Balmoral Show 2017

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Date/Time
Date(s) – 10/05/2017 – 13/05/2017 balmoralshow2017
All Day

Location
Balmoral Park
Maze Long Kesh
Lisburn
BT27 5RE
United Kingdom

Ireland’s largest agricultural-food event, the Balmoral Show, is back from 10 – 13 May at Balmoral Park and Eikon. Due to the resounding success in recent years this year’s event has been extended to four days.  The show will be bigger and better than ever before with fantastic arena and livestock attractions including fun for all the family, and not forgetting the Food NI Pavilion with the ‘Tesco Cookery Theatre‘ and ‘Taste the Greatness Kitchen‘ featuring a high-profile special guest.

Tesco Cookery Theatre
This year’s Tesco Cookery Theatre will feature guest sessions with local food and drink producers to feature RubyBlue Spirits, Armagh Cider Company and Irwin’s Bakery.

Taste the Greatness Kitchen
Thompson’s Family Teas, Jawbox Gin, Long Meadow Cider and Broighter Gold are just some of the great local produce that will be used in the Taste the Greatness kitchen by Paula McIntyre, one of Northern Ireland’s leading chefs.

Multi-Michelin-starred and 5 out of 5 AA Rosette award-winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will be making a special appearance at this year’s show on Saturday 13 May and will be hosting a Breakfast and Lunch cookery session in the Taste the Greatness Kitchen as well as a late afternoon session in the Tesco Cookery Theatre.

Food is an extraordinarily important piece of the Balmoral Show event, and for the discerning foodie it is a not to be missed showcase of the best of the best of local produce and talents.

For more information on the local producers exhibiting at the show, featured chef demonstrations and taste sessions, download the Food NI – Balmoral Show Booklet.

Show Opening Times
Wednesday: 09:30 – 18:00
Thursday: 09:30 – 20:00
Friday: 09:30 18:00
Saturday: 09:30 – 18:00

Don’t miss your chance to experience Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural-food event this year.  Get your tickets now at www.balmoralshow.co.uk

Tasting the greatness of our food and drink at Balmoral

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Article written by Food NI CEO Michele Shirlow, featured in Farm Week

Visitors to our Food Pavilion at the RUAS in Balmoral Park this year will have an opportunity to Taste the Greatness of food and drink now being produced by hundreds of large and small companies.

We’ll have around 100 companies within the pavilion, now among the most successful features of what is the biggest show of its kind in Ireland and among the most significant in the British Isles. There’s really no better way to sample the best of our produce and talk to the people behind our food and drink. 

Our vast Food Pavilion showcases the industry’s contribution to the local economy – over £5 million annually – and the interdependence between food and drink processing and the farming community here.

We want consumers to gain a greater understanding of the range of quality food and drink we now have here, to support producers by purchasing more of their products and by appreciating the talents and dedication of our farmers. They provide superb ingredients for processors to create world class food and drink.

The need for closer collaboration and co-operation between the two sectors has never been greater than it is today because of the threats, challenges and opportunities of Brexit.

We’ve all got to stand together to ensure that our agri-food industry is now undermined by Brexit and any subsequent trade agreements.

This is why our new Taste the Greatness strategy for what is our most important, dynamic and increasingly successful manufacturing industry has been shaped around measures to promote collaboration and on “preserving family farming, celebrating our world class ingredients and causing an explosion of authentic local producers”.  The strategy is all about “putting greatness on plates and in glasses, as we express ourselves confidently and passionately through our food and drink”.

Another important feature of our presentation at Balmoral Show is the cookery programme that involves most of the leading chefs in Northern Ireland. This year, I am delighted to report, Jean Christophe-Novelli, the world renowned chef and restaurateur is showcasing his culinary knowledge and skills on Saturday.

It’s tremendously encouraging for Food NI to have such an international celebrity with our local chefs who have been great supporters of the local industry for so many years.
Our food pavilion is an essential part of our plan to “invite and inspire the Northern Ireland consumer, the industry, out of state of visitors and industry buyers to taste the greatness here. It’s also our intention to reach out to more consumers in Great Britain, easily our most important marketplace, to encourage them also to taste the greatness being produced here.

Our overall commitment continues to be “to discover and champion Norther Ireland produce and to increase international standout” for the industry here by 2020. Our strategy will involve harnessing the latest digital technology to help in creating “a strong Northern Ireland food and drink industry – one that encourages tomorrow’s pioneering start-ups to take root and grow beyond our borders.’

MacIvors Cider collect three gold medals in London at brewing industry oscars

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IRISH craft cider maker MacIvors Cider has collected three gold medals at London’s Guildhall at the prestigious 2017 International Brewing and Cider Awards.

