Not Bacon Wins Supreme
'We were so excited to have the deli meats categories, which recognise the quality and care that goes into producing great plant-based alternatives for all meat products. It's really awesome that a vegan bacon is the Supreme Winner! Maybe people can give up eating pigs after all? With the rising cost of living, eating plants will always be a good thing, providing healthier foods with lower emissions, helping to look after our planet' said Media Spokesperson, Claire Insley.
This year's judges were versatile private chef Ezra Wisaksono, and seasoned Executive Chef at Sudima Auckland Airport, Rodney Gomes put the plant-based meats to the test. Joining them were Lifetime Achievement Pie Winner, Judge Jason Hay and sausage loving comedian Tom Sainsbury, putting their taste buds through the paces to come up with the final results.
The full results are:
Supreme Winner
Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon'
Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level
Chorizo
Winner Plan*t: 'Spicy Chorizo'
Judges said: A perfect sausage - shape, crust, texture, mouth feel and flavour.
Runner up Witty Tui 'Spicy Chorizo Style'
Judges said: it's got a good kick, good spice. Great appearance with visible spicy specks'
Bangers
Winner Beach Pizza 'Wors Style Sausage'
Judges said: Unique, bold flavour in a well-constructed sausage.
Runner Up Plan*t 'Spicy Chorizo'
Judges said: Delicious flavour and profile with a great mouth feel.
Breakfast Sausage
Winner Plan*t 'Tasty Sage and Onion'
Judges said: Great texture with optimal balance of spice.
Runner up Blissful's CK Food 'Mini Soy Roll'
Judges said: Well-crafted with a good spongy texture.
Speciality Sausage
Winner Blissful's Whole Perfect Food 'Vegetarian Smoked Sausage'
Judges said: Fantastic construction, texture and taste.
Runner up Plan*t 'Spicy Chorizo'
Judges said: Great mouth feel, flavour and profile.
Sausage Rolls
Winner Goodtime Pie 'Vegan Sausage Roll'
Judges said: Great crispy pastry. The texture of the filling is very good. Nice balanced flavour and spice.
Runner up
Kai Pai 'Vegan Sausage Roll'
Judges said: Good texture and mouth feel. Good bite.
Bacon
Winner Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon'
Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level.
No Runner up
Cold Cuts
Winner Grater Goods 'Sopressata'
Judges said: Nice chew with a hint of lingering warm spice. Great sausage texture with pepper, chilly and fat inclusions. Great mouth feel and balanced taste.
Runner up
Blissful's Whole Perfect Food 'Traditional Style Vegetarian Ham
Judges said: Nice maple sweetness. Tastes very close to ham with a great colour.
Pastrami
Winner Grater Goods 'Plant Pastrami'
Judges said: Great smoky, sweet, sour and umami flavours. Perfectly seasoned.
No runner up
Hot-served Meat Style
Winner Blissful's CK Food 'Crispy Chicken Drumsticks'
Judges said 'Nice crunch. Good texture and spice. Juicy and soft with a moreish flavour
Runner up Plan*t 'Vege-to-balls'
Judges said: Nice bite and crumbly texture. The flavour is great and very close to the meat version.
Patties
Winner Plan*t 'Classic Grillhouse'
Judges said: A great burger- tender, juicy, with a strong punch flavour.
Runner up Beach Pizza 'Wors Burger Patty'
Judges said, Impactful flavour with great herbs and spices.
Seafood Style
Winner Blissful's 'Vegan Fried Squid Rings'
Judges said: Good texture and chewiness with a very calamari flavour. Very balanced.
Runner up Blissful's CK Food 'Vegan Bites'
Judges said: Very good mild, crab-like flavour.
