THE sizzling debate over Australia’s best snag is firing up once again, and a Cleveland butcher is hoping to prove his gourmet creations are a cut above the rest.
George’s Gourmet Meats at Cleveland Central will take another shot at glory in this year’s Sausage King competition after an impressive debut 12 months ago.
Remarkably, the family- owned butcher had barely opened its doors when it claimed silver and bronze at the regional contest, held only a week after launch.
“Last year, Sausage King was held the week we opened so we threw in a couple of last-minute entries to just see how we went,” owner George Alderson said.
Those last-minute entries turned into winners, with the Chicken Parmy snag voted the second-best poultry sausage in the region, and the fiery Pork Hot Links securing third place in the continental category.
This year, Mr Alderson is going bigger – but he’s letting the community decide which flavours will carry the Cleveland butcher into competition.
“It’s all about quality product, quality workmanship and fresh ingredients,” he said.
“We only stock the best products we can get our hands on.
“Our lamb all comes out of Tasmania, our pigs come from Bangalow, grass-fed beef from a variety of farms all through Queensland, free-range chicken from Golden Cockerel in Mount Cotton.
“We get all our lamb, pork and chicken in whole and bone it ourselves in house.
“We smoke our own bacons, hams and smallgoods, make our own sausages.
“If it is possible for us to do it in house, we do.”
With more than 60 flavours already in the butcher’s rotation, the choice of which snags to send off for judging is no easy task.
That’s where locals come in.
Cleveland Central Centre Manager Jocelyn Sakeson said the community’s tastebuds would help decide which creations had the best chance of snagging a title.
“We all have our favourite flavours here at Cleveland Central, and we need help from the Redlands community to decide which snag is the best of the best,” Mrs Sakeson said.
“With over 60 flavours in George’s range, it’s a tough choice.”
From traditional favourites to out-of-the-box flavour combinations, George’s sausages have quickly earned a reputation for bringing something new to the family barbecue.
Their quality-first approach, backed by old-school butchering skills and local produce, has made the store a popular stop for shoppers.
Locals keen to have their say on which sausage they believe has the best chance to be crowned king can cast their vote at clevelandcentral.com.au.