The event, which is dubbed the ‘Oscars of the Brewing Industry’ was attended by brewers and cider makers from Europe, Australasia, the Far East and North and South America.

After three days of judging in Burton-upon-Trent three gold medals were awarded to the popular Co Armagh cider producers for their Traditional Dry Cider, Medium Cider as well as the Plum and Ginger Cider which was launched last year.

Fifth generation apple grower Greg MacNeice, of Mac Ivors Cider Co, said: “After winning overall Champion Cider at the last event two years ago, we were keen to benchmark our ciders again in an international arena. These awards attract a diverse range of high quality ciders and are judged by professional cider makers who command huge respect so we are delighted to win three Gold medals at this year’s competition.

“The event in London’s Guildhall was phenomenal where so many varieties of beers and ciders were on display. We are particularly pleased to win a Gold medal for our Plum & Ginger Cider which was just recently launched, alongside two gold medals for our more traditional ciders – Medium and Traditional Dry.

“One key criteria this year for judges was the product’s commercial worth – a criteria praised by the judges including Oliver Wesselhoh of Kreativ Brewery in Hamburg. He concluded that the winning products are the ones, that, once tasted, you would order again, or recommend to a friend.  It’s a different approach to many other competitions.”

The 45 judges assessed more than 1,100 beers and ciders – an uplift of 15 per cent on the last competition, held in 2015.

All medal winners collected their medals at the awards luncheon where the 10 overall Championship winners – nine beers and one cider – were also unveiled.

The International Brewing and Cider Awards are unique in requiring that all judges are currently working as brewers or cider makers and so select the winners through a consensus approach.

Chairman of judges Bill Taylor said: “The list of medal winners reflects both the quality and diversity of beers and ciders entered into the competition.”

Garden Show Ireland set to deliver top line up in NI Food & Drink

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Allianz Garden Show Ireland has built a solid reputation for itself as the premier gardening event in Northern Ireland, with thousands travelling to the historic Antrim Castle Gardens every year to attend. This year the event takes place from 5 to 7 May and has a packed programme of flowers, food and fun.

It is not just the stunning venue that draws in the crowds, the show is considered by gardening experts to be a must-see event and with household names like BBC’s Joe Swift leading the line-up, it is easy to see why. Joe, who anchors the BBC’s coverage for the Chelsea Flower Show every year, will be giving talks on Friday 5 May.

There will be over 20 garden visuals for visitors to enjoy, including the show-stopping feature garden which draws inspiration from C.S. Lewis and is created by gold medal-winning architect and landscape designer James Purdy. The Growers Pavilion will house specialist nurseries, with thousands of plants available to purchase from the expert growers who will be on hand for advice along with the opportunity to win a 3D landscape design package by Acheson Glover.

Food continues to be an important part of the show with daily cookery demonstrations from resident chef Paula McIntyre, who will be joined on Saturday 6 May by Big Allotment Challenge judge, Thane Prince.
The Food NI Pavilion will be jam-packed with appetising treats to take home from craft beers to dry-cured bacon, not forgetting good old soda bread baked on site by the Krazi Baker. 

Visitors to the pavilion will be able to sample and purchase sweet treats from the likes of Granny Shaw’s Fudge and Tasty Wee Numbers and savoury bites from Erin Grove Preserves and Tom & Ollie. Don’t forget to quench your thirst with a stop at one of the local drink producers exhibiting at the show such as Long Meadow Cider and award-winning Ruby Blue Vodka, ‘Gold’ winner of the Global Vodka Masters 2015.

After walking around the pavilion, visitors to the show will be able to step outside and dine alfresco in the Click Energy Relax & Recharge Area, where you will continue to be spoilt for choice with the award-winning Broughgammon Farm serving up their famous goat burgers, alongside Born and Raised Waffles creating their delicious handcrafted Liege waffles.

The show programme is packed with musical performances from Sestina, Martello Jazz Band, the Brass Band from the City of Belfast School of Music and the Sing for Life community choir all performing at various stages of the three-day event – offering perfect backdrop music whilst exploring the gardens and enjoying some local award-winning produce.

To see the full Allianz Garden Show Ireland line up and to buy tickets visit www.gardenshowireland.com

For more information on Northern Ireland’s local food and drink producers visit Food NI – Producers.

Award winning Armagh Cider now available in M&S stores

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Armagh Cider Company is pleased to announce that their cider is now available in Marks and Spencer’s stores throughout Northern Ireland

The award-winning ciders Carsons Crisp, Maddens Mellow, Doyles Medium and Doyles Honey are now stocked in all the local M&S stores.

