The best ham in New Zealand

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Want to try the slice of ham judged to be the best in the country? Find a way to buy a Manuka honey cured ham from Dunedin’s Akaroa Butchery and Deli on Banks Peninsula.

Their champion ham was honoured at the 9th annual 100% New Zealand Pork, Bacon & Ham Awards held in Christchurch, winning the 2016 best ham title.

The competitions celebrate New Zealand’s finest home-grown pork products and assist consumers to identify and appreciate sustainable pork, bacon and ham which is PigCareTM Accredited*.

The competitions support local pig farmers, who raise pork solely for New Zealanders. Three supreme winners took top honours across each competition.

The event celebrates the craft involved with turning 100% New Zealand grown pork into mouth-watering bacon, ham and pork products. Each entry was scrutinised by an independent panel of 33 judges comprising of leading chefs, food connoisseurs and master butchers.

 

The best 100% New Zealand ham

Overall winner

For Manuka honey cured

Agora Butchery and Deli

170A Gordon Rd, Fairfield, Dunedin, Otago

Bone-in Ham

Gold Medal

For Manuka smoked

Col’s Butchery and Deli

237 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga

Gold Medal

For Manuka smoked

Aussie Butcher New Lynn

Unit G, 10 Margan Ave, New Lynn, Auckland

Bronze Medal

For Manuka double smoked

Cameron Harrison Butchery

4 Crofton Rd, Ngaio, Wellington 

Boneless ham

Gold Medal

For Manuka honey cured

Agora Butchery and Deli

170A Gordon Rd, Fairfield, Dunedin, Otago 

Silver Medal

For honey cured black rock

Cameron Harrison Butchery

4 Crofton Rd, Ngaio, Wellington  

Silver Medal

For honey cured Manuka smoked

Pokeno Bacon

20 Subway Rd, Pukekohe, Auckland 

(Stores also at 420 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden, Auckland, and Great South Rd, Pokeno)

Bronze Medal

For boneless

Murchison Meats

50 Fairfax St, Murchison, Tasman

Past winners

2016

For Manuka honey cured

Agora Butchery and Deli

170A Gordon Rd, Fairfield, Dunedin, Otago

2015

For bone-in ham

Westmere Butchery

131 West End Road, Westmere, Auckland

2014

For Manuka smoked, honey cured bone-in ham

Cameron Harrison Butchery

4 Crofton Rd, Ngaio, Wellington 

 

* PigCare AccreditedTM

Pig CareTM is a New Zealand accreditation program and is a world-leading standard of Care for Farmed Pigs. It was developed by Massey University with the support of veterinarians, pig farmers and professional organisations and has been independently reviewed by international experts.

Pig CareTM is focused on the care, knowledge and expertise, experience and commitment of farmers to provide the best welfare for farmed pigs. It is the care given by our farmer that makes NZ Pork different from imported products.

While 58% of pork products sold in New Zealand are imported, Pig CareTM accreditation on products is an indication that the pig has been born and raised in New Zealand and farmed with care, with the needs of the pig at the centre of the farming practice.

Source: 100% New Zealand Pork

Where to find the best bacon in New Zealand  Ι  Where to find the best pork in New Zealand

Best cafes in the South Island

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With thousands of excellent cafes in New Zealand, it’s always difficult to work out which are the best to try, especially if you are new to a place.

Thankfully, the annual New Zealand Cafe of the Year awards help sort out the best through objective judging and public feedback.

The best cafes in the South Island

National – NZ Café of the Year 2016 (Supreme Winner)

The Bespoke Kitchen 

9 Isle St, Queenstown

National – Best Suburban

The Bespoke Kitchen 

9 Isle St, Queenstown

South Island cafes shortlisted by judges for the national awards:

Best Metro/CBD

Columbus Coffee Riccarton 

K14 Riccarton Mall, Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch

Café Kudos

225 Annex Road, Middleton, Christchurch

Café Metro Merivale 

121 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch

Kiki Beware, Refreshment Room

344 George Street, Dunedin

Nova Dunedin 

29 The Octagon, Dunedin

Vudu Café & Larder 

16 Rees Street, Queenstown

Best Suburban

Red Post Café 

2 Highfield Street, Culverden, Hurunui

Thyme Café 

597 Springs Road, Prebbleton

White House Black 

265 Halswell Road, Halswell, Christchurch

Graze

1 Onslow Road, Queenstown

The Bespoke Kitchen 

9 Isle Street, Queenstown

Vanilla Bean Café 

355 Lower Queen Street, Richmond, Nelson

Best Rural

Arabica Licensed Café 

36 McMillan Street, Methven

Legends Café 

15 Afghan Street, Pleasant Point, South Canterbury

Waipara Springs Winery & Café

409 Omihi Road, Waipara

Kai Whakapai Café / Bar Wanaka 

Corner Helwick & Ardmore Streets, Wanaka

Melrose House Café

26 Brougham Street, Nelson

Penguin Café/ Bar

822 Abel Tasman Drive, Pohara, RD1, Takaka, Golden Bay

Classic Kiwi

Little River Café

4237 Christchurch Akaroa Highway, Main Road, Little River, Banks Peninsula

Meshino Espresso 

1 Stark Drive, Wigram, Christchurch

Mocca 

224 Stafford Street, Timaru

Chantilly Café

77 Queen Street, Blenheim

Maggie’s Kitchen

65 Mackay Street, Greymouth

Vogel Street Kitchen 

76 Vogel Street, City Rise, Dunedin

2016 People’s Choice regional winners

Christchurch region

Pukeko Junction Café & Deli 

458 Ashworths Rd, Leithfield Beach, Leithfield, North Canterbury

South Island region

Jester House

320 Aporo Road, Tasman, Nelson

Source: New Zealand Cafe of the Year Awards 2016, run by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.  Factors considered by the judges including atmosphere and appearance, menu and coffee, service, staff interaction and overall impression.

