWARD WINNERS: THE JOHN KILROY CHA CHA CHAR GRAND CHAMPION BRANDED BEEF OF SHOW (Australia’s best steak) Stockyard Pty Ltd for its Stockyard Wagyu Kiwami CHAMPION MSA GRADED BRANDED BEEF OF SHOW JBS Australia for its JBS Riverina Angus CHAMPION BRANDED LAMB OF SHOW (Australia’s best lamb) Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods HRW Tasmanian Lamb BEEF AWARD WINNERS: Class 1 – King Street Grain Fed Class Gold: JBS Australia for its JBS Riverina Angus Silver: Stockyard Pty Ltd for its Stockyard Gold Bronze: NH Foods Australia for its Angus Reserve Class 2 – King Street Grass Fed Class Gold: Thomas Foods International for its Angus Pure Silver: Coles for its Coles Graze Porterhouse Bronze: NH Foods Australia for its Manning Valley Naturally Grass Fed beef Class 3 - Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less Gold: Kilcoy Global Foods for its Carrara 640 Wagyu Silver: Stockyard Pty Ltd for its Stockyard Silver Bronze: Jac Wagyu for its Jac Wagyu Pure Class 4 - Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ Gold: Stockyard Pty Ltd for its Stockyard Wagyu Kiwami Silver: Mort & Co for its Phoenix Beef - The Phoenix Bronze: Kilcoy Global Foods for its Carrara 640 Wagyu Class 5 - Open Class Gold: JBS Australia for its JBS Tender Valley Black Angus Silver: JBS Australia for its JBS Yardstick Bronze: Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods Australia Natural Beef LAMB AWARD WINNERS: Class 6 - Meat & Livestock Australia Branded Lamb - 20kg or Less Gold: Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods HRW Tasmanian Lamb Silver: The Midfield Group for its Union Station Bronze: Australian Wholesale Meats Qld for its Sovereign lamb Class 7 - Branded Lamb - More than 20kg Gold: Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods Australian lamb Silver: Coles for its Coles Brand Lamb Rack Bronze: Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods HRW Tasmanian Lamb Class 8 - Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb - More than 24kg Gold: Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods HRW Tasmanian Lamb Silver: Woodward Foods Australia for its Woodward Foods Australian lamb Bronze: Karbullah for its Karbullah entry fed on saltbush For the full results catalogue please click here. Missed something? Catch up here! Catch up on today's headlines and download the Hit app here: iOS | Android