Find out which bakery won Australia's Best Sausage Roll!
By
VanessaC
- Replies 15
Earlier this month, the Baking Association of Australia held its South Australian Baking Show to determine which bakery would win the title of Australia's best sausage roll.
And the winner is... Belair’s Banana Boogie Bakery!
Owner Jason Spencer, a baker with 25 years of experience in the industry, was confident that his entry would do well.
'We just had to have a good day of baking on the day, and we did. Our pastry came out perfect, our meat didn’t shrink at all,' he said. 'Everything just went our way on the day, and it showed when the judges called the results out.'
We’re sure many members would agree that what makes a good sausage roll are its visual appeal and its flavour. Spencer said Banana Boogie bakery pays special attention to both elements by baking the pastry until it's a 'golden brown' with a 'shiny' look.
BAA board member and head judge Stewart Latter said that between 40 and 50 bakeries entered the sausage roll competition, each submitting a roll that was no longer than 200mm.
All of the rolls were judged on a series of criteria, including overall appearance, the ratio between meat to pastry, and of course–the flavour.
The judges used a scoring system out of 60, and Banana Boogie Bakery achieved an impressive score of 60/60!
This isn't the first win of the year for the bakery. They also took out five other titles at the BAA's Victorian Baking Show last March, including Australia's Best Hot Cross Bun.
Spencer isn’t done yet though, as he’s now setting his sights on The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph in Merbein, Victoria, in just two weeks’ time.
'I’m hoping to take an absolutely clean sweep of the national competition this year,' he said.
Different Types of Sausage Rolls Across Cultures
The mighty sausage roll isn’t restricted to our fair Aussie shores. Across the seas, various nationalities have deliciously different approaches to this humble delight.
Aussies are partial to a beautifully baked roll encompassing quality minced meat, finely diced veggies, and a liberal sprinkling of spices–our fantastic local bakers sure have perfected the art of baking a good snag roll! The winning recipe at the BAA South Australian Baking Show is a shining example of the traditional Australian grub.
However, take a trip to the United Kingdom and discover a distinctive take on the sausage roll.
Over there, they typically opt for a mix of finely chopped pork, lard, and bread, all encased in a puff pastry carefully baked until golden brown and flaky. In fact, the sausage roll is of such significance in the UK that it routinely finds itself centre stage at British events and gatherings, from royal weddings to footy matches.
Roll over to the American side, and you’re introduced to ‘pig in a blanket.’ In contrast to the large, hearty rolls we are accustomed to, Americans usually enjoy miniature sausage rolls as appetisers. These bite-sized morsels typically involve little sausages wrapped snugly in the dough, creating a perfect fun-sized snack for any occasion.
And let’s not forget our neighbours in New Zealand, where they add a bit of 'pizzazz’ to their sausage rolls with a secret ingredient–grated cheese. Some NZ bakeries even use a unique sausage meat blend to incite a special flavoured kick that has Kiwi taste buds dancing with delight!
Members, if you're ever in South Australia and need a sausage roll (or a hot cross bun), maybe try Banana Boogie Bakery’s and let us know about your experience in the comment section below.
Now if you prefer pies, you might want to give this one a try!
And the winner is... Belair’s Banana Boogie Bakery!
Owner Jason Spencer, a baker with 25 years of experience in the industry, was confident that his entry would do well.
'We just had to have a good day of baking on the day, and we did. Our pastry came out perfect, our meat didn’t shrink at all,' he said. 'Everything just went our way on the day, and it showed when the judges called the results out.'
We’re sure many members would agree that what makes a good sausage roll are its visual appeal and its flavour. Spencer said Banana Boogie bakery pays special attention to both elements by baking the pastry until it's a 'golden brown' with a 'shiny' look.
BAA board member and head judge Stewart Latter said that between 40 and 50 bakeries entered the sausage roll competition, each submitting a roll that was no longer than 200mm.
All of the rolls were judged on a series of criteria, including overall appearance, the ratio between meat to pastry, and of course–the flavour.
The judges used a scoring system out of 60, and Banana Boogie Bakery achieved an impressive score of 60/60!
This isn't the first win of the year for the bakery. They also took out five other titles at the BAA's Victorian Baking Show last March, including Australia's Best Hot Cross Bun.
Spencer isn’t done yet though, as he’s now setting his sights on The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph in Merbein, Victoria, in just two weeks’ time.
'I’m hoping to take an absolutely clean sweep of the national competition this year,' he said.
The mighty sausage roll isn’t restricted to our fair Aussie shores. Across the seas, various nationalities have deliciously different approaches to this humble delight.
Aussies are partial to a beautifully baked roll encompassing quality minced meat, finely diced veggies, and a liberal sprinkling of spices–our fantastic local bakers sure have perfected the art of baking a good snag roll! The winning recipe at the BAA South Australian Baking Show is a shining example of the traditional Australian grub.
However, take a trip to the United Kingdom and discover a distinctive take on the sausage roll.
Over there, they typically opt for a mix of finely chopped pork, lard, and bread, all encased in a puff pastry carefully baked until golden brown and flaky. In fact, the sausage roll is of such significance in the UK that it routinely finds itself centre stage at British events and gatherings, from royal weddings to footy matches.
Roll over to the American side, and you’re introduced to ‘pig in a blanket.’ In contrast to the large, hearty rolls we are accustomed to, Americans usually enjoy miniature sausage rolls as appetisers. These bite-sized morsels typically involve little sausages wrapped snugly in the dough, creating a perfect fun-sized snack for any occasion.
And let’s not forget our neighbours in New Zealand, where they add a bit of 'pizzazz’ to their sausage rolls with a secret ingredient–grated cheese. Some NZ bakeries even use a unique sausage meat blend to incite a special flavoured kick that has Kiwi taste buds dancing with delight!
Members, if you're ever in South Australia and need a sausage roll (or a hot cross bun), maybe try Banana Boogie Bakery’s and let us know about your experience in the comment section below.
Now if you prefer pies, you might want to give this one a try!