Bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker NearyNógs in Northern Ireland has just launched two limited edition bars.

The new stoneground chocolate bars have been created to reflect the environment of the Mourne Mountains of county Down overlooking Carlingford Lough where the family owned business is based.

The craft chocolate maker, a Food NI member company, has a workshop and visitor centre in the Mourne’s near Rostrevor.

The new bars, each retailing at £5, both use 70% dark chocolate from a single estate in the Dominican Republic. The new Dúlamán chocolate bar, for instance, features a distinctive blend of locally harvested gorse flower and seaweed from the shores of Carlingford Lough.

The company is Northern Ireland’s first and only bean-to-bar producer of chocolate and has developed an impressive reputation for original flavours from the best cocoa beans from single estates in the Dominican Republic and Sao Tome.

Shane Neary, who owns and runs NearyNógs with wife Dorothy, explains: “Gorse flower adds a hint of coconut flavour along with the lightly salty Seaweed makes a fantastic taste experience.  A real complement of flavours from County Down local craft.

The second limited edition bar is part of the company’s Irish Collection and is Old Fashioned with burnt sugar, orange bitters and Irish whiskey, which was once distilled wildly in the Mournes and has recently been revived by a small distillery producing Ireland’s only whiskey distilled over flame. The new craft chocolate is part of the company’s developing Irish Collection of limited edition bars.

“The new bars are inspired by the songs, stories we’ve grown up on and passed through the generations and ancient traditions of the Mournes…with a chocolate take. We are steadily creating unique chocolates with distinctive Irish flavours which were proving extremely popular with tours to our workshop before the global virus outbreak,” adds Shane.

Both bars continue the company’s focus on products which are organic, fairtrade, gluten free and suitable for vegans.

NearyNógs began making chocolate in 2011 and has collected a string of prestigious awards for premium quality and rich flavours. It has sold chocolate to Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as in Great Britain, other parts of Europe and to New Zealand, Australia and the US increasingly through its website and recently launched a monthly subscription scheme which is also providing popular.

NearyNogs has developed a portfolio of delicious chocolates, mostly 70 percent and more of cacao, including bars, slates, drinking chocolate, cacao nibs, truffles, chocolate cups, traditional chocolate fudge and its novel American-style Rebel Fudge.

Food NI food and drink member companies are collaborating increasingly to help each other meet the cash flow challenges from the current coronavirus lockdown.

Companies across the 400-strong member network are helping each other to generate business through both online and doorstep delivery initiatives.

Food NI’s Michele Shirlow: “We are keen to encourage such inspirational collaboration and are helping the growth in such business contacts between our member companies.

“Many of the companies involved in the collaboration have worked together with us at trade shows in Britain over the past year. Our role in drawing smaller companies together to grow sales has been supported from Invest NI’s Small Food Development Programme.

“Our team has a wealth of knowledge about – and contacts with – all our members and is ready to continue brokering such business relationships,” she adds.

The most recent support initiative has involved Rademon Estate Craft Distillery in Crossgar, Co Down, home of the multi-award-winning Shortcross Gin, which is now sold worldwide, including two smaller drink producers in Portadown – Long Meadow Cider and McCracken’s Real Ales – on its highly successful e-commerce shop.

Both were quick to respond when Rademon Estate offered smaller drink producers here access to its online store. Fiona Boyd Armstrong, Redemon’s managing director, says: “We were concerned about smaller companies facing cash difficulties because of the lockdown and decided to offer to include those interested on our online shop. We were delighted when Long Meadow and McCracken’s decided to take up our offer,” adds Fiona.

Ryan McCracken, founder of McCracken Real Ales, says: “I was thrilled when Rademon decided to include my five-strong range of craft ales in their shop. As a result of this collaboration, I’ve already had orders from Northern Ireland andScotland for the craft beers.

“It’s great to get cash flow moving again after the advent of the Covid-19 outbreak led to 80 per cent of my sales to restaurants and hotels disappearing virtually overnight. I am immensely grateful to Shortcross for their generous support,” adds Ryan.

Long Meadow’s Catherine McKeever is also appreciative of support from the leading local craft distillery. “It was very generous of the team at Shortcross to open up their online shop as we do not have an online platform to sell.

“In doing so they have provided us with an opportunity to keep channels open between ourselves and our customers and enabled us to continue supplying our products especially now at such a crucial time and when hotels restaurants and bars are closed.

“Customers can now place orders via both Shorcross and our own website with delivery direct to their door. We are delighted to be working in collaboration with such a reputable family business,” she says.

