Owton’s Butchers has just picked up the ultimate food Oscar – three stars in the Great Taste 2019 Awards for its lamb faggots.
The accolade is one of the highest that can be achieved by a food and drink product in the UK and a first for the family butcher.
Great Taste judges said: “This delivers for us in spades, from the even texture to the well balanced seasoning….a depth and length of flavour that keeps going.”
Owton’s also achieved two stars for its game faggots, two stars for its Mrs Owton’s smoked streaky bacon, and one star for its newest recipe – lamb, mint and pea sausages.
“We are chuffed to bits just to get one star, but this is the first time we have had a three star and it’s phenomenal,” said Billy Owton, managing director. “We have spent years perfecting the quality of the faggots and use local lamb and local Hampshire venison, pheasant and duck. My father has been making these to a family recipe for a long time and I tweaked it a few years ago. We use leeks instead of onions and lots of herbs. They are really popular with our Garsons’ customers and are so easy to cook.”
Five hundred Great Taste judges from all corners of the food world blind-tasted 12,634 products, awarding a three star to just 192 of the entries.
The four Owton’s products will now be able to display the coveted black and gold Great Taste accreditation mark at the Garsons butchery counter. Lamb faggots, Mrs Owton’s smoked streaky bacon and the lamb, mint and pea sausages are available all year round, and the game faggots are seasonal, available in the autumn.
Last year, Owton’s was awarded Great Taste stars for three of its other products – traditional faggots, black pudding and the Chalcroft Farm burger.
What the Great Taste judges said:
Lamb faggots – 3 stars: “Great presentation, fantastic rich and succulent lamb flavour, complemented by perfectly balanced herbs and seasoning, a delight!”
Game faggots – two stars: “It was delicious – hearty, flavoursome and very moreish”
Mrs Owton’s smoked streaky bacon – 2 stars: “This is everything bacon should be.”
Lamb, mint and pea sausages – one star: “Great lamb flavour. Love the texture. Would totally buy these.”
About the Author.
R Owton Wholesale Butchers
Traditional Family ButchersThe Owton family have been farming the land at Chalcroft Farm for over 750 years, and in business since 1976, so you can be sure we have the experience, knowledge and expertise about all things meat! We specialise in butchering locally sourced and traceable meat, working with over 40 farmers within Hampshire and Dorset to offer some of the finest meat produce in the south.
