This year’s Slow Food Festival promises to be even bigger and better than before as local cuisine takes centre stage once again in the city from Wednesday 10th to Sunday 13th of October.

Now into its fourth year, the award-winning Derry City and Strabane District Council event celebrates the very best artisan produce in the North West, with tens of thousands descending on the city for the festival, which was named the ‘NI Food and Drink Experience of the Year 2018’ from Tourism NI and ‘Best Tourism Event’ at the North West Business Awards.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Michaela Boyle said she was delighted that the annual event – which is the only one of its kind held in Northern Ireland – continues to go from strength to strength.

She said: “The Slow Food Festival is always a staple for food and drink lovers in the North West and beyond, and it promises to be the best year yet with a magnificent five day programme,” she said.

“It’s a chance for the North West to showcase the brilliance of the local cuisine, while the public can also enjoy the festival atmosphere in the Marquee and throughout Guildhall Square.

“Derry City and Strabane District Council value the importance of promoting good local clean and fair food, as well as showing our commitment to the community and the environment, and with so much incredible talent in the local food and drink scene, this is a wonderful way to promote what the North West has to offer.”

There will be something for everyone at the unique festival, with demos, masterclasses, street food, family fun on offer at the festival marquee as well as a selection of fantastic events being organised by our local businesses. 

The Festival Marquee will be a hub of family fun and delicious food, with something for all ages and tastes as children can enjoy the street animation and kids’ workshops. The star of this year’s festival will be the Lough Foyle Irish Flat Oyster Bar where you can learn everything from where it was caught to how to eat it, as well as sampling the goods! 

Attendees can pick up some top tips from celebrity chefs Jenny Bristow and Catherine Fulvio who will be sharing all their secrets, while the Taste of Legenderry Slow Food Dining Experience which brings together a collaboration of local restaurants presenting the best of local food and drink from this region is truly something to look forward to, with tickets on sale through eventbrite.com.

On Saturday (12pm-9pm) and Sunday (12pm-6pm) the very best of North West produce will be on display at the magnificent Harvest Market, with food coming ‘from Foyle to field’, ‘plot to plate’ and ‘grain to grass’. There will be plenty on offer, with butchers to bakers to beeswax candlestick makers in attendance.

Elsewhere, a range of additional events are on offer including Made In Derry Food Tour, , Cena di Venti Migilia by Nonna  which translates as a dinner from 20 miles, Discover Dart Mountain Tour, the Foyster Legenderry Oyster Stout Launch and much more 

Jennifer O’Donnell, Tourism Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, explained that this year’s Festival promises to be one of the best yet.

“Slow Food is a global, grassroots organisation, and the Slow Food Festival continues to grow from one year to the next. Once again we will have incredible local artisan producers, craft brewers and chefs – both local and celebrity – in the Guildhall to share the very best of their trade.

“This award-winning event is fun for all the family, and we are absolutely delighted to welcome Good Food Ambassador Jenny Bristow, as well as one of Ireland’s top culinary stars, Catherine Fulvio, who will be sharing their expertise in demos.”

Gary Quate, Food and Drink Experience Development Officer at Tourism NI said: “We are delighted to offer financial support to the Slow Food Festival through Tourism NI’s Taste the Island Events Scheme. The Scheme has enabled the Slow Food Festival to grow from a two-day event to four days and is one of the key events of the Taste the Island calendar. The organisers and producers have created an exciting packed programme of innovative food and drink experiences for both international and local visitors to enjoy and I would encourage visitors to Taste the Island at this fabulous foodie event.”

The event is funded by the DAERA regional food programme and sponsored by Tourism Northern Ireland. 

For more information, including a full timetable of all the workshops, demos, food and family fun activities on offer, visit www.derrystrabane.com/food.

ARMAGH’s land, which is famous for its PGI protected Armagh Bramley Apple, will feature firmly on the food map yet again as the Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre returns on October 26 for its sixth year.

Supported by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the popular harvest fayre, takes place during the ‘Taste The Island’ 12 week long collaboration with Tourism Northern Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

Organisers say the fayre will pay homage to those producers who use the Armagh Bramley Apple, those who produce food and drink products from our land and those who contribute to Northern Ireland’s overall food and drink story.

Thousands are expected to descend in the village of Richhill to celebrate the end of the harvest and to support Armagh’s thriving producers such as Ballylisk of Armagh, Symphonia Gin, Armagh Cider Co, Long Meadow Cider, McCrackens Real Ale, Wilsons Country, Apple Blossom Bakery and many more. 

Speaking at the launch of the Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre, Hamilton Loney said: “We believe our apples are the best apples in the world and the Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre started in 2014 as a celebration of the Armagh Bramley. Year on year, Armagh’s food and drink story gets even better as more and more craft producers create amazing products. 

“We are proud to give our local food and drink producers a fantastic platform to raise awareness of their products among local people. The fayre celebrates the end of the harvest so it’s great to bring everyone together to taste what our county has to offer.

“The Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre is a free event to attend. There are a host of other events which will run from Wednesday, October 23 in the village.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Mealla Campbell, who attended the launch of this year’s fayre, said: “This popular event really compliments the recent Armagh Food and Cider Festival by extending the celebrations to the end of harvest of our famous Armagh Bramley Apple. 

“The Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre is a fantastic event led by our local community showcasing the best food and drink from artisan producers, farmers and growers. 

“I commend the organisers and all the participants for continuing to bring this wonderful event to the heart of the orchard county where everyone can celebrate and sample some of the best locally produced cuisine.”

This year’s fayre will host over 30 food and drink stalls, fun and games for children, live cookery demonstrations with chefs Mervyn Steenson from Groucho’s and John Whyte from the Armagh City Hotel alongside our WI.”

