Treasury Brisbane Executive Chef Ste…FLA General Manager Bruce McConnel, Treasury Brisbane Executive Chef Steven Jones and JBS Australi

ONE of Queensland’s finest meat-producing regions is hosting its first beef battle next month to showcase the Darling Downs’ top-quality brands, and judge who has the best steak in town.

Food Leaders Australia is hosting the event in Toowoomba for restaurateurs, chefs, procurement teams and the steak-loving public.

Food Leaders Australia general manager Bruce McConnel said his organisation was proud to help deliver the event, with local branded beef supply chain managers JBS, Stanbroke, Rangers Valley, Oakey Beef Exports, Mort & Co and John Dee going head-to-head.

“We wanted to bring the region’s top beef producers together to highlight the outstanding quality of beef we have in the Darling Downs,” Mr McConnel said.

“It will also help develop stronger relationships between suppliers and the food and hospitality industry, both locally and across the state.

The Star Entertainment Group – via its Treasury Brisbane property – will throw its weight behind the event by sending its top executive chef to work with local chefs on the night.

The event was essentially a blind-tasting competition where the audience will try each of the brands’ sirloin steaks and then judge which is the region’s best.

Treasury Brisbane executive chef Steven Jones said he’s looking forward to coming to the region to learn more about its beef industry and help local Toowoomba chefs prepare and cook the steaks.

“This is an exciting initiative by Food Leaders Australia and we’re proud to be a part of the first one of its kind in the region,” Mr Jones said.

“As a business, it’s important that we find the best and freshest produce right across the state to ensure we create authentic Queensland experiences for locals and visitors to our properties. The Darling Downs is famous for its tender and flavoursome beef and building relationships with these suppliers will becoming increasingly vital as we continue to expand our operations in both Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.

For the month of December alone, Treasury Brisbane has ordered 8000 steak portions from its current local beef supplier, JBS, to serve through the Casino hotel’s ‘Kitchen at Treasury’ outlet.

Mr Jones said he is looking forward to working with the team at The Spotted Cow in Toowoomba to ensure they did justice to each brand in the taste test and make it a fair competition for the audience to enjoy and judge.

• The Darling Downs Beef Battle is being held on Tuesday 4 December at The Spotted Cow, Campbell St Toowoomba from 5.30pm. Tickets can be purchased here