Pantry
The Beehive Craft Series by Peter Gordon www.beehivecraft.co.nz
2010 saw the launch in New Zealand of my pork and bacon product range. After only a few months on the shelves has been awarded the 'Innovation Award for Outstanding Innovation in Food Enterprise' in the 'Other Food & Beverage' category at the NZ Food Awards in association with Massey University.
The range consists of five unique 100% New Zealand pork products: Juicy Smoked Bacon Lardons, Maple and Nutmeg Middle Bacon, Red Wine and Sage Braised Pork, Spicy Moroccan Braised Pork and Twice cooked Five Spiced Pork Belly.
The idea of the range had been brewing for sometime - pork is an absolute favourite of mine and I have been thinking about these flavours and how to produce this range for months. When I met John Kippenberger from Beehive and realised he shared my passion for pork, I knew I had found a kindred spirit. I travelled to and from New Zealand several times to work closely with the team at Beehive, perfecting the cuts of meat, the cooking time and the flavours. The outcome is something I am very proud of; something that is just delicious.
It was really important for me to ensure that the Craft Series begins on great farms with happy, healthy pigs. All of the products are produced from 100% New Zealand pork, free farmed in the South Island. This means the sows are outdoors and give birth in open paddocks; no sow stalls or farrowing crates are used on the farm.
I'm really proud and excited to present these products to New Zealanders. It really has been about crafting something special and producing great food that is easy to cook but tastes delicious. Throw the ribs on the BBQ, sprinkle lardons on a salad to make it something extra special or serve the pork belly at a dinner party to impress, all so easy but so effective.