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Scoop
23-06-2025
- Scoop
Not Bacon Wins Supreme
Press Release – The Vegan Society Aotearoa New Zealand The Supreme Winner of the seventh annual Vegan Sausage and Deli Meats Awards is Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon'. The judges said it had 'Great crispy texture. Good visually – layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level.' This could be a game changer for all those bacon lovers out there. 'We were so excited to have the deli meats categories, which recognise the quality and care that goes into producing great plant-based alternatives for all meat products. It's really awesome that a vegan bacon is the Supreme Winner! Maybe people can give up eating pigs after all? With the rising cost of living, eating plants will always be a good thing, providing healthier foods with lower emissions, helping to look after our planet' said Media Spokesperson, Claire Insley. This year's judges were versatile private chef Ezra Wisaksono, and seasoned Executive Chef at Sudima Auckland Airport, Rodney Gomes put the plant-based meats to the test. Joining them were Lifetime Achievement Pie Winner, Judge Jason Hay and sausage loving comedian Tom Sainsbury, putting their taste buds through the paces to come up with the final results. The full results are: Supreme Winner Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon' Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually – layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level Chorizo Winner Plan*t: 'Spicy Chorizo' Judges said: A perfect sausage – shape, crust, texture, mouth feel and flavour. Runner up Witty Tui 'Spicy Chorizo Style' Judges said: it's got a good kick, good spice. Great appearance with visible spicy specks' Bangers Winner Beach Pizza 'Wors Style Sausage' Judges said: Unique, bold flavour in a well-constructed sausage. Runner Up Plan*t 'Spicy Chorizo' Judges said: Delicious flavour and profile with a great mouth feel. Breakfast Sausage Winner Plan*t 'Tasty Sage and Onion' Judges said: Great texture with optimal balance of spice. Runner up Blissful's CK Food 'Mini Soy Roll' Judges said: Well-crafted with a good spongy texture. Speciality Sausage Winner Blissful's Whole Perfect Food 'Vegetarian Smoked Sausage' Judges said: Fantastic construction, texture and taste. Runner up Plan*t 'Spicy Chorizo' Judges said: Great mouth feel, flavour and profile. Sausage Rolls Winner Goodtime Pie 'Vegan Sausage Roll' Judges said: Great crispy pastry. The texture of the filling is very good. Nice balanced flavour and spice. Runner up Kai Pai 'Vegan Sausage Roll' Judges said: Good texture and mouth feel. Good bite. Bacon Winner Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon' Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually – layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level. No Runner up Cold Cuts Winner Grater Goods 'Sopressata' Judges said: Nice chew with a hint of lingering warm spice. Great sausage texture with pepper, chilly and fat inclusions. Great mouth feel and balanced taste. Runner up Blissful's Whole Perfect Food 'Traditional Style Vegetarian Ham Judges said: Nice maple sweetness. Tastes very close to ham with a great colour. Pastrami Winner Grater Goods 'Plant Pastrami' Judges said: Great smoky, sweet, sour and umami flavours. Perfectly seasoned. No runner up Hot-served Meat Style Winner Blissful's CK Food 'Crispy Chicken Drumsticks' Judges said 'Nice crunch. Good texture and spice. Juicy and soft with a moreish flavour Runner up Plan*t 'Vege-to-balls' Judges said: Nice bite and crumbly texture. The flavour is great and very close to the meat version. Patties Winner Plan*t 'Classic Grillhouse' Judges said: A great burger- tender, juicy, with a strong punch flavour. Runner up Beach Pizza 'Wors Burger Patty' Judges said, Impactful flavour with great herbs and spices. Seafood Style Winner Blissful's 'Vegan Fried Squid Rings' Judges said: Good texture and chewiness with a very calamari flavour. Very balanced. Runner up Blissful's CK Food 'Vegan Bites' Judges said: Very good mild, crab-like flavour.
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Scoop
Not Bacon Wins Supreme
The Supreme Winner of the seventh annual Vegan Sausage and Deli Meats Awards is Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon'. The judges said it had 'Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level.' This could be a game changer for all those bacon lovers out there. 