NI Celebrates Success At Golden Fork Dinner

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Column by Michele Shirlow for Farm Week (14 September)

Three Golden Forks for Northern Ireland is this year’s Great Taste Awards is a very good haul by any measure. While we didn’t secure the Supreme Champion title at the gala dinner in London hosted by the highly influential UK Guild of Fine, the championship was still retained on the island of Ireland, an achievement that speaks volume for the quality and providence of our meat in particular and the innovation of the butchers who are continually coming up with outstandingly tasty new products.

Our own Peter Hannan of Hannan Meats, a Food NI director and long-time supporter of our aims and especially of our engagement in the British marketplace, gained the Northern Ireland Regional Golden Fork from Invest NI for his stunning sweet cure bacon rack. He came close to the top award and also achieved three gold stars for his Glenarm salt-aged lamb rump, appropriately during Love Lamb Week.

Hannan, as most readers of this column, will be aware is now the most decorated company from the UK and Ireland in the Great Taste, winning the Supreme Champion title on two separate occasions, in 2012 and 2016 and collecting over 200 separate gold stars for his meats.

Another local meat producer, Ispini Charcuterie, from a family farm at Aughnacloy, won the Best Charcuterie in the UK award for its unique rosemary and thyme bresaola – just eight months after the formation of the business by pig farmer Jonny Cuddy and sister Janice. Charcuterie is a target growth area being promoted by the UK Guild of Fine Food, and for Ispini to win this Golden Fork is a truly remarkable achievement.

Our good friends and dedicated butter makers Will and Allison of Abernethy Butter in Dromara deservedly earned the VIP Golden Fork organised by Woman and Home magazine in a vote by its readership. To be selected by readers of the magazine, most of who are based in Britain, is another stunning achievement for a small local business.

So, well done all the Northern Ireland winners including Davy and Janet Uprichard of Tempted Cider in Lisburn whose elderflower cider was listed in the Top 50 Foods along with Peter Hannan’s sweet cure bacon and Glenarm lamb.

Also remarkable is the Irish dominance, especially meat producers, in the Great Taste Supreme Champion Award. Only once since 2011 has this coveted award gone outside Ireland. We’ve won it an impressive three times since 2011 – George McCartney of McCartney’s Meats, Moira in 2011, Peter Hannan in 2012 and 2016 and two producers from the Republic – Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers in Clonmel in 2015 for his beef dripping and Hugh Maguire of Maguire’s Meats of Ashbourne, Co. Meath for his smoked black pudding in 2017.

Last week was, in fact, the third consecutive year a meat product was named the Supreme Champion at the Great Taste Awards – all from the island of Ireland.

Some 12,366 products entered into the awards. The smoked black pudding was one of over 100 smoked products that picked up Great Taste Awards. So, there’s clearly a developing trend towards hand smoked foods. Smoked eel from Lough Neagh also did exceptionally well, picking up three gold stars.

What the Great Taste achievements demonstrate is the growing awareness in Britain of Northern Ireland’s premium quality food and drink. In particular, the success of Abernethy Butter in the public vote organised by Women and Home magazine, which includes an excellent food section edited by Jane Curran, shows how a strategic focus on Great Britain can pay off in terms of consumer recognition and business.

Peter Hannan already has significant business there, and the success of Ispini ought to encourage this smaller business to target this market. There will be many wishing to taste a product rated the Best Charcuterie in Britain.

Food NI has taken this message to Britain by our participation in last week’s Speciality and Fine Food Fair. We had hundreds of original products on show from almost 30 producers. Our aim will be to do as much as our resources allow to build on the market profile of our food in Britain.

 

Popular Potato Festival returns to The Giant’s Causeway

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Northern Ireland’s favourite potato themed festival is promising a packed programme of activities and attractions for all ages on Saturday 7th October 2017.  Fun will commence at 10.00am and run until 5pm in the grounds of the Causeway Hotel.

With the backdrop of the world famous Giant’s Causeway the Northern Ireland Potato Festival is a great mix of family fun, celebration of world-renowned potato breeder John Clarke, and a chance to learn more about the agri-food industry which thrives on the Causeway Coast.

Now in its 5th year the line-up boasts a debut display by ‘The Grass Lads’ on the grass roof of the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, cookery demonstrations & talks, bouncy castles, artisan food and drink producers, crafters, potato inspired games and a petting farm.

Cutting Edge Helicopters will be back in the air again offering spectacular helicopter sightseeing flights, and the festival organisers have launched a raffle offering a free flight for three lucky spectators.

Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase a range of delicious local produce from gourmet burgers to speciality potato dishes, artisan confectionary and locally crafted beers & ciders or find inspiration at the Cookery Demonstrations & talks taking place throughout the day in the Food NI festival kitchen.

This year on the eve of the Potato Festival will be celebrated with a ‘Super Spud Tour’ along the beautiful Causeway Coastal Route which will celebrate the area’s unique potato breeding & growing heritage.  This ticketed tour offered by Causeway Coast Foodie Tours will include a potato producer tour, themed lunch at one of the area’s most iconic attractions and an opportunity to enjoy a delicious cocktail featuring Ireland’s first potato distilled vodka! To book contact; causewayfoodie@gmail.com.

Guests will be transported back to the Causeway Hotel where they can join the community evening event in the hotel.

The Northern Ireland Potato Festival is a free event held in the region known and respected for the strength of the agricultural industry, award-winning food & drink and stunning scenery.  The Northern Ireland Potato Festival event coincides with the National Trust free open day at The Giant’s Causeway (Saturday only).

There will be a park and ride service with free parking and free shuttle buses, which will operate from Bushmills car park and from Dunluce School.

The festival promises to be a fantastic day out for all ages and interests, the details on the full programme can be found on the NI Potato Festival page on Facebook.

Belfast First Cocktail Festival Set To Shake Up City

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A brand new week-long festival aimed at cocktail lovers will bring a top line-up of special events to Belfast this October.

Whether you are looking for a ground-breaking cocktail creation, want to watch some of the world’s best bartenders in action, or fancy taking a step back in time to the age of prohibition, Belfast’s first and only Cocktail Week has something for everyone.  

Running from October 16 – 22, the inaugural event invites cocktail lovers to whet their whistle and enjoy a jam-packed calendar of bespoke events taking place in bars across the Cathedral Quarter.

Kicking off the week in style, award-winning London establishment Swift Bar will take up a special residency in The Merchant Hotel’s iconic Cocktail Bar from October 16.

Fresh from a big win at the Spirited Awards, where the bar was named Best New International Cocktail Bar 2017, husband and wife duo Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson will bring the Swift team to Belfast for a week-long takeover with innovative cocktails and their renowned Irish coffees on offer.

Festival-goers can also take a step back in time and experience the atmosphere and excitement of the birth of the cocktail at The Luggage Room takeover of Sixty6 (upstairs at The National). Enjoy signature creations from the prohibition age from the acclaimed London based Luggage Room staff who will be mixing up The Darb (Citadelle Gin shaken with apricot brandy, Italian vermouth and lemon juice) and Barney Barnato (pisco stirred with Cocchi Americano, Pierre Ferrand dry Curaçao and aromatic bitters) along with juleps, cobblers, swizzles, imperials, punches, sours, flips and other popular concoctions of the time.
Continuing the festivities, Club Sixty6 will host an intimate whiskey masterclass on October 19, where guests will get a behind-the-scenes insight into the magic of whiskey distilling.  The bar will also cater for those who want to enjoy a non-alcoholic tipple with a Future of Mocktails Masterclass and an innovative mocktail menu, which will be available all week.

Ending the week on a high, guest speaker, author of the Curious Bartender range of cocktail books and award-winning bartender, Tristan Stephenson, will host a seminar exploring the art of mixing the perfect cocktail on October 22.  The famed bartender, co-owner of two of London’s hottest cocktail bars, Purl and Worship Street Whistling Shop, will give guests an exclusive opportunity to taste contemporary and classic cocktails with his own unique twist during the masterclass.  Tickets for this event will cost £10 and includes a drink on arrival.  Following the event, guests will be invited to raise a toast to end the week of celebrations with a free after party taking place in Club Sixty6.
Bronagh Bennett from the National Grande Café and Club Sixty6 and creator of Belfast Cocktail Week said;

“Belfast Cocktail Week is a way of showing that Belfast can compete on an international level alongside cities with great cocktail cultures such as London, Edinburgh and even New York.

“Belfast and Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector has come a long way in recent years and customers are really broadening their horizons.  The wide range of events taking place during the festival will appeal to everyone and I hope it encourages people to try something new.

“We are looking forward to bringing this week-long event to Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter and hope it will be the first of many.”

Bars taking take in the festival include The Cocktail Bar and Berts Jazz Bar at The Merchant, The National Grande Café and Club Sixty6, Bullitt Hotel, Bootleggers, Muriel’s Café Bar, The Spaniard and Babel, the new rooftop cocktail bar at Bullitt, on its opening weekend.

