JD’S Jerky House and Redland Bay Quality Meats have been praised for having the best jerky and bacon in Queensland after entering the Queensland Royal Show for the first time.
Alexandra Hills resident Janice Stanwell was awarded for her lemon, chilli and garlic jerky while Victoria Point’s Kelly Shaw won the state bacon award.
Ms Stanwell said she and her husband David had been working on jerky for three years and had received their accreditation this year.
“I bought a small dehydrator to dry fruit for my birds and I thought I might try jerky,” she said.
“It just grew from there.
“We made it for our family and friends and then their friends’ friends enjoyed it so we now have a stall at Rocklea markets and a canteen during football season.”
Ms Stanwell said she always hoped to win but placing first came as a pleasant surprise.
“The other entries were things like salt and pepper and sticky rib jerky,” she said.
“I think what makes our jerky different is the flavours we choose.
“When you chew on jerky, it gives you those layers of flavour that breaks out so first you taste the lemon and sweetness and then after a while you get the chilli and garlic.”
Mr Shaw said he believed the way he cured his bacon using his family recipe that had been passed down was what made his entry different.
“We have had this shop for 18 months and this is the first time we entered our bacon,” he said.
“The judges didn’t tell us why they picked ours but they were looking for taste, smell and presentation of the bacon but I think we won because we had the best tasting bacon.”
The Victoria Point resident said there was originally a tie between three entrants and judges had to narrow down their decisions.
“We knew we had good bacon but now we know we have the best bacon in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Shaw said he found female pork was usually the best kind to use and prided himself in buying locally sourced pork from south-east Queensland farmers.
Mr Shaw also left the show with the third place for the best butcher burger and gourmet open classes, crediting fresh and quality produce and keeping it simple as his secret.
Both winners are eager to return to the show next year to maintain their titles.
Jocelyn Garcia
Jocelyn is a journalist at the Redland City Bulletin, covering education issues and school stories. She was a former journalist at Beaudesert Times, reporting about crime, schools and agriculture.
Jocelyn is a journalist at the Redland City Bulletin, covering education issues and school stories. She was a former journalist at Beaudesert Times, reporting about crime, schools and agriculture.