OUR CAFE GUIDE: The best cafes in New Zealand  Ι  The best cafes in Auckland  Ι  The best cafes in the Coromandel  Ι The best cafes in the Bay of Plenty  Ι  The best cafes in the Waikato  Ι  The best cafes in Manawatu-Whanganui  Ι  The best cafes in Hawkes Bay  Ι  The best cafes in Taranaki  Ι  The best cafes in Wellington  Ι  The best cafes in Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast  Ι  The best cafes in Canterbury  Ι  The best cafes in Dunedin  Ι  The best cafes in Queenstown  Ι Where to find New Zealand’s best coffee beans

Best cafes in Canterbury

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With thousands of excellent cafes in New Zealand, it’s always difficult to work out which are the best to try, especially if you are new to a place.

Thankfully, the annual New Zealand Cafe of the Year awards help sort out the best through objective judging and public feedback.

The best cafes in Canterbury

Canterbury cafes shortlisted by judges for the national awards:

Best Metro/CBD

Columbus Coffee Riccarton 

K14 Riccarton Mall, Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch

Café Kudos 

225 Annex Road, Middleton, Christchurch

Café Metro Merivale

121 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch

Best Suburban

Red Post Café 

2 Highfield Street, Culverden, Hurunui

Thyme Café 

597 Springs Road, Prebbleton, Selwyn

White House Black

265 Halswell Road, Halswell, Christchurch

Best Rural

Arabica Licensed Café 

36 McMillan Street, Methven

Legends Café 

15 Afghan Street, Pleasant Point, South Canterbury

Waipara Springs Winery & Café

409 Omihi Road, Waipara, North Canterbury

Classic Kiwi

Little River Café

4237 Christchurch Akaroa Highway, Main Road, Little River, Banks Peninsula

Meshino Espresso 

1 Stark Drive, Wigram, Christchurch

Mocca Cafe

224 Stafford Street, Timaru

2016 People’s Choice regional winners

Christchurch region

Pukeko Junction Café & Deli 

458 Ashworths Rd, Leithfield Beach, Leithfield, North Canterbury

Source: New Zealand Cafe of the Year Awards 2016, run by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.  Factors considered by the judges including atmosphere and appearance, menu and coffee, service, staff interaction and overall impression.

OUR CAFE GUIDE: The best cafes in New Zealand  Ι  The best cafes in Auckland  Ι  The best cafes in the Coromandel  Ι The best cafes in the Bay of Plenty  Ι  The best cafes in the Waikato  Ι  The best cafes in Manawatu-Whanganui  Ι  The best cafes in Hawkes Bay  Ι  The best cafes in Taranaki  Ι  The best cafes in Wellington  Ι  The best cafes in Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast  Ι  The best cafes in Dunedin  Ι  The best cafes in Queenstown  Ι The best cafes in the South Island  Ι  Where to find New Zealand’s best coffee beans

New Zealand’s award-winning beers

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Looking for a bucket list of all the best beers to sample in New Zealand? 

There’s no better place to start than with the beers that clean up at the annual Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards.

Since 2007, the guild has held annual awards to recognise the beers judged best in their class, with all the main styles of beer recognised.

Local and international beers are judged over a three day period by a panel of selected experts from New Zealand and globally.

In recent years, small craft brewers have intensified the levels of competition and innovation as brewers look for beers to suit every palate.

2016 Brewing Guild of NZ’s Beer Awards

Champion New Zealand brewery

Tuatara Brewing Company

Champion manufacturer

Steam Brewing

Champion International Brewery

Boston Beer Company

International Lager

DB Breweries for Heineken Light

New Zealand Lager

Tuatara Brewing Company for Mot Eureka

British Ale

Sprig & Fern Brewery for Best Bitter

European Ale

Moa Brewing Company for Moa St Josephs

US Ale

8 Wired Brewing for Tall Poppy

Pale Ale

Tuatara Brewing Company for Sauvinova

Strong Pale Ale

Epic Brewing Company for Epic Armageddon IPA

Stout and Porter

Emerson’s Brewing Company for Emerson’s Phantom Lord

Wheat and Other Grain

Tuatara Brewing Company for Weiz Guy

Flavoured and aged

Choice Bros for Reet Petite

Speciality, experimental, aged, barrel, wood-aged

Croucher Brewing for Lowrider

Cider or Perry

Zeffer Cider Co. for Cidre Demi-sec

Fruit or Flavoured Cider or Perry

Zeffer Cider Co. for Apple Crumble Cider

Packaging

Moa Brewing Company for Moa NZ Gold Ale 375ml retail unit

Past winners

Champion Brewery

2016: Tuatara Brewing Company

2015: Lion

2014: Townshend Brewery

2013: Renaissance Brewing

2012: Harrington’s Breweries

2011: 8 Wired Brewing

2010: DB Breweries

2009: Emerson’s Brewing Company

2008: Tuatara Brewing Company

Source: Brewersguild.org.nz

The best 20 beers brewed in New Zealand  Ι  11 of the best ciders in New Zealand

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