Another Portadown producer collaborating with other smaller food processors is Ballylisk of Armagh Triple Rose cheese. The company, owned by Dean Wright, found its cheese business crippled by the virus and responded swiftly by launching a fresh milk delivery service from the farm.

The company has recently added dry-cured bacon and sausages from Kennedy Bacon of Omagh along with potatoes from Wilson’s Country in Portadown and a local egg supplier to its ‘menu’ of products customers can order through social media and pay online for contact less delivery to their doorstep.

And Tom and Ollie in Belfast, a specialist in Mediterranean-style products, has also included other artisan products such as Burren Balsamics of Richhill, Belfast Hot Sauce, Ruby’s Jams and chutney from Portadown and Young Buck cheese from Newtownards and Ballylisk Triple Rose cheese in its portfolio for delivery across Northern Ireland and into Donegal.

In Co Down, Krazi Baker Mark Douglas is delivering griddle-baked breads to many parts of the county as well as parts of Armagh. As well as breads and shortbread biscuits, he is also delivering Abernethy Butter from Dromara ordered through Facebook.

We are all craving some semblance of normality and comfort so James St South Group have decided to offer a cook, dine and pick up service starting this Thursday the 30th April from Hadskis, in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

Niall Mckenna has carefully picked a 3 course meal to pick up and cook at home, alongside their bestseller Tomahawk Sharing Steak with sides.

The team have considered and can meet all current  and have limited availability for collections on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. Full details of menus are available here.

They like many have found the past 6 weeks strange and want to thank everyone for their continued support.

Niall and his team are looking forward to welcoming you through their restaurant doors again.

The advent of Coronavirus has forced most of our member companies to adapt they the way they do business. And very many of them have responded to the massive challenge with great determination and with tremendous success. Their approach is inspirational.

They’ve had to overhaul their sales strategy in particular, to embrace technology especially social media. Smaller enterprises, which have built their income and become reliant on local markets for cash flow, had to move quickly and decisively when this sales channel was shuttered to them. We’ve seen many introducing doorstep deliveries with great success. Others are now selling on the internet and some have achieved success with online retailers including Amazon and Ocado.

I know that councils involved in closing markets are now being called up to reverse this decision. And I am aware that major markets in Britain, such as the iconic Borough Market in London, have remained open during the crisis. Lisburn street market also reopened last Tuesday. I would certainly love to see markets once again (safely) offering opportunities to food companies across Northern Ireland.

We’ve been talking to several local councils about their markets. While I appreciate the pressure from some smaller business for markets to resume, I remain concerned about anything which could lead to a further surge in hospital admissions and fatalities. Decisions must continue to be guided by advice from health professionals. We are also ready to pick up one of our key roles in helping companies to maximise the business opportunities that local markets offer especially for start-up enterprises.

It’s also our hope that smaller companies will continue to develop opportunities through online platforms. This channel is really the way ahead for food and drink companies of all sizes and also offers cost-effective access to external and export markets. What the stay at home rule has done is to lead consumers everywhere to look for, and expect, home delivery of the broadest range of food and drink. This is unlike to change significantly in the future. In fact, I would expect to see more companies developing business through the likes of Amazon in particular.

Smaller and even some much bigger processors have also learned how to market their products effectively online through social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram,Facebook and YouTube. Such channels will surely become the ‘new normalcy’. They require commitment and professionalism to address the increased competition.

Social media and home delivery, furthermore, has become an essential marketing element for delis and indie retailers during the crisis.  We’ve seen these important retailers, especially for local food companies, coming up with hampers and food boxes with customers placing orders on social media and telephone and paying by card or through contactless transaction technology. It would be good to see more of these businesses creating distinctively local food hampers or menu boxes.

And it also seems likely that home cooking, which has increased during the virus, will continue to be a factor in the future. This creates opportunities for food companies to develop business by marketing their products with original menus online.

Food NI has embraced the new channels to promote our member companies to reach a wider audience of consumers here and further afield. I for one intend to continue the trend for on-line food shopping after coronavirus. I for one havehad my days brightened, and meals enhanced, by deliveries of local foods such as fish, beef, flavoured oils, jams and nut butter. To buy local online, see www.nigoodfood.com.

Most of us really miss eating out and while we can do our bit by cooking with as much local produce as possible, sometimes, you just want your meal put in front of you. Covid-19 has hit a lot of industries hard but the hospitality industry has taken one of the biggest blows. You can do your bit to help keep them afloat and spread some love and kindness to family, friends and neighbours.

