Our producers have been winning awards left, right and centre. Just as we are about to share some winning news, another WA dairy queen steps up to the podium.
Cambray Cheese’s Farmhouse Gold has been awarded the ‘From the Dairy’ prize in delicious. magazine’s annual produce awards. Chefs around Australia vote for their favourite producers in the prestigious competition, with submissions judged by a panel of food professionals,
The Farmhouse Gold is a mature sheep milk cheese based on a Dutch style hard cheese and aged for about 18 months.
“This particular cheese blew the judges away; a style that takes tremendous skill and patience to create,” national juge Matt Stone said.
“It’s been great to see Cambray Cheese’s evolution over the years. This cheese is simply lovely – sweet, nutty, with a long-lasting flavour and beautiful texture.”
This is the latest accolade for the cheesemaker, which won overall Champion Dairy Product for the same cheese at the Perth Royal Dairy Awards.
Farmhouse Gold also won Champion WA Dairy Product, Champion Cheese, Champion WA Cheese and Champion Buffalo, Camel, Goat or Sheep Milk Product at the awards, which attracted more than 300 entries from around the country.
“We call this cheese ‘farmhouse’ because it is a true farmhouse style cheese,” Cambray’s Maddie Wilde said. “Every part of the production is traceable to our farm here in Nannup, from the raising of the sheep to the milking, to the product, ageing and distribution.”
That golden feeling
Bannister Downs Dairy had a similar winning feeling at the Dairy Industry Association of Australia (DIAA) Dairy Awards.
The Northcliffe-based producer was awarded gold for four of its products, including an impressive score of 19.1 for the Farm Fresh Milk, which won the overall whole milk category.
Bannister Downs also won gold for its All Lite Milk, Chocolatte and Choc Cherry Delite, and silver for its Lactose Free Milk, Cafe au Lait, Fresh Cream and Double Cream.
This came after Bannister Downs Fresh Cream was named Champion Cream of the Show in the State section of the DIAA awards for the fourth time in five years. Its Lactose Free Milk – a more recent addition to the winning range of products – also won Champion Milk.
“We are very proud to be recognised for producing premium-quality milk, cream, and flavoured milk,” Managing director Sue Daubney said. “We make 11 different products each week, and for every product we entered to win a gold or silver medal is an outstanding achievement.”
Bannister Downs Double Cream was also a hit with the judges at the Perth Royal Dairy Awards, taking home Champion Cream.
There were plenty of other homegrown champions in the winners’ circle at the royal dairy awards, too. Artisan cheesemaker La Delizia Latticini won Champion Bovine Cheese for its beautiful burrata, while The Butter People were awarded Champion Butter for their Herb and Chilli Butter.
Harvey Fresh won Champion Milk Unflavoured for its Farmhouse Gold unhomogenised milk and Brownes Dairy won Champion Yoghurt for its Greek Honey sweetened yoghurt.
The South West producer also won an impressive seven gold medals at the DIAA Dairy Awards. The Extra Tasty Cheddar, Green Peppercorn Club Cheese, Smokey Red Club Cheese, Vintage Club Cheddar, Pickled Onion Club Cheddar, Lactose Free Full Cream Milk and Protein Chocolate were all big hits with the judges. Brownes Dairy Greek Yoghurt and Greek Honey Sweetened Yoghurt, Full Cream Milk and Chill Protein Iced Coffee were awarded silver medals
With so many divine dairy products to choose from in our backyard, why would you buy anything but local? Show your support for our wonderful Western Australian dairy producers and artisan cheesemakers wherever you shop.