|
Four hundred of the country's finest specialty cheeses will
compete for the title of New Zealand's best cheese in this year's Cuisine NZ
Champions of Cheese Awards in early March.
The only national competition of its kind in New Zealand, the
Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards recognise and showcase the crème de la
crème of the cheesemaking industry. The winner's will be announced at a gala
dinner at SKYCITY on Tuesday 4 March.
Now in their fifth year, the awards have attracted a diverse
range of entrants this year and more entries from smaller producers than ever
before. This includes four exciting newcomers from around the country, including
Kaimai Cheeses in Waharoa and the award's first fresh buffalo milk cheese. In
addition a number of cheese producers have entered the awards after an absence
of a few years.
Headed by Master Judge Neil Willman, a group of 26 judges
representing a cross-section of industry experts will scrutinise all of the 400
entries on Sunday 2 March at Massey University, Albany. The judges will be
looking for features such as aroma, flavour, texture and body, from both
technical and aesthetic perspectives.
Cheeses will be awarded in 20 categories covering all types of
milk and cheese types as well as awards for best cheesemaker and best hobbyist
cheesemaker. These are fresh unripened, feta, soft white rind, washed rind,
blue, European style, Dutch Style, flavoured and cheddar cheese.
The ultimate accolade, the Taylor's Port Champion of Champions
Cheese 2008, New Zealand's best cheese, will then be selected. NZ's favourite
cheese will be determined by supermarket sales while an expert design panel will
judge the best packaging for NZ cheese.
One of the new additions for this year's awards is the new
Cuisine Artisan Award. This award has been added to recognise this
ever-increasing group of small, artisan producers springing up around the
country who are producing 10 tonnes of cheese or less per annum.
The public will get a chance to taste all of the 400 entries at
CheeseFest on March 5. This exciting event will be held at the SKYCITY
Convention Centre from 5-8pm on Wednesday March 5th 2008. For a modest fee of
$35, CheeseFest attendees will be able to sample over 400 of NZs finest
specialty cheeses from the awards accompanied by a complimentary glass of wine
and a glass of Taylor's Port.
Ends
Prepared on behalf of the NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association
by Goode PR, Auckland. For further information, images or to organise interviews
with the Master Judge, New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association, entrants
or winners please contact Petra Milhaljevich on 09 480 9948 or email petra@goodepr.co.nz
Editor's Note:
Master Judge Neil Willman
Profile
Australian Master Cheesemaker and Cheese Grader Neil Willman has
been appointed the new Master Judge for the 2008 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese
Awards. Willman is Australia's only fulltime cheese educator and trainer and
has, for 26 years, been responsible for all the cheese education and training
programmes at Gilbert Chandler College, Australia's only dedicated dairy
college.
He has been an international judge at the World Championship
Cheese Contest and the British Cheese Awards, as well as at previous Cuisine NZ
Champions of Cheese Awards. Willman has also been chief judge at the Australian
Grand Dairy Awards, the Royal Sydney Easter Show, CheeseFest in Adelaide, and
the Dairy Industry Association of Australia National Dairy Product
Competition.
Neil will be in New Zealand from Saturday 1 March to Saturday 8
March for judging and is available for interviews.
Cuisine NZ Champion Cheese Awards 2008
categories:
SKYCITY Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
NZ Cheese
School Champion Feta Cheese Award
Innovative Packaging Soft White Rind Cheese
Award
NZSCA Champion Goat Cheese Award
Massey University Champion Sheep
Cheese Award
New World Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Ecolab Champion
Blue Cheese Award
Foodtown Woolworths Champion European Style Cheese
Award
Foodtown Woolworths Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
NZ Food Safety
Authority Champion New Cheese Award
Fonterra Champion Original Cheese
Award
Hally Labels Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Hally Labels Champion
Cheddar Cheese Award
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Champion Export
Cheese Award
New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award
Curious Design
Cheese Packaging Award
Curds & Whey Champion Hobbyist Cheese
Katherine
Mowbray Champion Hobbyist Cheesemaker Award
Hospitality Magazine Champion
Cheesemaker
Cuisine Champion Artisan Cheese
Taylor's Port Champion of
Champions Award |