The traditional ciders, Carsons Crisp and Maddens Mellow have won an array of awards both nationally and internationally. Both are made using predominantly the Armagh Bramley apple and are proud to display the PGI logo which guarantees their provenance.

Refreshing and full of flavour, Carsons Crisp is a dry cider whereas Maddens Mellow is a delicious rounded medium dry variant.

Doyles Cider is ideal for those who like their cider smooth fresh and fruity. Like all Armagh Cider Company ciders, it is all natural with no artificial flavours or colours.

Doyles Medium is bursting with flavour and appeals to those with a sweeter palate.
Gold Medal winning, Doyles Honey is a subtle blend of medium cider with real Irish honey. The honey adds a natural sweetness giving a smooth delectable cider.

Delighted with the listing, Helen Troughton of Armagh Cider Company said ‘We are very pleased to have our ciders selected by M&S. They are all made ‘from blossom to bottle’ on our home farm at Ballinteggart and it is very rewarding to see them stocked in M&S which is renowned for its quality offering.’

‘Today, the interest in local artisan food and drink products is immense and everyone is interested in hearing our story and seeing where it all happens. To facilitate this, tours of the orchards and cidery are available for groups by arrangement and we regularly hold open days as well as participating in Open Farm Weekend. We are delighted that M&S are supporting local producers.’

Taste the Greatness of our food and drink at Balmoral

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Article written by Food NI CEO Michele Shirlow, featured in Farming Life 

We invite you to savour a sample of our vision; Taste the Greatness, Food NI’s recently launched five year strategy. Our mission is “to energise and inspire our vibrant food and drink industry by telling our food and drink stories in the most impactful, far reaching and compelling way”. The FoodNI Pavilion at our four-day showcase in Balmoral Park is an excellent example of this commitment being bigger and better than ever before.
Visitors to our pavilion will have opportunities to meet and talk to talk to award winning local producers and to sample and purchase the very best of our food and drink.

What’s changed since last year? In addition to more than 100 food and drink producers showcasing thousands of local products, we have introduced a Taste Theatre where visitors can sample and hear the story behind local produce. Once again we have a team of our chefs demonstrating how best to enjoy our food and drink at home. Jean Christophe-Novelli, the international chef and culinary trend setter, will be making his debut in the Food Pavilion on Saturday. He has already announced plans to open a named restaurant in Belfast, the first in Ireland.
I was delighted when he accepted our invitation to join the culinary programme at Balmoral as many of you will have read in the media his family have recently faced challenging health problems. He will be showcasing his great expertise and knowledge in the sessions on Saturday. You can count on Food NI to introduce him to some of the superb produce available here from local suppliers. It will be a marvellous boost internationally for our food and drink to take pride place on his menus in his planned restaurant at the City Quays in Belfast Harbour Estate.

Our products, of course, have already captured the attention of other leading chefs in Britain such as Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Wareing, Richard Corrigan, Mark Hix, Nigella Lawson, James Martin and Angela Hartnett.
Our food pavilion is an example of Food NI’s commitment to align and showcase our producers on a world-class platform and to embrace state-of-the-art digital technology. We want existing and potential customers to become fully familiar with the breadth of the food and drink offering here.
As Taste the Greatness states: “As an industry, we’ve come on leaps and bounds in a relatively short space of time, but there’s still work to be done. Many of our wonderful food and drink goings-on are still under the radar and unconnected.” We want the world to appreciate the “simple and fundamental truth: that the produce from Northern Ireland is truly great”.

To ensure even greater success abroad, the industry requires the continuing support from consumers and retailers across Northern Ireland. Year and Food and Drink in 2016 undoubtedly increased awareness among consumers, retailers and local authorities. Councils across Northern Ireland are making an invaluable contribution by organising food festivals and other events. And many of the events launched in recent years, such as Derry/Strabane’s LegenDerry Food Festival, the Glens and Causeway Coast Council’s Coleraine and Ballycastle markets, Ards and North Down’s award-winning Comber Farmers Market, and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon’s Heartland Food Programme, are going from strength to strength.

They are helping the food and drink industry here to achieve key objectives in Taste the Greatness by creating a vibrant local market for Northern Ireland food and drink. More consumers buying our produce, and growing our reputation as a globally recognised food region, will boost sales here and abroad. Greater success for food and drink at home will strengthen our most important industry, support the wellbeing of rural communities in particular, and lead to greater employment. To be part of it visit the Food Pavilion at Balmoral and taste the greatness.