Super soup

Melbourne-based John McEwan Handcrafted Gourmet Foods is celebrating its success in the premium ready meal market, with its Chicken Kale & Quinoa Soup taking out a Gold Medal, Best Soup in Category and the 2016 Champion Trophy for Convenience Food at the 2016 Australian Food Awards.

Specialising in soups, meal sauces and ready-made meals, the company’s range also includes Thai Roast Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Soup, Carbonara Sauce, Napoli Sauce and a Beef Burgundy ready-made meal.

The 2016 Australian Food Awards are organised by the RASV (Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria) and the winners were announced at a presentation dinner hosted at Australia’s Masterchef kitchen set. Thirteen Champion Trophies were presented to some of Australia’s finest producers, recognising the best premium food in Australia.

Terra Preta Truffles took out the prestigious Champion Australian Product/Produce award and also claimed the trophy for Champion Fresh Produce – Truffles, with French Black Truffles grown on their family farm in Braidwood, New South Wales.

Victorian producers Plough to Plate Fine Foods, Dooley’s Ice Cream and Brunetti took out the Champion Small, Medium and Large Producer trophies respectively, while the award for Champion Organic Product/Produce went to Schulz Organic Dairy for its Pure Cream.

The trophy for Champion Australian Dairy went to Prom Country Cheese for its Venus Blue cheese, while Champion Pantry Goods went to Cunliffe & Waters. Woodward Food Australia won the Champion Australian Meat trophy for its prime lamb, Milking Yard farm took out the prize for Champion Australian Poultry and Salvatore’s Smokehouse was awarded Champion Australian Seafood for its smoked oysters.