7th National
Kobassa Competition
Fundraising Event

Saturday, February 19, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE :  7^th National Kobassa Tasting Competition

OTTAWA -- Ukrainians love their kobassa!  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 kobassa 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 kobassa."

On Saturday (February 19), 126 kobassa-lovers sampled and voted on the best kobassa in Canada at the 7th National Kobassa 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,” Bradley said.

Etobicoke’s Ontario Fresh and Tasty took first place in the traditional sausage category for their Bukovinska 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 for its Podlaska – Forest and Zytynsky’s Deli of Montreal for their Extra Lean Kobassa.

In the ham-based kobassa category, Stawnichy’s Meat Processing of Mundare, Alberta, 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 Kobassa. Denninger Ltd. Kielbassa from Hamilton was 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.

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

“Although we call it a competition, it really isn’t one,” said Irene Wolanskyj, a vice-president of UCPBA Ottawa. “The kobassa 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, extracurricular achievements, and 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 2005.

 For more information, contact Irene Wolanskyj at  (613) 237-5094 / e-mail iwolanskyj@sympatico.ca  or  Iris Bradley – (613) 236-2786 / bradlei@magma.ca

  Other links: www.mundaresausage.com; http://www.banksausagedeli.com/inthenews.html; http://www.ukemonde.com/zytynsky/zhythistory.htm; http://www.ucc.sk.ca/new/20040326reginacoopmtg.htm

Alberta

Stawnichy's Meat Processing

PO Box 18

Mundare, Alberta   T0B 3H0

Phone:  (780) 764-3912

Home-Made Style Ukrainian Sausage (H)

Mundare Home Made Style Pepperoni (S)

Saskatchewan

Osolinsky’s

Box 776

Wakaw, Saskatchewan   S0K 4P0

Phone: (306)233-4786

Finest Garlic (T)

Beer sausage (S)

Ukrainian Co-Op Association

1805 Winnipeg Street

Regina, Saskatchewan  S4P 1G3

Phone: (306) 569-9510

Original Ukrainian Kobasa (T)

Homestyle Ham (H)

Smoked Buffalo Kobasa (S)

Ontario

Denninger’s

284 King Street E

Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1B7

Phone: (905) 528-8468

Deninninger’s Kielbassa (H)

Kabonossi (S)

Ontario (continued)

Beach Road Meats & Deli

201 Ottawa Street North

Hamilton, Ontario  L8H 3Z4

Phone: (905) 544-9111

Beach Road Kielbasa (H)

Ontario Fresh and Tasty

99 Advance Road

Etobicoke, Ontario   M8Z 2S6

Phone: (416) 234-8063

Bukovinska (T)

Ternopilska (S)

(sponsored by Buduchnist Credit Union, Ottawa)

Adam’s Sausage & Meat

1437 Michael St.

Ottawa, Ontario  K1B 3R3

Phone: (613) 749-3336

Double Smoked Sowjstka(T)

Kielbasa Polish (H)

Hunter Sausage (S)

Bank Street Sausage and Deli

1920 Bank St. Unit 2/3

Ottawa, Ontario   K1H 7J1

Phone: (613) 521-5557

Double Garlic Sausage (T)

Polish Ham Kobassa (H)

Hot Cajun (S)

Ontario (continued)

Warsaw Polish Deli

747 Richmond Road

Ottawa, Ontario K2A 0G6

Phone: (613) 722-5440

Podlaska - Forest (T)

Quebec

Zytynsky's Deli

3350 Beaubien Street E.

Montreal, Quebec H1X 1G6

Phone:  (514) 722-0826

Extra Lean Kobassa (T)

Ukrainian Kobassa-Hunter Sausage (S)

Special thanks to –

 All of our kobassa contributors

 MulticultureMarketing Inc, importers of Slavutych and Lvivske beers, Krimset sparkling wine and Slava Vodka. www.ukiestore.com

Buduchnist Credit Union, Ottawa

Raisa Hordiychuk - catering of varenyky and cabbage rolls

Maria Wolanskyj - Dessert

Natasha Guiller - Pianist

UCPBA-Ottawa Volunteers