Q Guild To The Fore At Belgian Meat Competition

The reputation of the Guild of Q Butchers has spread into Europe with a number of members gaining top international honours at the recent Eurobeef Trade Competitions which were part of Meat and Fresh Expo 2007 at Kortrijk in Belgium earlier this month. (March 18)

Competing in four categories for sausages and burgers, bacon and cured products, cooked meat and kitchen ready products, Q butchers won 75 awards in the international category, including 27 golds, 27 silver,19 bronze and two honourable mentions.

Best International Product was a Highland Lamb Fillet Wrap from Guild Vice Chairman Harry Coates of Framwellgate Moor in County Durham. The product – a chunk of Scotch lamb fillet wrapped in minced lamb with a balsamic mint coating – so impressed the Belgian trade and consumer judges that it scored a maximum 100 points.

Harry Coates also won two silver awards for Traditional Pork Sausage and Mexican Steak Burger.

There was a most impressive performance from Lidgates of Holland Park in London who with thirteen products won nine golds, two silver and two bronze awards. Top scoring gold products were Beef Goulash, Chicken Thigh with Tarragon and Spinach Saddle of Lamb.

Just pipped for the top overall award were Peter Middlemiss from Otley, West Yorkshire and Guild Chairman Philip Cranston from Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall. The Middlemiss entries of Rolled Lamb Fillets and Hog Roast scored 99.53 and 99 points with Cranston’s Tuscan Lamb also scoring 99. 

In total, Peter Middlemiss won three gold, three silver and three bronze with Cranstons taking two golds and two silvers.

Other Guild members competing included Chris Godfrey, Highbury, London (3 gold, 4 silver), Robin Bevan, Kingston-upon-Thames (2 gold, 5 silver, 8 bronze, 2 highly commended), Mark Turnbull, Alnwick, Northumberland (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze), Gordon Atkinson, Elite Meat, Harrogate (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Gordon Hepburn, Mountnessing, Essex (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Brindon Addy, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire (2 silver, 1 bronze) and Edward Garthwaite, Blacker Hall Farm Shop, Wakefield (2 silver, 2 bronze).

Harry Coates said: “We are honoured to win the top award but the message for all Q butchers and other independents is to try and visit the next Meat and Fresh Expo in 2009. The competition is attached to an exhibition which is aimed solely at the retail trade and all of our members who participated this time came away with a host of ideas.”