Hat-Trick of Best Steak Titles for Darling Downs Wagyu

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.

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