Fast-food lamb potential seen

Press, 21 May 1979, Page 16

Fast-food lamb potential seen

NZPA Hong Kong Lamb could become a “fast food” meal at takeaway bars in New Zealand, using a machine developed in Greece. Known as a “Gira,” the machine was inspected by the chairman of the Meat Board (Mr Charles Hilgendorf), in Hong Kong, at the end of his 10-day visit to China as a member of a New Zealand business delegation. Mr Hilgendorf said that the board had been looking for a “take-away” dish in which lamb could be served. Chops did not achieve “take-away” status because they were too expensive. The Gira machine finely grinds the meat and passes it through a mould on to a revolving spike, where it is cooked by electric grills. It is then fed into a second mould, where spices are added

and a pastry wrapped round it. The end-product is then sealed in a plastic bag and can be sold to take-away restaurants for heating and sale “on demand.” Mr Hilgendorf said the meat was so finely ground that it was difficult to tell after cooking that it had been minced. The spice combination could be varied to take account of the tastes of potential buyers. “It is the type of product which could compete with hamburgers at takeaway shops,” he said. The machine could be useful to wholesalers or retailers. They would be able to use it to dispose of cuts of lamb that had proved difficult to sell. Mr Hilgendorf said that the machine “would not make a fortune" for New Zealand meat sellers, but could be useful in developing take-away lamb product.