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Hot chips in a sausage? Slow-cooked brisket and mac and cheese? What about spicy ramen? The Bellmere Butcher’s Jackson Miano is on a mission to show how the sausage is made – literally.
ButcherTok, as it’s become known, isn’t a new phenomenon. But now, two of Queensland’s most popular butcher shops are trying to leverage their online followings to be crowned the best in the state.
“[We’ve] been putting in the hard yards over the last couple of years, trying to build something pretty cool, so we think it’s good [to be nominated],” says Miano, the shop’s owner.
The state government’s Queensland Day initiative, All The Best, asks the public to nominate and vote for their favourite business, food outlet, beach or tourist attraction in the state. This year, an intense butcher battle has begun to sizzle.
At the time of publication, The Bellmere Butcher was coming in fourth place with Cannon Hill’s The Butcher Shoppe in first place, Townsville’s Tavern Meats in second, Stafford Heights’ Rode Meats in third, and Riverway Meats in Townsville in fifth.
But Miano says there’s no heat in the competition.
“Everyone is getting on and doing this social presence and really bringing the butchers alive together,” Miano says.
“No matter who takes out the first place will be well deserving of it. [We’re] trying to bring the butchering community back together … there’s definitely enough [room] for us all.”
His sentiment was mirrored by Rode Meats owner Patrick “Will” Burgoyne, whose team only recently found out about the nomination and is planning a campaign to get them to the top spot.
“There’s definitely no rivalry between butcher shops … it’s more small retailers against the big guys,” he says.
“There will be a lot of bragging rights … whoever comes out on top, but it’ll all be in a friendly manner.”
The Queensland Day competition is in its second year, but this is the first time it has expanded to include butcher shops.
Miano became an apprentice butcher 11 years ago and met Megan, now his wife, in the Caboolture shop. The pair took over the shop more than three years ago.
The operation has become a buzzing hive of activity, and they’re preparing to move into a bigger space within the same complex by the year’s end.
“Twelve months ago, I didn’t think we’d be … getting photos with customers, that’s for sure. It’s really good to see a lot of people supporting local again.”
Miano’s approach to ButcherTok is not just a matter of setting the camera up and hoping for the best. He’s using his account to ask customers what they want, and deliver some delicious – and at times, outrageous – sausage flavours.
A single video of Miano making a sausage with hot chips, rump steak and pepper gravy – created during the COVID-19 pandemic – has been viewed more than 700,000 times on TikTok. The team is now on a journey to make the spiciest ramen sausage.
Meanwhile, Brisbane-based Rode Meats has unearthed a star in its ranks in apprentice butcher Ethan Johns. His lively commentary has helped the shop amass a huge social following, with one sausage-making video receiving over 5.8 million views.
Rode Meats will be opening two more sister stores within the next year, taking the shop’s network to six in total. For owner Burgoyne, his team’s work ethic and community focus would make his shop a deserving winner.
“I’ve never been in business to be a millionaire, so I like giving back and like seeing our community at Rode Meats grow,” he said.
And for Miano at The Bellmere Butcher, the team’s friendly service and industry passion is what makes them shine.
Both say that if they win, they’ll be making a celebratory sausage flavour.
What is the All the Best competition?
All the Best categories range from the best bakery to butcher shop, cafe to burger spot, beach to tourism attraction. There are 15 categories to vote in.
“From your local pizzeria to your favourite beach, we want Queenslanders to share what they love most about our amazing state,” Premier David Crisafulli said in April to promote the competition.
Voting closes on Thursday, May 28. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 3 – ahead of Queensland Day on Saturday, June 6.
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