Belfast One and Cathedral Quarter BID have joined forces again to exclusively announce that Belfast Restaurant Week will return with more than forty restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars participating, from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 February 2020.

Speaking about Belfast Restaurant Week 2020, Clare Maguire, Managing Director of Belfast One, said: “With two highly successful Belfast Restaurant Week events under our belt in 2019, we are thrilled to be bringing Belfast Restaurant Week in February 2020. The event will run again during lunch and dinner service and we’re even bringing back the hugely popular Big Belfast Brunch at the weekend. It’s a cliché to say that it will be ‘bigger and better’ but we have every confidence that the food offering from our award winning City Centre restaurants will not disappoint.’’

Gareth Neill of Cathedral Quarter BID said: “Belfast’s food and drink scene is unrivalled and a huge driver for the City Centre. We are excited to be planning the return of Belfast Restaurant Week in February as it allows us to showcase and shine a spotlight on owners, chefs, and staff that make it the Belfast experience. The diversity of menus on offer and enticing price point allows people to try something new and get out and explore the City. We are incredibly proud to see this grow year on year.”

Belfast Restaurant Week is organised and delivered by Belfast One and Cathedral Quarter BID across BT1 and BT2 and returns from 17 to 23 February2020.

www.belfastrestaurantweek.org www.facebook.com/belfastrestaurantweek2020;

www.instagram.com/belfastrestaurantweek20; www.twitter.com/BelfastRW20.

A choice of two limited edition hampers have been launched by a group of artisan producers, based on the shores of Lough Neagh, who have come together to create the perfect accompaniment to any festive feast this Christmas. Led by Lough Neagh Partnership, the group, who have developed the hampers in a bid to encourage people to shop local, includes producers like Brambleberry Jams, Bakehouse, Crosskeys Inn, Harnett’s Oils and Hillstown Brewery.

Speaking about the new Christmas Hampers, Gerry Darby, Strategic Manager, Lough Neagh Partnership, said: “The Christmas Hamper collaboration is a first for local producers within 10 miles of the shores of Lough Neagh and is a tangible example of the commitment of Lough Neagh Partnership in working with local artisans to help bring their innovative ideas and creations to the wider public.”

Eimear Kearney, Marketing Manager, Lough Neagh Partnership, added: “We welcome thousands of international visitors to the area every year who enjoy our wonderful array of food products and by creating these hampers we are able to send them a taste of Lough Neagh produce when they are back home in their own country this Christmas.”

The Lough Neagh Artisan Group are currently receiving support under the Agri-Food Co-operation Scheme which is managed by Countryside Services Ltd on behalf of DAERA. The scheme is part of the NI Rural Development Programme and is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Mandina Fulton from Countryside Services explains the benefits of the scheme: “The Agri-Food Co-operation Scheme offers individual producers the opportunity to work collaboratively with others to bring a project idea to fruition, whilst availing of funding to help develop their skills and market the product or service. Support measures such as social media training, marketing mentors, promotional material and study tours are offered under the scheme. We are delighted to see the progress made by the Lough Neagh Artisan group and wish them well with the launch of their hampers.”

The Gourmet Hamper is bursting with a range of festive goodies from Horny Bull Stout, Harnett’s Rapeseed Oil, Salted Caramel Sauce, Spiced Beetroot Relish, Bakehouse Christmas Cake to Crosskeys Mini Whiskey and Whiskey Glass.

The Luxury Hamper includes Horny Bull Stout, Squealing Pig IPA, two flavours of Harnett’s Oil, Salted Caramel Sauce, Spiced Beetroot Relish, Bakehouse Christmas Cake, Crosskeys Whiskey Marmalade, Crosskeys Mini Whiskey and Whiskey Glass, Ditty’s Oatcakes and Antrim Honey.

Packed in a delightful wicker hamper, the Gourmet Hamper is priced at £44.99 and the Luxury Hamper is priced at £64.99. The perfect addition under any Christmas tree this season, they can be bought from Hillstown Farm Shop, 128 Glebe Rd, Randalstown, Antrim, BT41 3DT, or online at: https://www.loughneaghtours.com/lough-neagh-hamper/

Further information on the Agri-Food Co-operation Scheme is available at www.countrysideservices.com

Top local chef Paula McIntyre, an enthusiastic supporter of Food NI, has teamed up with Carol’s Stock Market, the Derry-based producer of a range of natural stocks, bone broth and gravies to develop a new range of original food products.

