Entries are now open for the New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition. Celebrating the success, quality and variety of New Zealand’s gourmet oils, the competition, now in its sixth year, is held in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Show.
The New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition is open to New Zealand-produced olive oil including classes for Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Delicate, Medium and Intense plus classes for Infused Oil, Walnut Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Avocado Oil and Macadamia Oil.
Oils will be judged by a panel of independent food industry experts including Cuisine magazine Food Editor Ray McVinnie, Senior CPIT Tutor of Professional Cookery Bill Bryce, Sam Marchant and Jamie Bennett of Christchurch Farmers Market plus leading chefs and industry identities Chris Fortune, Jonny Schwass and Michal Haines.
Competition convenor Rae Finlay said the aim of the New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition is to promote to the New Zealand public the quality and variety of oils produced and commercially available in New Zealand.
“New Zealand has gained a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest quality olive oils charaterised by unique aromas and flavours,” Finlay said. “The competition offers producers the opportunity to benchmark their product against locally produced oils.”
“In the competitive marketplace, a win is highly valued and an excellent way for producers to profile their products to consumers,” she said.
The winner of the 2008 Best In Show, judged best overall from all Gold medal winners, was Uncle Joes Walnut Oil, produced by Oil Seed Extractions Ltd Ashburton.
Entries close 5pm Wednesday 28 October with winners announced on Wednesday 4 November 2009. Winning oils will be on display at the Royal New Zealand Show in the Food & Wine NZ Pavilion.
The Royal New Zealand Show runs from 11-13 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park Christchurch. Attracting 120,000 people, over 7000 livestock and feature competition entries and close to 600 trade exhibitors, plus three full days of entertainment, it is the premier agricultural and pastoral event in the country.
For further information please contact Nicola Cull, marketing manager, Royal New Zealand Show
By telephone 03 365 4203 or email nicola@theshow.co.nz