Most events at Belfast Cocktail Week are free of charge and first come first served, please check the website for details for ticketed events.
For a full line-up of events and further information on optional festival passes, visit BelfastCocktailWeek.co.uk More events are still to be announced and will be added to the line-up over the coming weeks.  A limited number of festival passes will also be available to purchase from The National Grande Café. The optional festival passes are priced at £10 and includes 25% off selected cocktails in participating venues (excluding The Merchant where instead festival pass holders will get a complimentary taster of punch with each cocktail purchased at The Merchant Hotel’s Swift Takeover.)

Ulster Rugby ‘Converts’ to Local Crisps

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Ulster Rugby has announced a partnership with Glens of Antrim Potatoes which will see it become the sole supplier of potato crisps to the Kingspan Stadium.

The creation of the crisp range is a recent venture for the company which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. The products, including a sweet potato line, were launched following market research which identified a growing demand for thicker cut, skin-on crisps using innovative flavour combinations such as Masala.

The current range of Glens of Antrim Crisps – which are gluten free – are on sale at all concessions and catering facilities at the Kingspan Stadium and have already proved popular after selling out during the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Michael McKillop, managing director of Glens of Antrim said:

“As a local business we are always looking for innovative ways of developing our product ranges and adapting the humble potato to meet changing consumer needs and tastes.

“The move to crisp production is a step-change for the company and we’re delighted with the success of this new venture.  We’re particularly proud to be working in partnership with the team from Ulster Rugby and their loyal fan-base, bringing a truly local brand and taste to all who visit this iconic stadium.”

Fiona Hampton, Head of Sales and Marketing for Ulster Rugby added:

“We are delighted to have secured this exclusive supply partnership with Glens of Antrim.  There is a lot of synergy between our organisations as we are both long established, home grown brands with a desire to be the best in our sectors, and to take our products onto the international stage.

“Ulster Rugby places great importance on our relationship with local companies and when you have a quality brand such as Glens of Antrim crisps – it can only be a win-win all round”

Chef Steering Group: Sustainable Day

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Following the success of the last Chef Steering Group visit to Ards and North Down, the next visit will be taking place on Monday 2nd October focusing on Sustainability.

In partnership with RiverRidge, the visit is aimed to increase knowledge of RiverRidge’s food waste management services through an educational day.
The day will bring awareness to where waste goes to be treated and discussions about issues chefs face when wanting to be “greener” in their business practices.

For more information and to register your interest, email Mollie on mollie@nigoodfood.com

Linden Foods Scoop Major M&S Award

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Linden Foods the County Tyrone based meat manufacturer have been presented winners of the ‘Wellbeing and Leadership Award’ at the recent M&S Plan A 2025 launch in front of leading retailers, suppliers and manufactures from the UK food industry.

The Marks & Spencer Plan A 2025 is a new eco and ethical programme, which is an ambitious, customer focused plan that builds on the success of the first 10 years of Plan A and will support 1,000 communities, help 10 million people live happier, healthier lives and convert M&S into a zero-waste business.

Speaking at the Plan A 2025 Launch Gerry Maguire – Linden Foods, Managing Director remarked: “We are extremely humbled to win this prestigious award. We have been working with M&S for over 20yrs and we strongly believe that good physical and mental health is good business and our future growth is dependent on fit and well-minded people across all departments from the top down, this focused way of working will see an upturn in performance and productivity and especially higher levels of employee engagement”.

Attending the Plan A 2025 launch, Angela Givan – Linden Foods, HR Director commented: “As an ambitious, innovative business we aim to grow our market share and to do so we recognise investment in our staff community is a core fundamental.  We believe that our leaders across the business play a pivotal, collaborating role in this fast-paced, competitive sector and have implemented several strategic initiatives in order to address and support all of our people’s ongoing wellbeing and development, reinforcing a healthy Linden work environment.”

Steve Rowe, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer’s said: “Marks & Spencer has been at the forefront of social change for 133 years and we’re determined to play a leading role in the years ahead. Plan A 2025 will help us build a sustainable future by helping our customers live healthier lives, supporting the communities they live in and we source from and looking after the planet we all share. We believe we can engage all of our 32 million customers, 85,000 colleagues and 200,000 shareholders in the plan that becomes a mass voice for sustainable change.”

Pictured: (L-R) Mael Wilford, Business Improvement Manager – Linden Foods, Elaine Willis, Retail Director – Linden Foods, Gerry Maguire, Managing Director – Linden Foods, Killian Connolly, M&S Sprucefield Store Manager, Angela Givan, HR Director – Linden Foods, Keith Williamson, Supply Chain Manger – Linden Foods & Pauline Gordon, Marketing Executive – Linden Foods