Parmesan takes out champion cheese at Queensland show

A parmesan, which the RNA's chief judge Russell Smith claims outdes many parmesans imported from Italy, has won the top gong at Friday's Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show's (RQFWS) Cheese and Dairy Produce Show. Mil Lel superior parmesan won the Palatable Partner Champion Cheese of Show.

RQFWS Chief Judge Russell Smith said it wasn't common for parmesan to take out the Champion Cheese of Show, but this one "was special". "It's fantastic. I'd like to see more Australians using Australian parmesans, Mil Lel Superior Parmesan proves just how good they can be."

Grand Jaffa from Serendipity in NSW was crowned the nation's best ice-cream, beating 175 gelato and sorbet entries, with flavours including lychee and mint, basil, coconut ice, and lemon meringue.

According to Mr Smith, the standard of entries over the last four years continued to rise. "The ice-cream panel were very impressed with the amount of superb products entered. There were also several first time entrants who have won medals, which is very encouraging."

The Dairy Produce Show has been a major part of the Royal Queensland Show's (Ekka) history, since the first exhibition in 1876. The award winning products from the judging categories will feature at this year's Ekka.

The winners

Cheese and dairy
■ Palatable Partners Champion Cheese Of Show: Mil Lel superior parmesan, produced by Lion Dairy & Drinks Allansford
■ Dairy Australia Champion Dairy Dessert or Yoghurt of Show: Belgian chocolate mousse - Swiss dark, produced by Nicholson Fine Foods
■ Dairy Australia Champion Butter, Milk or Cream of Show: Big River milk pasteurised and homgenised, produced by Big River Milk
■ Champion Buffalo, Goat or Sheep Milk Product: Goat curd, produced by BoatShed Cheese
■ Champion Queensland Cheese or Dairy Product of Show: Maleny apple and cinnamon gourmet yoghurt, produced by Maleny Cheese
■ Grand Champion Dairy Product of Show: Mil Lel superior parmesan, produced by Lion Dairy & Drinks, Allansford

Ice-cream, gelato and sorbet
■ Majors Group Champion Vanilla or Chocolate Ice-Cream or Gelato of Show: Milk chocolate, produced by Paolo's Gelato
■ Majors Group Champion Flavoured Ice-Cream or Gelato of Show: Grand Jaffa, produced by Serendipity Ice Cream
■ Majors Group Champion Ice-Cream or Gelato of Show: Grand Jaffa, produced by Serendipity Ice Cream
■ Majors Group Champion Sorbet of Show: Mango sorbet, produced by Serendipity Ice Cream
■ Majors Group Champion Queensland Ice-Cream, Gelato or Sorbet of Show: Burnt caramel, produced by House of Gelato
■ Majors Group Grand Champion Ice-Cream, Gelato or Sorbet of Show: Grand Jaffa, produced by Serendipity Ice Cream

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