Ottawa professional/business association hosts seventh National Kovbasa Competition (03/27/05)

Ottawa professional/business association hosts seventh National Kovbasa Competition

by Robert Albota

OTTAWA - Ukrainians love their kovbasa! This tasty smoked sausage is a staple of Ukrainian dinner plates - for both everyday and festive occasions.

"During their travels across Canada, our members used to bring back suitcases full of their favourite kovbasa to share with family and friends," said Iris Bradley, president of the Ottawa chapter of the Ukrainian-Canadian Professional and Business Association of Ottawa (UCPBA). "So we decided to hold a fun competition to let our members know where they can get freshly made kovbasa."

On Saturday, February 19, 126 kovbasa-lovers sampled and voted on the best kovbasa in Canada at the seventh National Kovbasa Competition, sponsored by the Ukrainian-Canadian Professional and Business Association of Ottawa. While three Ottawa sausage makers finished in the top three in different categories, so did others from southern Ontario, Alberta and Quebec. "It's a great opportunity for our members to discover different sausages," Ms. Bradley said.

Etobicoke's Ontario Fresh and Tasty took first place in the traditional sausage category for their Bukovynska sausage, while second place went to the Krakowska dry from Adam's Sausage and Meat Products of Ottawa. Contributors from Ottawa and Montreal tied for third place: the Warsaw Polish Deli of Ottawa for its Podlaska - Forest and Zytynsky's Deli of Montreal for its Extra Lean Kovbasa.

In the ham-based kovbasa category, Stawnichy's Meat Processing of Mundare, Alta., got top marks for its Home-Made Style Ukrainian Sausage, while Bank Street Sausage and Deli of Ottawa took second place for its Polish Ham Kovbasa. Denninger Ltd. Kielbassa from Hamilton, Ont., was the voters' choice for third place.

In the specialty sausage category, Ottawa's Adam's Sausage and Meat Products took first place for its Hunter Sausage, the Ternopilska from Ontario Fresh and Tasty placed second, and the Hot Cajun from Bank Street Sausage and Deli was voted third.

Honorable mentions were given to the other contributors: Osolinsky Meats from Wakaw, Sask., and the Ukrainian Co-Op Association from Regina, Sask., and Beach Road Meats and Delicatessen from Hamilton.

"Although we call it a competition, it really isn't one," said Irene Wolanskyj, a vice-president of UCPBA Ottawa. "The kovbasa are all excellent, and we would like these products to become better known both inside and outside the Ukrainian community." Participants also had a chance to sample imported Ukrainian beer, vodka and sparkling wine sold in Ontario by Multiculture Marketing of Oakville, (www.ukiestore.com).

The UCPBA Ottawa chapter holds this event annually to raise money for the UCPBA Ottawa Scholarship Award program, which recognizes the academic and extracurricular achievements, as well as Ukrainian Canadian community involvement of a high school or university student in the national capital region. The UCPBA will present its next scholarship award in December.

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