Novelli will be great ambassador in Britain for our food

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Article by Michele Shirlow for Farm Week

Jean-Christophe Novelli had some very important and immensely encouraging comments about the quality of our food and drink during his inspirational presentation at Balmoral Show and media features last month. It was a great pleasure to host his visit to the show and to set up a number of meetings with local producers.

He made a great many friends at Balmoral, and we look forward to developing the relationship further as part of our longstanding focus on collaborating with chefs working here on behalf of local food and drink producers. Local ingredients are featuring increasingly on local menus and relationships between chefs, restaurateurs and suppliers here are probably stronger than ever before – helped by the hugely successful Year of Food and Drink 2016.

Jean-Christophe’s support for our products in the Mediterranean-style dishes he will be creating for his planned new restaurant at the Marriott Hotel in Belfast will showcase their quality, innovation and taste. I am sure he will be a tremendous ambassador for our food and drink and his presence in the city will help Food NI as we seek to assist companies here to grow business in Great Britain.

I am also confident that his support for Belfast, as the location of his first restaurant on the island of Ireland, will assist Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland as they continue to develop the food and drink theme to attract tourists particularly from Britain and Europe. A key objective for Food NI is to see our food and drink being featured by a great many more restaurants in Britain and Ireland.

We want to see Northern Ireland ingredients listed on menus both here, in Britain and indeed further afield. This will also involve developing more branded ingredients. Europe has helped this process by designating three local products – Armagh Bramley apples, Comber early potatoes and Lough Neagh eels – under its protected names scheme. Others are in the pipeline. What will happen to this scheme post-Brexit remains to be seen. It’s crucially important that an effective replacement is developed.

Jean-Christophe Novelli wasn’t the only star in Northern Ireland’s culinary firmament last month. The annual Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards recognised the achievements and talents of our chefs and the quality of restaurants here. Danni Barry, already the only female Michelin-star chef in Ireland, was named Ireland’s Chef of the Year, a tremendous recognition for EIPIC’s highly skilled and creative head chef.  EIPIC owner Michael Deane has already been shortlisted in the Catey’s as Restaurateur of the Year.

Walled City Brewery in Derry was chosen as Ireland’s Best Gastropub and OX Cave in Belfast the Best Wine Experience. Sommelier Alain Kerloc’h of OX was named Ireland’s Best Manager. And there were awards too for Bull and Ram in Ballynahinch as Best Newcomer in Ulster, The Muddlers Club in Belfast as Ulster’s Best Casual Dining Experience. Lost and Found in Derry was selected as the All Ireland Best Café.

My congratulations to all our award winners who are playing their part in Northern Ireland’s emergence as a great global food destination. Food NI is keen to see the excellence of our chefs recognised well beyond these shores.

Local producers will also benefit enormously from a recent decision by Musgrave retail group to invest £100 million this year in our food. This is a further and immensely encouraging example of a leading retailer backing local produce. Musgrave already sells 3,000 products from local suppliers.

May Brings Top Awards for NI Food, Drink and Hospitality

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Irish Restaurant Association Awards
On 8th May, 900 restaurateurs and staff attended the ninth All-Ireland Irish Restaurant Awards at The Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin and named the top restaurants in Ireland for 2017 with a number of Taste of Ulster members winning top awards.

Originally from Mayobridge, Co Down Danni Barry is Ireland’s only Michelin-starred female chef and won the prestigious All-Ireland Best Chef at last night’s awards. Fellow Taste of Ulster member, Ox Belfast’s Alain Kerloc’h picked up the accolade of All-Ireland Best Restaurant Manager. That wasn’t the only award for Alain and his team as Ox Cave was awarded the accolade of Best Wine Experience in Ireland.
Continuing the success in Belfast, The Muddler’s Club, picked up the All-Ireland award for Best Casual Dining.

The Walled City Brewery, a unique restaurant and brewhouse located in Ebrington Square, Derry-Londonderry was named Best Gastro Pub at the awards while the city’s Lost & Found was named Best Cafe respectively in Ireland.

Institute of Hospitality Awards
The Institute of Hospitality, a professional membership body for managers and aspiring managers who work and study in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries and each year recognise the success of its members.

Former Taste of Ulster placement student, Laura McKee, received the distinction of being awarded the Student Management Potential Award on 5th May.

Kelan McMichael, The Bull and Ram was awarded Restaurant Chef of the Year, Simon Dougan’s Yellow Door received the accolade of Outstanding Contribution to the Industry and Distillers Arms’ Gary Stewart went home with the award for Restaurateur of the Year. The awards kept on coming for Taste of Ulster members as John Paul McCafferty of Hastings Hotels was named Food & Beverage Manager of the Year.

Northern Ireland Tourism Awards
The annual Northern Ireland Tourism Awards by Tourism Northern Ireland recognise the best of the best each year in Northern Ireland’s growing tourism industry and Taste of Ulster members reigned supreme yet again on 18 May.

