The fifth annual Vegan Sausage Awards took place on 26th June, and a new category of plant-based meat alternatives was added this year to showcase the many delicious plant-based pastrami and other deli meats made here in Aotearoa.
The Supreme Winner once again was Plan*t with their incredible Spicy Chorizo. The judges agreed it had a “good casing, the outside was crispy, whilst the inside was soft and juicy. Good fat content.”
Sausage and deli meat alternative makers from all over New Zealand entered this year’s awards, and the judges had a monumental task of choosing the best bangers and delicious deli plant meats.
The judging panel included Jasbir “Jazz” Kaur, multi-award-winning executive chef and trainer and President of the NZ Chef Association Auckland; Plabita Florence, owner and chef of vegetarian restaurant Forest; Chef Fred Wong and celebrity judge, vegan comedian Tom Sainsbury, who has learned a great deal about what to look for in a sausage from his previous judging duties.
“I may not be the best at describing umami and sausage casings but I’m very excited to be giving my opinion,” said Sainsbury, before the judging.
“Vegan sausages are here to stay, they are healthier for you, better for the environment and are a more compassionate way of eating, whilst still enjoying your favourite foods,” Vegan Society Spokesperson Claire Insley said. “With over 8 billion people and rising, the move towards a plant-based economy is ever more pressing. Plant-based sausages are a fun and easy way to look after our planet and our health.”
She said the trend for plant-based foods is continuing and likely to do so for the foreseeable future, as noted in this recent report https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/blogs/plant-based-food .
The Vegan Sausage Awardscategory winners are:
BREAKFAST SAUSAGE
WINNER Plan*t- Sage and Onion
RUNNER UP Plan*t- Spicy Chorizo
BANGER
WINNER Vegetarian Butcher- Spicy Italian
RUNNER UP Plan*t- Spicy Chorizo
HOTDOG
WINNER Plan*t- Spicy Chorizo
RUNNER UP Vegie Delights- Hot Dog
SAUSAGE ROLL
WINNER Goodtime Pies Vegan Sausage Roll
RUNNER UP Baker’s Son ‘Dad’s Pie’ – Vegan Sausage Roll
SPECIALITY SAUSAGE
WINNER Vegetarian Butcher- Spicy Italian
RUNNER UP Omahu Rd Deli- Kawakawa
CHORIZO
WINNER Plan*t- Spicy Chorizo
RUNNER UP Vegetarian Butcher- Chorizo
DELI MEAT – PASTRAMI
WINNER Omahu Rd – NY Style Pastrami
RUNNER UP Vegetarian Butcher- Pastrami
DELI MEAT – OTHERS
WINNER Witty Tui-Italian Style
RUNNER UP Plan*t- Chick*n
