The best of the best in WA’s food and beverage scene have been unveiled in a glamorous gala event held at Crown Towers.
The Perth Royal Food Awards Gala – the culmination of the near five-month long 2019 Perth Royal Food Awards programme – was attended by a select gathering of Western Australia’s finest producers across 16 diverse categories including bread, cider, sausages, chocolate and wine.
Following their earlier successes, the award hopefuls faced a nervous wait to find out if they had been crowned the 2019 Perth Royal Food Awards Grand Champion for their respective industries. Presided over by Channel 9 and 6PR’s Christina Morrisey, the event – an initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA – attracted 300 of WA’s leading lights in food, drink and agriculture and a specially prepared menu, featuring award winning produce from across the state.
[gallery columns="2" link="none" size="large" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2019/09/Feral-Brewing-Recieved-the-Award-for-Beer.png|Feral Brewing ,https://media.localista.com.au/2019/09/North-Street-Store-Bread-and-Pastry-Grand-Champion.png|North Street Store "]
Deep Woods Estate were awarded the coveted Perth Royal Food Awards WA Wine Grand Champion – to add to their already impressive haul of seven Perth Royal Wine Awards which they scooped in August.
Feral Brewing also joined the Grand Champion club for their Runt Midstrength Pale Ale. Both the wine and beer grand champions were served to guests and dignitaries on the night.
Harvey Beef, Linley Valley Pork, The Butcher’s Block, Baiada Poultry, BRE & Sons, The British Sausage Company, and Swansea Street Meat markets all received the Grand Champion prize for their respective meat, poultry or branded meat products.
The creme de la creme of dairy was Dellendale Creamery with their Nullaki Cheese winning the Grand Champion for Dairy, and the Grand Champion for Bread and Pastry was shared when North Street Bakery’s baguette and MJ Creations’ carrot cake came joint winners.
[gallery link="none" columns="2" size="large" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2019/09/The-Grove-Distillery-Brewery-was-crowned-the-Perth-Royal-Food-Awards-Distilled-Spirits-Grand-Champion.png|The Grove Distillery,https://media.localista.com.au/2019/09/Harvey-Beef-the-recipient-of-the-Branded-Beef-Grand-Champion-Award.png|Harvey Beef"]
The Margret River Chocolate Company were announced the Grand Champion for Chocolate. The award for alternative milk products saw the Milk Barrel acknowledged for their Dark Chocolate Gelato.
The Grand Champion of Pantry Goods went to Smokey Q Rubs and Sauces, whilst Carmel Cider Company and The Grove Distillery took out the Grand Champion titles for Cider and Distilled Spirits respectively.
[gallery columns="2" link="none" size="large" ess_grid_gal="" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2019/09/Perth-Royal-Food-Awards-Alternative-Milk-Grand-Champion-The-Milk-Barrel.png|The Milk Barrel,https://media.localista.com.au/2019/09/Deep-Woods-Estate-was-crowned-the-Western-Australian-Wine-Grand-Champion-for-its-2018-Reserve-Shiraz.png|Deep Woods Estate"]
Paul Carter, President of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA, said the evening – which was the first of its kind - had been ‘a very special moment’ for the organisation.
“Some of the competitions encompassed by the Perth Royal Food Awards date back to the mid 1800’s”, he explained.
“There are very few awards for food and beverages which carry the same history and prestige. As a society, we have enormous pride in Western Australian produce and the people who create it. The gala is an opportunity to expand our reach in celebrating the best our state has to offer and – ultimately – to raise awareness among the general public that these remarkable products are hiding in plain sight, in their local shops and supermarkets.
“We would urge the buying public to keep their eye out for the Perth Royal Food Awards medals on bottles, tins, packaging and signage and try these incredible products for themselves.”
For further information and the full list of winners, visit: https://perthroyalfoodawards.raswa.org.au/
Image Credits: Royal Agricultural Society of WA, Featured: The Margret River Chocolate Company.