New Zealand’s best sausages and meatballs revealed

Serena Solomon

As summer approaches, New Zealanders are dusting off their barbecues and the nation’s new charcuterie champion is ready to hit the grill.

A pork and leek sausage from Westmere Butchery in Auckland delighted judges at the 27th annual Great New Zealand Sausage Competition in Dunningham.

The sausage beat out more than 800 other entries to win the top award, which was announced Tuesday night.

The competition celebrates timeless sausages, as well as recipes and technologies that push the boundaries of ingredients and flavors.

According to food writer and judge Katie Paterson, Westmere Butchery’s product scored highly in terms of technical composition, aroma, appearance, texture and, of course, taste.

“The flavors they used are a classic combination that work well together. They achieved balance and seasoning and the leeks were perfectly cooked and tender, creating an excellent texture. The flavors of both the leek and pork came through beautifully, resulting in a truly delicious sausage,” she said.

Technical judge Brian Everton of Cabernet Foods said the ingredients in the winning driftwood were well balanced and evenly distributed.

“You could see the flavor, the grind and the quality of the meat that came together to create a winning combination,” he said.

There were winners from across the country in 16 categories.

Peter Timbs Meats in Christchurch won the meatball category with their Italian meatballs. Peter Timbs Meats, which operates stores in Farrington Avenue, Bishopdale and Edgeware Road.

Timbs’s first butcher shop opened in Oxford, England in 1876 and was run by Peter’s great-great-grandfather Samuel Timbs. Samuel’s son Cyril immigrated to New Zealand in 1910 and owned an abattoir in Whakatane in the 1930s.

His sons Vernes and Ron joined the family business. Ron moved to Christchurch and ran the business in Heathcote for 25 years.

His son Peter continued the family tradition and began working as a butcher when he was 15 years old. Its first store opened in Cashmere in 1978. The Edgeware Road store opened 18 years later.

Peter’s son Chris took over the Edgeware store in 1999 after training in Kulmbach, Germany. He continued his father’s legacy by producing award-winning sausages, bacon and other quality products.

Meanwhile, the Gourmet Beef Sausage category was won by The Four Square in Martinborough, which offers a Martinborough beef and triple cheese sausage.

For the judges, sorting out the tasty and not-so-tasty New Zealand sausages is serious business.

808 sausages and minced meat products (such as meatballs and hamburger patties) competed for victory in 13 sausage categories and three mince categories.

The first of two rounds of judging lasted eight days to determine which sausage won at the category level. These winners were re-judged to determine the Supreme Winner and the People’s Choice Award, voted for by the public during a sausage lunch.

Auckland-based Mapari Meats won the People’s Choice award for its venison chorizo. Princes Street Butcher & Kitchen in Dunedin has won a Dunninghams Choice Award for its traditional pork sausage.

There were winners from across the country in 16 categories. Peter Timbs Meats in Christchurch won the meatball category with their Italian meatballs. Four Square restaurant in Martinborough won the gourmet beef sausage category for its Martinborough beef and triple cheese sausage.

Here is the list of winners:

Highest award

Westmere Butcher, Auckland

Pork and leek

People’s Choice Award Winner

Mapari Meats at Mt Wellington, Auckland

Venison Chorizo

Dunninghams Choice Award Winner

Butcher shop and kitchen on Princes Street in Dunedin

Traditional pork

Winner of the “Taste of the World” category

Marble in Auckland

Burevors

Winner of the Gourmet Pork category

New World Birkenhead in Auckland

Jalapeño Pork Sausage with Cheese

Traditional category winner

Westmere Butcher in Auckland.

Pork and leek

Continental Fresh Category Winner

Mapari Meats in Auckland

Venison Chorizo

Winner of the semi-finished products category

Zaroa meat in Auckland

Taranaki cheese

Winner of the Beef category

New World Te Rapa in Hamilton

Angus Beef

Winner of the Black Pudding/Rounds category

Pokeno Bacon at Pokeno

Black Pudding Johnny

Winner in the Heat and Food category

Pokeno Bacon at Pokeno

Franks Frankfurter

Winner of the “Flavorous Burger Patties” category

New World in Hastings

Beef cutlet, cranberry and camembert

Winner in the category “Classic Burger Patties”

Waipawa Butcher Shop in Hawke’s Bay

Patangata beef cutlets

Winner of the Gourmet Beef Sausage category

Four squares in Martinborough

Martinborough with beef and triple cheese

Winner in the category “Gourmet varietal sausages”

Cattermoles Butcher Shop in Kaiapoi

Jalapeño, smoked cheddar and ham

Winner of the meatball category

Peter Timbs Meat in Christchurch

Italian meatballs

Winner in the Gourmet Poultry Sausage category

Links Quality Meat in Dunedin

Maple and Sriracha chicken

Winner in the Traditional Pork Sausage category

Butcher and kitchen on Princes Street in Dunedin