Bushmills Inn was awarded best Customer Excellence Award  and Hotel of the Year at the awards at Enniskillen Castle. Bishop’ s Gate, Derry~Londonderry was crowned Most Promising New Business with Best Food Tourism Experience going to Browns Restaurant also in Derry~Londonderry. New member, Lough Neagh Partnership won Best Marketing Initiative for Eel Eat.

Great British Bake Off’s Andrew Smyth Partners with NI Pork

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Great British Bake Off finalist and Ulster born cookery creative Andrew Smyth has joined the Northern Ireland Pork and Bacon Forum as brand ambassador working on a creative campaign to celebrate NI Pork’s provenance and versatility.

As part of the activity Andrew visited Northern Ireland recently to film a collection of locally produced pork inspired videos providing some great recipe ideas in the kitchen.

The hugely popular amateur chef and full time engineer from Holywood, Co. Down, who became well known on the seventh series of The Great British Bake Off in 2016, rose to fame for his innovative creations which combined his love of baking with engineering. His cookery and baking skills have now made him a household name.

Commenting on the partnership Deirdre McIvor, Chief Executive of NI Pork and Bacon Forum said:  “Northern Ireland Pork which carries the ‘Assured Origin’ logo guarantees that the cut, from pork chops to shoulder of pork, is wholly produced here in Northern Ireland to the highest possible standards. This means that customers can trust that item’s with this label have been produced in line with some of the highest standards in Europe.

The pig farming industry makes a significant contribution to the agri-sector in Northern Ireland and sustains 400 farming families and 2,000 local jobs. We’re proud of that industry and we encourage customers to support and protect it by always looking for the label and choosing locally produced pork.”

Andrew is an emerging local culinary talent and we are delighted that he has come on board with a range of tasty Pork based dishes bringing new energy to our campaign which has provenance and creativity at its heart.”

12 videos will be created as part of the new campaign. The campaign has been created in support of NI Pork and Bacon Forum’s ‘Assured Origin’ quality seal which is a guarantee to customers that pork is 100% Northern Ireland produced, governed by the highest animal welfare standards and quality production systems. It forms part of NI Pork’s larger effort to encourage retailers across Northern Ireland to stock NI Assured Origin pork product to ensure they offer customers the best locally produced products.

Andrew Smyth said: “Northern Ireland pork is among the best and tastiest in the world – cue Andrew with his delicious, bespoke recipes for NI Pork. Pork is really versatile, is great value, incredibly tender if cooked correctly and oozes flavour. It can be enjoyed as a classic slow-cooked roast, in casseroles, as an accompaniment with fresh summer salads – the options are simply endless. Hopefully my recipes and videos will show people just how easy it is to cook and will offer some simple inspiration in the kitchen.”

Deirdre McIvor, continues: “We urge consumers to take inspiration from the recipes showcased in Andrew’s videos and look for the Quality Assured label in shops.”

Go to the NIPork’s Facebook or Instagram page for more of Andrew’s recipes or to find out where you can buy Northern Ireland Pork ‘Assured Origin’ products.”

For all the latest news, top tips and NI Pork recipes visit NI Pork’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nipork/

Belfast City Airport Collaboration to find #BestNIProduct Major Success

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Article by Michele Shirlow, Food NI Chief Executive for Farm Week

What a great privilege it was to support the George Best Belfast City Airport in last week’s search to find Northern Ireland’s best food and drink product. Long Meadow Cider’s outstanding Blossom Burst cider came out on top from a shortlist of 10 excellent products from outstanding local companies here, a shortlist compiled following local council shortlisting and a successful public voting process.

It was a very, very tough decision for all of us on the judging panel because of the quality and innovation of all the entries in what was an imaginative initiative from the airport’s management team. The fellow panellists were celebrity judge Charles Campion, Joanne Deighan from Belfast City Airport and Charles Kerlin of Grant Thornton.

Each of the shortlisted companies presented their products which included Shortcross and Boatyard Gins, Blackthorn Fudge, Pop Notch, Morellis and Mauds ice cream, Mash Direct, Abernethy and Donnybrewer butters. What was fascinating was the passion that each company had for their product, their dedication to outstanding taste and their ambitions for their business. It reflected how much the food and drink sector here has gone forward and it was inspirational to hear each story. Unfortunately there could only be one winner.

The panel was hugely impressed by the outstanding taste of the cider and the enterprise of the McKeever family from Loughgall in the heart of Co. Armagh, our apple county. And it was great to see a cider of this quality coming through. It was affirmation that local cider is a product with immense potential especially in terms of business outside Northern Ireland.

Long Meadow will now benefit from marketing support around the airport and online worth £30,000. I am sure that this will produce tangible benefits for this very enterprising farm-based and family-run business.

Several cider experts Food NI has brought to Northern Ireland in recent years have been to label our cider as amongst the very best. This is because cider in Northern Ireland is largely produced from juice rather than from concentrates. It’s a natural product bursting with flavour.

