Vale Angel Cardoso

Angel Cardoso, the legendary pioneer of naturally cured Spanish smallgoods manufacture in Lara, has died in Geelong, aged 78. When Cardoso came to Australia from Spain in 1962 to work as an aeronautical engineer and instrument maker, little did he know that the future held a complete change of lifestyle, and that he would gain the reputation as the maker of Australia's finest Spanish-style smallgoods, including jamon serrano hams, salamis and chorizo sausages . An administrative oversight resulted in his groundbreaking enterprise closed just when overseas products made in the same way were allowed to be imported. He never recovered emotionally from the loss of his passionate artisan craft and felt abandoned by the industry that had so warmly embraced his products when they were available. A jovial, generous and dapper bon vivant added much to our food and wine culture. Sadly missed by many.

George Biron