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Mahurangi food producers were punching above their weight in the recent Outstanding Food Producer Awards, judged by Mahurangi Matters’ own cuisine columnist Lauraine Jacobs.
Charlies Gelato in Sharp Road, and the Matakana-based Honest Chocolat and Daily Organics all collected multiple gold medals.
Jacobs, who led 23 judges in assessing the products, said the medals were a morale boost for producers affirming their hard work. They also gave consumers a guide to locally made products that they could purchase with confidence.
“After eight years, we’re seeing more new products entered each year, and producers are showing more imagination and innovation in presentation and taste, as they develop new food ideas,” Jacobs says.
“There’s always a danger that new ideas can be over the top, but this year there was plenty to stimulate the palate. The entries also allowed the natural flavour to shine without being over-processed.”
A judging highlight was a dedicated chocolate category, merging the NZ Chocolate Awards into the Outstanding Food Producer Awards. Sixty chocolate products were assessed with 18 receiving gold medals, including Honest Chocolat, which picked up two gold medals – one for its tea and biscuit milk chocolate and the other for its orange and macadamia 64% dark chocolate. It was also awarded a silver medal for its pineapple and almonds dark chocolate.
Charlies Gelato also won two gold medals – one for its lemon gelato and the other for its feijoa sorbetto.
Daily Organics won gold medals for its 0% blanc, peach thyme and its 0% rosé, strawberry rhubarb; and a silver medal for its botanical rose lemonade.
Former Mahurangi West chocolate makers Foundry Chocolate, now based in Silverdale, won four gold medals, two silver and four bronze.
High-scoring gold medal winners are in contention for the Category Champion Awards, which will be announced at the annual Champions Party on April 18.