And producers here are increasingly creating deliciously different flavours and winning national and international awards for their enterprise and innovation. Most of our cider processors have also won plaudits in other competitions such as the UK Great Taste Awards, Irish Quality Food Awards and Blas na hEireann.

Most of them are already winning business in key markets such as Great Britain and further afield. I believe they have what it takes to be export success stories.

Promoting exports and innovation of course, are key themes of our Taste the Greatness strategic action plan for the growth of the food and drink industry over the next five years. Growing business in Britain and Ireland is the first step on the journey to international success. It’s a step Food NI is keen to help as many local companies as practicable to take successfully.

It was immensely encouraging to see most of the cider producers among more than 100 food and drink companies, showcasing quality produce at the hugely successful Balmoral Show earlier in the month.

Many of the companies in the Food NI Pavilion seized the opportunity to test market new products. Armagh Cider Company, for instance, another Food NI member introduced its novel Orchard Twist, a refreshing blend of pure apple juice with another fruit and spring water.

Other member companies, leaders in innovation, Genesis and Irwin’s Bakeries, Moy Park and Milgro were also recognised in the popular Henderson/Spar Local Supplier Awards.

On the horizon for Food NI is participation in the highly influential Speciality Food Show in London this September. This is a great platform for companies seeking business in Britain, and we’ll be aiming to showcase outstanding local products to decision makers expected to visit this show. If this week is anything to go by we will be spoilt for choice.

Fancy Fox Flying High After Garden Show Ireland Win

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Earlier this month The Fancy Fox attended the Allianz Garden Show Ireland 2017 at the fantastic Antrim Castle Gardens where to their delight and surprise, they were awarded the Best in Show award for Trade Exhibitors.

The Fancy Fox is a vintage Rice Beaufort horsebox which has been lovingly converted into a mobile coffee bar serving locally roasted Bro Coffee, Suki Tea, hot chocolate and a range of tray bakes we call Fox Fancies.

The Fancy Fox was launched in late 2016 and has attended many events to date and has a busy summer ahead planned at various shows, festivals, weddings, private parties and corporate events.

For more information on The Fancy Fox check out: www.nigoodfood.com/producers/the-fancy-fox

Event: Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey Festival

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The best of local food and drink will be on the menu when Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival returns on June 17th and 18th. Now firmly established as a major attraction, thousands of people are expected to take part in the two days of festivities.

Known around the world for its whiskey distillery and salmon station, the Festival celebrates local food and drink producers, with a flavour of song, dance and heritage.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey, said: “Bushmills’ reputation for its whiskey goes back centuries, so we have much history to celebrate in the area. The distillery, the salmon station and the River Bush provide a fantastic backdrop for the Festival, and I would encourage everyone to explore the programme of events and enjoy what’s on offer.”

The Main Street in the town will be transformed into a Festival-friendly pedestrian zone, where you will be able to browse through the local produce on offer at the Naturally North Coast and Glens artisan market. With around 30 stalls, the Market is a must-see attraction for anyone interested in food, arts and crafts created in this area.

On Saturday 17th, the River Bush Salmon Station, situated in a beautiful river-side location on Church Street, will be open to the public for tours, talks and demonstrations, giving a unique insight in to the fascinating salmon life cycle, and the important work which takes place at the site.

At the Distillery, visitors will be able to enjoy tasting whiskey and cocktail tasting sessions, and hear all about its 400-year-old history.

For the foodies, a new addition to the Festival calendar is a bespoke Festival Food Tour, in conjunction with Caroline Redmond of North Coast Walking Tours. Offering themed tasters and food stops, it allows participants to sample local food alongside a taste of history.

The Festival marquee, located in Main Street car park, will feature cookery demonstrations over both days, allowing visitors to get up close with some of the best local chefs and our guest celebrity chef.

And if fashion is your thing, the Marquee will be transformed into a catwalk for the Bushmills Lil’ Divas Charity Fashion Show at 7pm on Friday 16th June. The ‘Under the Sea’ themed evening will showcase local fashion and up-styled pieces from the Bushmills Save the Children Shop.

Tickets priced at £10, including festival ‘mocktails’, canapes from The French Rooms and Tartine at The Distillers Arms, and an exclusive ‘must have’ goodie bag are available at various businesses in the town.

Other highlights to look out for include a Festival Cream Tea in Bushmills Presbyterian Church Hall, heritage walking tours, a food and drink trail, traditional music and dance, children’s arts and craft, live music in the bars and themed menus in the local restaurants.

Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival is organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council in conjunction with Bushmills Distillery and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

For more details and to keep up to date with the latest announcements go to www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com

 

Main photo: Chef Gary Stewart from Tartine and Niall Mehaffey from Bushmills Distillery prepare for this year’s Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival which takes place on June 17th and 18th.