London - It may be associated with frugality and thrift, but beef dripping is back on the menu after being declared the very best in gourmet food.
Finest Quality dripping from James Whelan Butchers in Ireland saw off 10 000 other food and drink products to be declared Supreme Champion of the Great Taste 2015 awards.
Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, the competition involves a team of experts examining an international selection of “artisan” produce, including meat, cheese, honey, beer and chocolate.
And despite its humble origins, the dripping was declared a “perfect example” of “pure beefiness and savoury depth”.
John Farrand, director of the Guild, said: “It succeeded through day after day of blind tasting, winning favour at every stage.As one judge said, just a spoonful would add sheer magnificence however it was used.”
Beef dripping has traditionally been seen as a poor man’s ingredient, used for roasting potatoes or spread on toast for breakfast. It has fallen out of favour in recent decades due to health fears over animal fats, but the panel said it could be used in a number of ways – including to make a “peerless pastry”.
Daily Mail