By JESSE GRAHAM
A YARRA Valley sauce competition is calling on residents who are passionate about pasta, chuffed about chutney or find relish riveting to put out their best produce.
Yarra Valley Gateway Estate’s annual Sauce Competition has returned for its second year, with sauce enthusiasts asked to come up with their best tomato-based recipe.
Gateway Estate’s Brett Spurling said the competition was returning after a strong turnout last year, with nearly 50 sauces, chutneys and relishes submitted to the Coldstream business to be judged by a panel.
“The judges said the standard of entries was fantastic,” Mr Spurling said.
“We were really pleased with the result – we’re hoping for the same again this year, if not more.”
The rules of the competition are simple – fill a 500-millilitre jar with a tomato sauce, relish, chutney or pasta sauce that is tomato-based and made this season.
Though the event is based in the Yarra Valley, Mr Spurling encouraged residents in the Dandenong Ranges to get involved and submit their sauces, too.
All entrants, from special family recipes, to experimental first-tries or commercial products are able to be entered, though Mr Spurling said that entries must be submitted blind.
“We don’t want the jars delivered with the manufacturer’s details on them,” he said.
Entries must include a name, phone number, email address and a product description (e.g. sauce, relish, chutney or pasta sauce) on the jar.
The first prize is a $150 Yarra Valley hamper, while second prize is a dinner for two at Rustik at Gladysdale Bakehouse. Entry to the competition is free, and all entries must be submitted by Sunday 19 April.
Sauces can be dropped off at Yarra Valley Gateway Estate, 669 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream; Cunliffe and Waters, 2 North Gateway Plaza, Coldstream; Gladysdale Bakehouse, 2568 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction; or Yarra Valley Pasta, 321-325 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.
Winners will be announced on 26 April.