Many Taste of Ulster members have reacted to the pandemic by offering takeaway and home delivery options. Some are also feeding NHS staff only like the Armagh City Hotel and Wine and Brine in Moira.

Others are doing food which can be collected like Captain Jack’s in Portaferry. Who wouldn’t like to get some yummy fish and chips left at their door for a neighbour?

You could also pick up some cakes and bakes at French Village or and host a virtual coffee morning now that Zoom parties are all the rage.

Some chefs have decided to share some of their secrets with people at home by doing online cookery demos. They include Great British Menu contestants Paul Cunningham from Brunel’s in Newcastle, from Clenaghan’s in Aghalee and Buba and Coppi restaurants in Belfast.

Lots of us are baking at home but not everyone is pleased with the results. Primrose at the Quay in Derry-Londonderry are doing scones and scone mixes to pick up.

Sunday lunch is often time for families to get together. The Tailors House in Ballygawley, Tyrone is among those doing them for takeaway. You can order some for whoever is in your house and drop portions off with friends and relatives.

Gift vouchers are also a great idea for when all of this is over. They will put a smile on anyone’s face to get one in the post.

Check out a full list of Taste of Ulster members and what they are doing in lockdown:

 

Establishment	Address	Town	Post Code
The Artisan Food Yard	4 Kildare Street	Strangford	BT30 7LJ
Ashvale Farm Shop	11 Old Ballynahinch Road	Lisburn	BT27 5PE
Balloo House	1 Comber Road	Killinchy	BT23 6PA
Belvedere Café	69 Cregagh Road	Belfast	BT6 8PY
Blackwell House	33 Mullabrack Road	Craigavon	BT63 6BP
Blend and Batch	104 Newry Street	Banbridge	BT32 3HE
Boyds Café	13 High Street	Ballymoney	BT53 6AH
Brunels	32 Downs Road	Newcastle	BT33 0AG
Buba	St Annes Square, Cathedral Quarter	Belfast	BT1 2LR
Café Cuan	161 Cormac Street	Belfast	BT2 8JE
Café Marmalade	14 Bridge Street	Banbridge	BT32 3JS
Café Nosh	64 Comber Road	Dundonald	BT16 2AB
Café Smart	56 Belmont Rd	Belfast	BT4 2AN
Captain Jacks	8 – 8c High Street, Portaferry	Newtownards	BT22 1QT
Central Wine bar	12 Ann Street	Ballycastle	BT54 6AA
Coppi	Saint Annes Square, Cathedral Quarter	Belfast	BT1 2LR
The Creamery Can	30 Station Road	Glarryford	BT44 9RA
The Dairy	5 Waterfall Road	Gleno	BT40 3LE
Deanes Restaurant	537 Lisburn Road	Belfast	BT9 7 GQ
Del Toro	Unit 16 Lisburn Leisure Park	Lisburn	BT28 1LP
French Village Café and Bistro	99 Botanic Avenue	Belfast	BT7 1JN
The Galley	43 Kilkeel Road	Annalong	BT34 4TJ
General Merchants	481 Upper Newtownards Road	Belfast	BT4 3LL
Hadskis	33 Donegal Street	Belfast	BT1 2FG
Hara	16 Lisburn Street	Hillsborough	BT26 6AB
Harbour and Company	31 The Parade	Donaghadee	BT21 0HE
Harrys Shack	118 Strand Road	Portstewart	BT55 7PG
The Heatherlea	94 – 96 Main Street	Bangor	BT20 4AG
The Holestone	11 Main Street Parkgate	Ballyclare	BT39 0DG
Kamal Mahal	1 Water Street	Enniskillen	BT79 0AG
Killmorey Arms	41 – 43 Greencastle Road	Kilkeel	BT34 4BH
The Kissin’ Crust	152 Main Street	Lisnaskea	BT92 0JE
Linen and Latte	14 Portland Avenue	Glengormley	BT36 5EY
Linen Hill Kitchen	Unit 1, The Boulevard	Banbridge	BT32 4LF
Loaf Cafe	307 – 308 Grosvenor Road	Belfast	BT12 4LP
The Lobster Pot Strangford	7 – 11 The Square	Strangford	BT30 7ND
Logans Restaurant	232 Frosses Road	Cloughmills	BT44 9PU
McKee’s Country Store & Restaurant	28 Hollywood Road	Newtownards	BT23 4TQ
McLaughlin’s Corner Restaurant	60 Bann Road, Rasharkin	Ballymena	BT44 8TE
Montalto Estate	Spa Road,	Ballynahinch	BT24 8PT
The Morning Star	17 – 19 Pottinger’s Entry	Belfast	BT1 4DT
Oakley Fayre	52 Market Street	Downpatrick	BT30 6LP
Ocho Tapas	92 – 94 Main street	Portrush	BT56 8NB
Orchard Cafe	395 – 405 Upper Newtownards Road	Belfast	BT4 1RH
The Parsons Nose	48 Lisburn St	Hillsborough	BT26 6AB
The Pheasant	410 Upper Ballynahinch Road	Hillsborough	BT26 6NR
The Plough	3 The Square	Hillsborough	BT26 6AG
No. 14 at The Georgian House	14 The Square	Comber	BT23 5DT
The Old Post Office Tea Rooms	191 Kilinchy Road, Lisbane	Comber	BT23 6AA
Pier 36	36 The Parade	Donaghadee	BT21 0HE
The Poacher’s Pocket	181 Killinchy Rd, Lisbane	Comber	BT23 5NE
Primrose at the Quay	Unit 2 Atlantic Quay, 110 – 112 Strand Road	Londonderry	BT48 7NR
Quails Fine Foods	13-15 Newry Street	Banbridge	BT32 3EA
The Red Berry	2 – 4 Main Street	Bangor	BT20 5AG
The Red Door Tearoom	14a Harbour Road	Ballintoy	BT54 6NA
The Rosehip	30 Bridge Street	Banbridge	BT32 3JS
S.D Bells	512-516 Upper Newtownards Road	Belfast	BT4 3HL
Square Bistro	18 Lisburn Square	Lisburn	BT28 1TS
Stock	Oxford Street, 1st Floor, St Georges Market	Belfast	BT1 4FG
Sugarcane Cafe	Unit 2, The Square	Comber	BT23 5DT
Tartine	140 Main Street	Bushmills	BT57 8QE
The Tailors House	50 Main Street	Ballygawley	BT70 2HE
The Tap Room	192 Grand Street	Lisburn	BT27 4TY
Thyme and Co	5 Quay Rd,	Ballycastle	BT54 6BJ
The Vault	50b Bridge Street	Banbridge	BT32 3JU
Walled City Brewery	70 Ebrington Square	Londonderry	BT47 6FA
Whitehead Golf Club	McCraes Brae, Whitehead	Carrickfergus	BT38 9NZ
Yahi	Unit 11, Great Northern Mall, Great Victoria Street	Belfast	BT2 7AB
Yellow Door	Lisburn Road, Hillsborough Café and Portadown Deli

