Food show reveals secret of South African rugby - it's a meaty strip

If you've ever wondered how those South African locks and props get so darn big, look no further than Stumpy's fish-and-chip shop, Whangarei.

South African expat owners Dagny and Brad Leggott started making the chewy, meaty snack biltong as a sideline a year ago.

Not only is it good to nibble on, they say the dried meat is used to soothe teething tots' gums back home.

"That's what we were all brought up on," said Dagny Leggott, who will be sharing out the salami-style treat tomorrow at Whangarei's Great Taste Food Show.

The Leggotts' "Lekker Biltong" recipe uses beef silverside, slow-cured with manuka honey, peppercorns and herbs such as coriander.

Sold in nibble-sized slices or in a 30cm strip (complete with hand-crafted toothpick), it's going down a treat with locals and visitors.

"One woman even bought some to take back to South Africa," said Dagny Leggott.

As for the product's name, "lekker" means "awesome" while "biltong" is from the Afrikaans words for "buttocks" and "strip". The company also makes "drywors", like a skinny beef jerky. The products are all part of the Boer heritage in South Africa.

The Leggotts' will be among 50 stalls of mostly small-business owners dishing up everything from goji berries to fudge and saffron to relish at the food show.

Six top Northland chefs will do battle in the Ready, Steady, Cook contest and bon vivant Vic Williams will hold wine classes throughout the day.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)