A Keilor Downs butcher has pitted his skills against 20 of the industry’s leaders in a bid to be crowned the country’s best butcher.
Sammy Cassar put months of preparation to the test at the weekend during his second stint at the prestigious Meatstock Festival and said that while he didn’t take the title, it was an enjoyable experience.
“I went there to win this, so it’s a little disappointing to not place top five,” he said.
“But it was a fantastic experience, I’ll learn from it and come back next year bigger and better.”
Although he knew what to expect, Mr Cassar said things weren’t any easier the second time around.
“I went in with a better understanding of what to expect,” he said. “We’re judged on a whole range of things, from cuts, to knowledge and flavours. Once you’ve prepared a cut and added flavour to it, you’re given a microphone and have to sell what you’ve created. That’s where I fell down both times.”
Mr Cassar put hours into his speech, but said the pressure of public speaking hit him at the wrong time.
“I put a heap of time into my little spiel,” he said. “I knew exactly what I wanted to say and I even put a few jokes in there.
“But there were a few thousand more people in the crowd than I’d prepared for and it caught me off guard a bit. It’s something I’m going to have to work on.”
While disappointed by the result, Mr Cassar said he’s as motivated as ever to win the title at his next attempt.
“To have that trophy and the label of Melbourne’s best butcher would do a lot of good for the business,” he said. “On an individual note, it makes you a rock star of the industry.”
