Wangaratta is taking bacon next-level with a product that is brined in mineral water and Manuka honey and finished with flecks of gold. or signup to continue reading On Tuesday, August 27, family-owned smallgoods business Gamze Smokehouse will launch Gamze Gold Bacon, which is ethically-sourced, nitrate-free, cold-smoked in retired wine barrels and garnished with 24-carat gold flakes. Crafted by Slovenian expat Felix Gamze and his son Brendan, the 400 gram packs will sell for $100.
Gamze Smokehouse director Brendan Gamze said they wanted to make the best bacon possible and had been working on the idea since early this year. He said being a small family business allowed them to be more innovative. "It's the first time anyone has taken bacon to this level," he said.
"With Gamze Gold Bacon, our goal was to produce something truly extraordinary that would delight and surprise our customers. "This bacon is not just food; it's a celebration of quality and craftsmanship." Gamze Gold Bacon is made from heritage breed black pigs raised using free-range regenerative farming methods.
They are finished on acorns and macadamia nuts for the last six weeks. "We are committed to sustainable and ethical farming practices and the quality of our ingredients is paramount, and it shines through in every mouthful of our bacon," Mr Gamze said. "The brine used for curing the bacon features Three Bays mineral water, Australian Manuka Honey and Murray River Pink Salt and these ingredients were chosen for their purity and exceptional qualities, contributing to the unparalleled taste and texture of our bacon.
"The final product is then garnished with gold flakes to deliver the full opulent experience." With 400 packs available nationwide, Gamze Gold Bacon will sell for $100 a pack, which includes 200 grams in loin bacon and 200 grams in streaky bacon. Gamze Gold will be available at Gamze Smokehouse in Wangaratta as well as select retail outlets in Melbourne, Sydney, ACT and Brisbane, with some available online.
With World Bacon Day on Friday, August 30, and Father's Day on Sunday, September 1, Mr Gamze said they expected the product line to sell out quickly. "$100 a pack is as high-end as you can get," he said. "But the depth of flavour is beautiful and there's already been lots of interest.
" Mr Gamze said, like all Gamze products, Gamze Gold Bacon was nitrate-free, preserving its natural taste and health benefits. It was cold-smoked twice over 14 hours in retired red wine barrels. "Unlike many others in the industry, we avoid using chemical sodium nitrite (250) in the curing process, replacing it with a natural nitrite extracted from celery which ensures that our products are free from unnecessary additives and preservatives," he said.
"Traditionally, bacon is hot-smoked but our cold-smoking process gives more nuanced flavours in the bacon." DAILY DURING PARALYMPICS Get the best news and analysis from the Paris Paralympic Games in a daily update. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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