Stage set for second national Sausage Oscars

Members of the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland and its affiliate, Associated Food Producers and Suppliers, have been invited to take part in the competition which will involve four regional finals and a national decider during National Sausage Week.

The Sausage Oscars, held for the first time last year, attracted a large entry and generated much publicity.

For sausage-making is more than just a day's work for the Irish craft butcher. ACBI chief executive Pat Brady said secret ingredients and recipes handed down through generations reflect a lifetime's skill and dedication.

"Last year, our first national competition was an outstanding success. The national and regional winners got enormous promotional benefits from their success and turned it into increased sales."

There will be four categories of product entry in this year's competition traditional butcher's sausage, speciality sausage, (up to three), puddings (black and white) and drisheen.

There will be two sections, one for retail butchers and one for manufacturer-wholesalers. Participants must use only Irish meat in their entries. Devro, Bord Bia, National Food Ingredients/Blakes Ingredients are the sponsors. Entries close on September 6.

Four regional finals will be held in Longford and Kill, Co Kildare, on September 29 and in Nenagh and Cork on October 6.

The national finals will take place at Butchershow 2002 in Dublin on November 3.