 

 

 

 

Black Bush Stories campaign will explore the worlds of charcuterie, photography, tea blending and candle making.

Bushmills, Northern Ireland, 24th April 2020: Bushmills Irish Whiskey has announced the return of Black Bush Stories in 2020, with a series of interactive Instagram events in April and May. Each event will explore a key theme and celebrate an individual and their craft, while providing the opportunity for audiences to discover a new skill.

Hosted weekly on Instagram Live by whiskey experts and award-winning TV presenters, Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison, the series will see Bushmills Irish Whiskey assemble a cast of collaborators across Ireland to bring the popular whiskey-inspired masterclass events into viewers’ homes for the first time.

The collaborator lineup includes charcuterie master Rob Krawczyk, creative photographer Freddy Kelly (a.k.a. Raw Dublin), tea maker Oscar Woolley and candlemaker Michael Morris, all of whom co-hosted Black Bush Stories events across the country in 2018 and 2019.

Each event will be live streamed at 8.00pm every Wednesday, beginning 29th April, for four weeks on the @BushmillsIRL Instagram channel where viewers will be introduced to the world of Black Bush, before hearing the collaborator’s story and following alongside an interactive masterclass. The series will also be available on IGTV for viewers to watch back in their own time. The full event schedule is:

Wednesday 29th April: Black Bush Cured with charcuterie master, Rob Krawczyk
Wednesday 6th May: Black Bush & Photography with Freddy Kelly a.k.a. Raw Dublin
Wednesday 13th May: Black Bush Blended with Oscar Woolley from Suki Tea
Wednesday 20th May: Black Bush by Candlelight with Bearded Candlemaker, Michael Morris

Inspired by the unrivalled character of Bushmills Black Bush, Black Bush Stories celebrates independent, curious and spirited talent, using inspiring stories and immersive events to appeal to those who are keen to discover new experiences. To read more about the Black Bush Stories campaign and each collaborator’s story, visit blackbushstories.com.