UFU President Ivor Ferguson says the UFU is delighted to be part of the celebrations promoting local ‘home grown’ produce at this year’s Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre. 

Mr Ferguson said: “Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre provides the opportunity to sample the pleasures of the agri-food industry, bringing together members of the public and the farming community to celebrate all aspects of the local apple industry. Consumers are keen to know where their food comes from. 

“The Richhill Apple Harvest Fayre, now in its sixth year, is a great opportunity for members of the public to meet growers and gain an understanding of how the award-winning Armagh Bramley apple makes its journey from the orchard to the supermarket shelf.”

LET’S face it, when it comes to eating out, we’re all experts these days – and arguably we’re all food critics too. We eat out much more than we once did, and we like to share our experiences, not just by word of mouth, but usually via social media (who hasn’t taken a picture in the last week of a dish set in front of them?). And we all like to think we know the difference between good food and great food – whether we’re out for a humble pizza, stopping off for an old fashioned fish ’n’ chips, or out with a corporate guest or loved-one at a high-end restaurant. So you’ve been there, right? Now it’s time to tell a wider audience just how good those last eating experiences were. The eating-out industry in Northern Ireland sustains 60,000 jobs and also helps support the region’s agriculture industry by sourcing as many of their ingredients as possible from the farming sector. And to celebrate this, the Irish News today launches its Great Places to Eat Awards in association with Food NI and Henderson Foodservice. It’s a very simple premise, because YOU decide what your favourite eatery is. Between now and the closing date of noon on Monday, October 28, we’re inviting readers to vote for their favourite places in these categories: 

• Casual dining restaurant 
• Fine dining restaurant 
• ‘Free from’ restaurant 
• Café/coffee shop 
• Pub/gastro pub 
• Hotel restaurant 
• Sunday lunch restaurant
• Brunch restaurant 
• Family friendly restaurant 
• World cuisine restaurant 
• Social enterprise café 
• Visitor attraction café 
• Best place to eat local produce 

Michel Shirlow of FoodNI/ Taste of Ulster said: “Food in Northern Ireland has evolved dramatically over the past decade, and we have earned the enviable award of World’s Best Food Destination for 2018/19. “We have always had world-class ingredients, and now these have been brought to the fore by talented chefs.

“We’re excited about this opportunity for people to vote in these inaugural Irish News Great Places to Eat Awards, and I hope people get out dining – and then get nominating for their favourites across any of the categories.” 

Cathal Geoghegan, managing director of Henderson Foodservice, said: “The hospitality sector in Northern Ireland is booming. With so many great flavours, cuisines, cooking techniques and innovation coming into play in the eating out market, it’s an exciting time for the public to highlight the best we’ve got. 

“It’s a competitive market with so many places to choose from to eat out; the true value has to come from delivering the overall experience through ambience, friendly service as well as great, tasty food. Irish News marketing manager John Brolly added: “We’re urging the public to show their passion for food and vote for their favourite places to eat. Everyone has an extensive food knowledge, so here is a fantastic opportunity to show your support for the places you love.

“Places to eat are always a key topic of conservation. We love to tell others when we discover somewhere which combines great food, service and atmosphere. “So now it’s time to celebrate and recognise the great range of outlets that we have across the country, from Belfast pubs to coffee shops in Enniskillen, to the eateries on the North Coast and everything in between.” 

From today readers have the chance to tell us where is GREAT to eat. Simply VOTE on irishnews.com/restaurant. 

You can now vote up to noon on Monday October 28, and the winners will be revealed exclusively revealed in the Irish News on Tuesday, October 29.

Food NI member company Noisy Nuts, an innovator in snacks, has won the Belfast final of the Great Britain and Northern Irish Entrepreneur Awards (GBNIEA) in the food and drink category. The final was hosted by Ulster Bank.

And another Food NI member, Food Stories, a manufacturer of popcorn and fruit crisps, from Belfast was runner-up.

Based in Ballygowan, Noisy Nuts, founded by experienced marketer Noel Allen, produces peanut snacks in original flavours to accompany craft beers. He now goes through to the UK final of the awards.

Noel Allen, commenting on the company’s success, says: “I was thrilled to win in Belfast. It’s a superb boost for my small business and will help to raise our profile further in Britain, our most important target market and one in which we’ve been investing significant time and funds to grow the business.”

Mr Allen has created a range of self-seasoning peanut snacks and backed this up with an impressive marketing campaign

He has developed a six-strong range of 85g snack pots of peanuts which are available with different seasoning sachets.

Consumers can pour the whole seasoning sachet in and shake the pot giving a strong flavour or season as they wish to fit with their beer drinking taste.

His decision to set up Noisy Nuts in 2017 was influenced by his love of craft beers, now a thriving category in Northern Ireland. “I enjoy peanuts with my beer and had noticed that the they often impacted the flavour. This led me to see if I could come up with a way to flavour the nuts to compliment the beers.

“With hundreds of different craft beer breweries in the UK, including upwards of 40 in Northern Ireland and more than 3,500 different craft beers on sale I reckoned there was an opportunity to produce a complimentary and interesting snack for this buoyant and growing market.

“Craft beer drinkers are all about taste and we’re giving them an original snack that will enhance their drinking experience,” Mr Allen adds.

The Great British & Northern Irish Entrepreneur Awards, held for the first time in Belfast, showcase and celebrate “the incredible stories that have taken entrepreneurs to where they are today, regardless of size or turnover”. 

There were 47 finalists in Northern Ireland across 10 categories, including Creatives Industries, Food and Drink, Disruptor, Start-Up and Young.