Winners Announced in Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Awards

The winners of the Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Awards were announced this week, with an Auckland restaurant taking out the top title.

Auckland's Botswana Butchery won the top accolade at the Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection awards.

The restaurant also won awards for Best Beef Dish and Best Metro.

The Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Awards, now in their third year, celebrate the artistry and creativity of New Zealand’s top red meat chefs by inviting them to create an original dish using a Silver Fern Farms cut.

Botswana Butchery's Executive Chef Stuart Rogan impressed judges with his dish of Silver Fern Farms Reserve beef eye fillet, braised short rib with parsley, mustard and horseradish crust, carrot puree, asparagus, whipped garlic and cep jus.

“This dish set the bar with its superb technique and stunning celebration of the art of meat preparation. The whipped garlic was the masterstroke that tied it all together. It was considered, colourful, carefully combined and ultimately satisfying,” Head judge Kerry Tyack says.

Diners can experience the finalist and winning dishes until the end of March.

The Winners

Botswana Butchery, Auckland – Premier Master of Fine Cuisine, Best Beef Dish, Best Metro
Executive chef Stuart Rogan
Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Reserve beef eye fillet, braised short rib with parsley, mustard and horseradish crust, carrot puree, asparagus, whipped garlic, cep jus

Palate Restaurant, Hamilton – Best Lamb Dish
Head chef/owner Mat McLean
Assiette of Silver Fern Farms lamb with broad beans, artichoke, peppers and olives

Salt on The Waterfront, New Plymouth – Best Lamb Dish
Head Chef Freddie Ponder
Herb crusted Silver Fern Farms lamb with smoked pepper and fennel 

Pravda Café, Wellington – Best Venison Dish
Sous Chef Johannes van Kekem
Smoked Silver Fern Farms Venison back strap, cured in gin and juniper with venison sweetbreads, on a celeriac, apple and walnut salad with a blood orange dressing

Pitches Store, Ophir – Best Regional
Head chef Daniel Hill
Smoked eye fillet of Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Reserve Beef and green tea

For more information on the awards visit www.silverfernfarms.co.nz.