Farm Week – 16/2/24
I’ll be glued to BBC2 this evening for an important feature by international chef, broadcaster and author Rick Stein on Peter Hannan of award-winning Hannan Meats in Moira, one of the real champions of food here. I am delighted to call Peter a good friend and have his support as an active director of FoodNI.
Peter features in Rick Stein’s Food Stories, described as “a culinary adventure around Great Britain to discover the food that we love to eat today”. I can think of no better person to demonstrate the quality and innovation of food here. He’s respected worldwide for the quality of his beef, lamb and pork. And many smaller food producers have benefited enormously from his advice and support, especially with high-end retailers like Fortnum and Mason in London.
A premium steak from Peter is being showcased by the beef guru and Nick Stein in tonight’s edition on BBC2 at 6.30pm. Featured will be Hannan’s Himalayan Salt Aged Delmonico Ribeye Steak that’s cut for sharing.
Having been a chef for over 50 years, Rick has come to realise that the food we eat tells a story about who we are. From traditional dishes to those that we’ve made our own – meeting producers, some of our best chefs and those keeping traditions alive to see how food brings us together.
Vastly experienced in meat processing, Peter founded Hannan Meats Ltd in Moira, Co Armagh in 1989. It started as a catering butchery business for hotels and restaurants on the back of an extensive career in managing meat processing plants in Ireland, the UK and the US.
Hannan Meats has since become a major supplier of premium quality beef, pork and lamb to restaurants and hotels throughout the UK and Ireland and further afield.
The company pioneered the use of Himalayan salt-aging meat to enhance flavours and textures. It currently operates the world’s biggest Himalayan salt chambers and has won a series of international awards for the quality and taste of its beef, bacon and lamb.
In addition, the company pioneered the development of a novel sugar-pit process for enhancing the flavour of pork, ham and bacon. It sources from local farms including the award-winning Glenarm Estate shorthorn in Co.Antrim.
This pioneering work has led to unrivalled success in the UK Great Taste Awards organised by the influential Guild of Fine Food. Hannan Meats has won the Supreme Championship twice and more Great Taste Awards than any other producer in the UK.
Hannan Meats also operates the hugely successful Meat Merchant wholesale outlet in Moira, which is open to the public and also features hundreds of artisan foods from other producers.
Another example of a business celebrating our culinary culture is Killeavy Castle Estate. This week it unveiled its latest culinary venture — Gullion at Killeavy. Talented Chef Darragh Dooley, at the helm since the estate’s opening in 2019, is behind this venture to bring his wealth of culinary expertise and passion for locally and ethically sourced food to the heart of Gullion at Killeavy. With an unwavering commitment to sustainability, the Gullion restaurant sources some of the finest produce from the island of Ireland, using as many local suppliers as possible.
Longhorn Cattle and Cheviot Sheep are raised on the working farm at Killeavy Castle Estate, ensuring high-quality meats for guests, with the Estate Butcher, Gareth Black guaranteeing the freshness and traceability of every cut, maintaining farm-to-fork standards. The estate gardens provide a wide variety of fresh vegetables and herbs, enhancing the flavour and sustainability of every dish. The farm-to-fork philosophy is ingrained in every aspect of Gullion at Killeavy, ensuring that each dish narrates a story of vibrant local flavours.
It’s clear we have an abundance of culinary champions in this part of the world, showcasing the quality of our ingredients in their own style, and over the next few months we will be featuring many of them in our very own advert Our Food, Power of Good. Supported by DAERA, through the Regional Food Programme, the advert, and the accompanying social media tell the story of our great food and drink industry, here at home. Check it out at www.nigoodfood.com.