Carol Banahan, founder and managing director of Carol’s Stock Market, a Food NI member company, says: “I am delighted that Paula McIntyre, now among the best-known chefs in the UK and Ireland, has agreed to work with me in creating a new range of products.

‘It is an immensely important development for the business to have access to Paula’s vast knowledge of ingredients and culinary expertise on board. Her role as chair of the Northern Ireland Slow Food Movement is in line with our commitment to natural, wholesome and locally sourced ingredients for exceptional meals. Paula is a dedicated and tireless ambassador for Northern Ireland’s fabulous food and drink.

“We have some very exciting ideas for development and launch in 2020. Paula will help us to move the business forward faster in the year ahead,” adds Mrs Banahan.

Paula McIntyre is a widely respected chef, broadcaster, demonstrator and author. She has guested on culinary programmes on television and radio in the UK, Ireland and further afield. A keen supporter of Food NI, Paula has her own food slot on BBC Radio Ulster. In addition, she has advised many food businesses in Ireland including Kerry Group, Dale Farm Dairies, Allied Bakeries and White’s Oats.

Paula, commenting on the new role with Carol’s Stock Market, says: “This is a marvellous opportunity to assist the growth of a smaller business that’s local and focused on natural foods using the best quality ingredients. I have been impressed by the quality and innovation of Carol’s bone stock and bone broth. I use these excellent products regularly in my own meals, demonstrations and recipe work. I am looking forward to contributing to the continuing success of this progressive smaller business.

Based at Derry’s Skeoge Industrial Park, the small company, a Food NI and s Slow Food NI member, launched the turkey bone broth for the first time last year for Christmas and it proved to be an outstanding success. The broth is now available in response to demands from existing and potential customers.

“We’ve scaled up production of the turkey broth to meet the high-level of demand,” says Mrs Banahan. “The broth is made from the finest Irish ingredients especially free range turkeycarcases and wings roasted and then simmered for 18 hours with organic vegetables and herbs.

“The turkey broth is a natural product that can be used for soup, especially as part of the Christmas meal, or as an added ingredient for gravy to accompany the traditional turkey dinner.

The broth is available in 480ml jars at the company’s established network of delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets and health stores from its website www.carolsstockmarket.com

Originally from Dublin, Mrs Banahan returned to Ireland in 2014 after a successful career in investment banking in Canada. A keen cook, Mrs Banahan set up her food production business with help of the Foodovation centre at the North West Regional College in Derry.

Ever imagined stepping into the gingerbread house in the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel or considered what it might look like in real life? Well this Christmas you can celebrate the festive season in style by dining in a life-size magical Gingerbread House created by pastry chef Magdalena Abakumiec and her elves at Titanic Hotel Belfast.

A first for Belfast and inspired by the history and heritage of German born Gustav Wolff, one half of the shipbuilding founders of Harland & Wolff, the Gingerbread House took four days to lovingly cook by hand. Drawn by the scent which leads hotel guests from the world–famous Titanic Drawing Rooms through to the Wolff Grill, where the Gingerbread House stands 10ft tall, it is made from 1,000 gingerbread bricks. 10kgs of sweets and candy canes decorate the walls and 600 individual fibre optic lights illuminate the handmade star effect ceiling. 104 individual panes of glass make up the 13 windows which are held together by 20 sheets of timber.

Adrian McNally, General Manager, Titanic Hotel Belfast, said: “This unique dining experience in the intricate structure of our life-size Gingerbread House showcases the talent and creativity that we at Titanic Hotel Belfast pride ourselves in. Since the fairy tale spectacle was completed, we have been inundated with visitors keen to admire this wonderful creation which, to my knowledge, is the only Gingerbread House of its kind in a hotel in Ireland this Christmas. We are in awe of the elves in the Wolff Grill who painstakingly built it to such exacting detail and would encourage anyone visiting Belfast to come and see it for themselves.”

 The enclosed dining space in the Wolff Grill seats up to six guests and can be hired for private dining until Christmas at an additional £50. The Wolff Grill Christmas themed menu includes festive favourites including local Turkey and Ham or mouth-watering Braised Daube of Beef. Dessert choices include traditional Christmas Pudding, Chocolate Tart and sumptuous Black Forest Gateau. And to really get you in the spirit, a bespoke Gingerbread Cocktail has been carefully created by the Titanic Hotel Belfast resident mixologist. For further information and to book, please email dining@titanichotelbelfast.com or tel +44 (0)28 9508 2000.