'We were so excited to have the deli meats categories, which recognise the quality and care that goes into producing great plant-based alternatives for all meat products. It's really awesome that a vegan bacon is the Supreme Winner! Maybe people can give up eating pigs after all? With the rising cost of living, eating plants will always be a good thing, providing healthier foods with lower emissions, helping to look after our planet' said Media Spokesperson, Claire Insley. This year's judges were versatile private chef Ezra Wisaksono, and seasoned Executive Chef at Sudima Auckland Airport, Rodney Gomes put the plant-based meats to the test. Joining them were Lifetime Achievement Pie Winner, Judge Jason Hay and sausage loving comedian Tom Sainsbury, putting their taste buds through the paces to come up with the final results. The full results are: Supreme Winner Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon' Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level Chorizo Winner Plan*t: 'Spicy Chorizo' Judges said: A perfect sausage - shape, crust, texture, mouth feel and flavour. Runner up Witty Tui 'Spicy Chorizo Style' Judges said: it's got a good kick, good spice. Great appearance with visible spicy specks' Bangers Winner Beach Pizza 'Wors Style Sausage' Judges said: Unique, bold flavour in a well-constructed sausage. Runner Up Plan*t 'Spicy Chorizo' Judges said: Delicious flavour and profile with a great mouth feel. Breakfast Sausage Winner Plan*t 'Tasty Sage and Onion' Judges said: Great texture with optimal balance of spice. Runner up Blissful's CK Food 'Mini Soy Roll' Judges said: Well-crafted with a good spongy texture. Speciality Sausage Winner Blissful's Whole Perfect Food 'Vegetarian Smoked Sausage' Judges said: Fantastic construction, texture and taste. Runner up Plan*t 'Spicy Chorizo' Judges said: Great mouth feel, flavour and profile. Sausage Rolls Winner Goodtime Pie 'Vegan Sausage Roll' Judges said: Great crispy pastry. The texture of the filling is very good. Nice balanced flavour and spice. Runner up Kai Pai 'Vegan Sausage Roll' Judges said: Good texture and mouth feel. Good bite. Bacon Winner Let Them Eat Vegan 'Not Bacon' Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level. No Runner up Cold Cuts Winner Grater Goods 'Sopressata' Judges said: Nice chew with a hint of lingering warm spice. Great sausage texture with pepper, chilly and fat inclusions. Great mouth feel and balanced taste. Runner up Blissful's Whole Perfect Food 'Traditional Style Vegetarian Ham Judges said: Nice maple sweetness. Tastes very close to ham with a great colour. Pastrami Winner Grater Goods 'Plant Pastrami' Judges said: Great smoky, sweet, sour and umami flavours. Perfectly seasoned. No runner up Hot-served Meat Style Winner Blissful's CK Food 'Crispy Chicken Drumsticks' Judges said 'Nice crunch. Good texture and spice. Juicy and soft with a moreish flavour Runner up Plan*t 'Vege-to-balls' Judges said: Nice bite and crumbly texture. The flavour is great and very close to the meat version. Patties Winner Plan*t 'Classic Grillhouse' Judges said: A great burger- tender, juicy, with a strong punch flavour. Runner up Beach Pizza 'Wors Burger Patty' Judges said, Impactful flavour with great herbs and spices. Seafood Style Winner Blissful's 'Vegan Fried Squid Rings' Judges said: Good texture and chewiness with a very calamari flavour. Very balanced. Runner up Blissful's CK Food 'Vegan Bites' Judges said: Very good mild, crab-like flavour.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Scoop
Wonderland Winners At Vegan Chocolate Awards
Press Release – Vegan Society Interest in plant-based foods continues to increase, and the Vegan Chocolate Awards reflect this trend. Plant milk chocolates are gaining popularity, with an expanding range and improved quality. Wonderland Pineapple Chews – Conrad the Contortionist was the overall Supreme winner in this year's Vegan Society Aotearoa fourth Vegan Chocolate Awards. Judges said the winner was 'a perfectly delicious and moreish twist on a classic.' Held on 28th April at Khu Khu Eatery in Ponsonby, Auckland, chocolate makers from all over Aotearoa entered the Awards aiming to be winners in one of twelve categories. Interest in plant-based foods continues to increase, and the Vegan Chocolate Awards reflect this trend. Plant milk chocolates are gaining popularity, with an expanding range and improved quality. The awards celebrate various types of vegan chocolates, including bon bons, truffles, inclusions, and flavoured chocolates suitable for vegans and those allergic to dairy. 'The judges had a difficult task ahead this year, as the competition is really fierce and there is a lot of incredible plant-based chocolate to be eaten in Aotearoa,' media spokesperson for the Society Claire Insley commented. Six very experienced judges lent their palates to this incredible taste test: welcoming all the way from Samoa, Floris Niu, who is a fourth generation Samoan Cacao farmer, processor and Chocolate-maker. She's the founder of Ms Sunshine Organic Farms which operates Cacao Agritourism experiences on Upolu Island. She is co-creator of the 'Koko Beans' brand of vegan chocolate snacks and the recent 'Pacific Cacao and Chocolate 2022' show. Tracy Berno is a Professor in Food Studies at AUT. She has worked in food for over 30 years in roles ranging from academic to presenting cooking classes and demonstrations to catering. Tracy has a particular interest in the foods of the South Pacific and sustainably produced food products (including chocolate). She is an experienced panel judge and has judged for many competitions and food awards starting in the early 2000s. With a rich background in Europe and the UK's finest patisseries and chocolatiers, Thomas Wright is on a mission to redefine the essence of chocolate. His journey from prestigious Michelin-starred kitchens to launching Ao Cacao reflects his passion for ethically