Treendale butchery Pete’s Chop Shop has officially been bestowed with the title of best Italian Gourmet Sausage in the South West after securing first place in the King Sausage South West award.
Peter Gianfrancesco and his apprentices Tim Seinor and Antonio Gianfrancesco have taken out the award for the third time, after winning it back in 2013 and 2014 and just being pipped to the post in 2015.
Pete’s Chop Shop also got third place for their traditional barbecue Australian sausage in the competition.
Mr Gianfrancesco said the hundreds of years his family has been making sausage has contributed to their success.
“My Dad made sausage and so did my Grandfather and I began making sausage with them when I was four, so it’s a part of what’s makes us who we are,” he said.
“And it’s still a family affair today, this business is family run, we come in here on a Sunday and prepare sausage and a lot of fun to do with the family.”
Mr Gianfrancesco also said their passion for the art sausage making and their insatiable thirst for experimentation keep them at the top of their game.
“After we took out this award, instantly my second year apprentice Tim came in the next day with a new recipe to try,” he said.
“The secret to a great sausage is the quality of the meat, we use a mature pork from Linley Valley in Perth and don’t use fillers in our sausage.”
Pete’s Italian sausage will now go toe-to-toe with the Perth King Sausage champion to compete on the national level in Hobart.
“If we beat the champion in the Perth heat we’ll go to Hobart to compete nationally, but it’s going to be a tough task, some the butchers in Perth have been operating for 30 years and put out some really good sausage,” he said.
“I’d love first place but if we can secure second or third it will have been a win for us.”