Sizzling contest to find Scotland’s best steak

Shortlist of sirloins chosen for Royal Highland Show cook-offs

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THE quest to find the producer of Scotland’s best steak narrowed yesterday as a shortlist of sirloins from 12 beef farmers was declared for the cook-offs at next month’s Royal Highland Show.

Judges said their task in the annual Tesco-sponsored contest at Portlethen-based meat processor McIntosh Donald was exceptionally difficult as the quality of entry in the competition this year was exceptionally high.

Placing the 75 sirloins that qualified for yesterday’s judging process from a record entry of 151 cattle were Michael Stoddart, executive chef at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa; Peter Broadbent, the technical manager with Tesco, and Peter Phythian, the head of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board meat service carcase classification service in Scotland.

Mr Broadbent said the judges had been looking for the very best in terms of beef quality and fat cover.

They praised the lack of overly fat entries, which McIntosh Donald managing director Alan McNaughton put down to high ex-farm prices encouraging farmers to send cattle for slaughter in prime condition rather than holding on to them in the hope prices improve.

Mr Broadbent said fat was a benefit in good steak, but said it should “frame it like a painting” rather than dominate it.

Finalists for the cook-off on June 20 are:

G. and M. Jamieson, Mains of Leask, Ellon, with an R4L Limousin cross heifer.

K. J. and A. Melvin, Meikle Tulloch, Durris, Banchory, with a U+3 Limousin cross steer.

Messrs K. Stewart and Son, of Greenhaugh Farm, Huntly, with an R3 Limousin cross heifer.

G. and D. Anderson, of Brucewells, Netherley, Stonehaven, with an R3 Charolais cross heifer.

Scott Willox, of Dykenook, Netherley, with an R3 Charolais cross heifer.

D. A. McConnach and Sons, of Brotherton Mains, Johnshaven, with an R4L Limousin cross steer.

J. A. Urquhart and Son, of Bogloch, Lumphanan, with a -U3 Charolais cross steer.

A. E. Greig, Denhead Farm, Lonmay, with a -U3 Limousin cross heifer.

B. Grubb, of Mountpleasant, Ardallie, Mintlaw, with a -U4L Limousin cross heifer.

J. M. Marshall, of East Pitkierie, Anstruther, with a -U4L Limousin cross steer.

B. and C. C. Taylor, of Annamuick, Stonehaven, with a -U3 Blonde d’Aquitaine heifer.

W. Innes and Son, of Beechbank Farm, Fordyce, Portsoy, with a -U4L Limousin cross steer.