and sustainably grown cacao, combined with unique Pacific and Aotearoa flavours for an unparalleled bean-to-bar experience. Byron McLean is the founder and chocolatier of Cocoa Wilds—a new and viral chocolate boutique located on O'Connell Street in central Auckland. Leaving his corporate career in 2022, Byron poured his passion for people and learning into a whirlwind journey of growth, traveling, and taste-testing more than 300 types of chocolate worldwide. Finally, the Award stalwart Aaron Pucci has clocked up 25 years in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. His trusted palate has earned him numerous seats on judging panels for awards in New Zealand and Australia over 15 years. As a dedicated chocolate consumer Aaron is always on the lookout for new brands and products ~ especially those that are breaking new ground. Aaron's 'food for thought' is a desire for more manufacturers to take up the challenge of sustainable food operations and reducing their carbon footprint. And the average comedian on the street, Tom Sainsbury stepped in to help choose the best chew in Wonderland. Tom is always keen to help our awards keep it real, having taste tested sausages, cheese and pies in the past, he has finally graduated into the hallows of chocolate tasting. Plant-based foods are sustainable and healthy, benefiting both individuals and the planet. The growing number of Vegan Food Awards highlights the quality and appeal of plant-based foods. The full list of winners can be found at Supreme Winner Wonderland; Pineapple Chews – Conrad the Contortionist Dark Chocolate bars – plain Winner Foundry Chocolate; Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70% Judges said 'Great temper delivering delicious malty favours and notes of honey' Runner up Foundry Chocolate; Ea Kar, Dak Lak, Vietnam 70% Judges said 'Very honey-forward flavours and delicious. A great chocolate' Chocolate Bars; flavoured Winner Schoc Chocolate; Lemongrass in a Dark Rich Chocolate Judges said 'Fresh bright flavours and a lovely smooth texture' Runner up Pretty Fancy Chocolate; Mini Infusion Dark Peppermint Judges said 'Very enjoyable and delivers crisp flavour' Chocolate Bars; inclusions Winner Bennetto: Dark Salted Caramel Judges said 'Beautiful texture. Great snap and good finish. Inclusions subtle but complimentary, with nice balance of chocolate and inclusions. Stand out chocolate.' Runner up Schoc Chocolate; Raspberry, Pear and Apple Dark Chocolate from Greytown Judges said 'Degree of complexity of fruit inclusions. Fruit doesn't overwhelm. Varied inclusion textures, dancing in your mouth. Not overwhelmingly sweet' White or Milk Chocolate bars (plant milk only) Winner Pretty Fancy Chocolate; Mini Infusion Lime Coconut Judges said 'vibrant and bold. Great creativity.' Runner up Mind Your Temper; Raspberry Dairy Free White Chocolate Judges said 'Delightfully tangy with creamy white chocolate' Bon Bons and Truffles; flavoured Winner Mind Your Temper; Pistachio and Knafeh Croquant Judges said 'Beautiful balance between chocolate and the lovely pistachio filling. Texture was really good. Classic flavour and combo.' Runner Up Pretty Fancy Chocolate; Feijoa Crumble Judges said 'Ginger lovely with the chocolate. Feijoa is a nice base to carry the ginger. Great tasting chocolate. Caramels Winner Wonderland; Pineapple Chews – Conrad the Contortionist Judges said 'A perfectly delicious and moorish twist on a classic' Runner up Mind Your Temper; Vanilla Salted Caramel Dragee Judges said 'A caramel for grown-ups – unique and tasty' Bean to Bar; single origin Winner Foundry Chocolate: Anamalai Estate, India 70% Judges said 'The clear winner. It's clear the maker has lots of experience and feel. Technically sound and flawless. Clean tasting with lots of nuances. Sophisticated and refined' Runner up Raglan Chocolate; Malekula Island – Vanuatu Judges said 'this chocolate took them on a journey. A smoked coconut finish and intensity. Balance is correct. Technically sound and complex- a conversation starter' Bean to Bar; flavoured and inclusions Winner Valura; Calvados 70% Malekula Island, Vanuatu Judges said 'Interesting, nostalgic and bold. Layered with complex flavours. Clean smooth flavour and clean aftertaste. Nice eating with great technical ability.' No Runner up Drinking Chocolate Winner Trade Aid; Organic Fair Trade Drinking Chocolate Judges said 'Good balance and intensity. Broad range of flavours. A delicious and 'popular' hot chocolate' Runner up Foundry Chocolate; Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70% – Drinking Chocolate Judges said 'Bold beautiful with rich cocoa notes and a hint of honey flavour. Notable regional characteristics. Indulgent and decadent.' Judges remarked that it was a high level category, with great entries. Bark/Brittle Chocolate Winner Chocolate Oasis; Chocolate Bark Caramelized Almond & Cranberry Judges said 'Crunchy and delicious with well-roasted ingredients' No Runner up Dipped Fruit/Dragee Winner Mind Your Temper; Matcha Almond Dragees Judges said 'Expertly crafted with a great blend of flavours and texture' Runner up Schoc Chocolate; Pineapple Bites Judges said 'The candied fruit added a delicious tang and texture'
