From 10th – 19th March, diners will be spoilt for choice as restaurants, cafés and pubs serve up bespoke menus and unique food experiences to celebrate Newry, Mourne and Down’s bustling food and drink scene, and organisers Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Food NI are encouraging everyone to try something new or book a table at a tried-and-tested favourite to celebrate.
We have nine days of culinary events, produce, tastes, dishes and activities for every foodie. Whether you live locally or want visit for lunch, a day or a short break for feasting the Newry, Mourne and Down region welcomes you.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is promoting a district wide ‘Make it Local’ campaign and all the establishments involved in the culinary celebration have embraced the concept of using local ingredients in all dishes. By visiting one of the included venues you are supporting local producers in your area.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has funded the event, and Chairperson of Council Gillian Fitzpatrick said:“Newry, Mourne and Down has a growing reputation for great food, we have renowned chefs and excellent food and drink produce. Food and drink have become increasingly important to tourism as they offer visitors the opportunity to learn about our heritage, landscape and culture and meet our people. The Coastal Flavours and Culinary Feasts event will give everyone a chance to experience the tasty offerings from our award winning local producers. This is the perfect opportunity for residents, or visitors to Newry, Mourne and Down, to get out and enjoy some of the best food on offer right across the region.”
For full details all events taking place during Coastal Flavours and Culinary Feasts go to www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
The award-winning Fish City Belfast welcomed guests to the launch of their ‘Healthy Options Menu’ on 1st March with key speaker Christopher Elliott, Professor of Food Safety and founder of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast.
John and Grainne Lavery of Fish City have a unique dining experience in the heart of Belfast’s city centre. Embracing a sustainable approach to sourcing, this fish & chip restaurant and take away is exceptional in its commitment to healthy eating and full traceability.
Fish City aims to change people’s perceptions of the fish and chip industry and believes in full transparency, which is why they have published the calorie and nutritional content of all their dishes on their extensive menu.
Welcoming guests to the launch, owner John Lavery shared his vision by stating, “we at fish city have a strong ethos on sustainability, traceability and nutrition. We have a solid commitment to these beliefs which have won us numerous awards and accreditations nationally and internationally in our sustainable and environment practices, healthy eating, food quality and marketing.
“Tonight is about bringing our partners together and showcasing the flavours in our new menu. We aim to develop new opportunities promoting fish, supporting tourism and our local economy”.
Guest speaker Professor Elliott stated, “the concept of Fish City is absolutely in keeping with reconnecting people with what they eat.” He continued, “To understand that fish is delicious and nutritious but also sustainable and traceable is incredibly important.”
John continued by stating, “great care is taken in preparing our own batter, ensuring it is light and full of flavour. Every portion of fish is cooked to perfection and everything is homemade, from tartar sauce to our mushy peas and sauces.
“By partnering with MCS and by being the first restaurant in Northern Ireland to be MSC Certified allows us to trace species of fish from ocean to plate. This ensures they are from healthy sustainable stocks safeguarding our oceans for future generations.
“We have a strict policy guide available to the public, highlighting our commitment to only serve fish from sustainable waters. We must support sustainable fishing to ensure fish stocks can be maintained for future generations, meaning that if we catch it, it must be easily replaced, http://www.fish-city.com/philosophy
“We are pleased that the waters around Northern Ireland are fast approaching sustainable levels. We would hope that the exit of the EU does not threaten this approach by our local fisheries and reach
Sharon Macala of Food NI seen here at the launch of the award winning Fish City’s Healthy Options Menu in their restaurant on 1st March 2017, along with Chairman Jonathan McKee and Manager Nicola Kelly of the RNLI fundraising team. @fishcitybelfast
the target of sustainable levels.
“According to MCS’s http://www.goodfishguide.org/ ‘“Consumers can help reduce the strain on certain species by demanding that the fish they eat comes from sustainably managed stocks and is caught or farmed in a way that causes minimal damage to the marine environment and other wildlife.”’ We at Fish City strongly believe this and we have introduced new fish species, including ‘Red fish’, a recently MSC certified species which is beautifully sweet and tender. We are one of the few restaurants in N.Ireland to have this fish on our menu.
“We decided that we could do more to promote the issues and challenges faced by our fishermen and supply chain. Professor Christopher Elliott who is a world-renowned expert in sustainability kindly accepted our invitation to come along to speak with chefs and likeminded food experts, including guests from SeafishUK, NI Good Food, Tourism Northern Ireland and the Food Standards Agency are just a few of the guests attending.
“Speaking on the provenance of our fish, Professor Elliott commended us on our efforts. We always aim to provide new experiences for our customers, while maintaining the high level of stable favourites such as the great ‘Fish & Chips’!”
Tara Cunningham of IslandSky, Organiser of Event Launch ‘Healthy Options Menu’ for the award winning Fish City Belfast, seen here with owners Grainne and John Lavery and Fiona Quinn Designtek
Dr Lynn Gilmore of Seafish N. Ireland who attended the launch said, “Healthy and sustainable seafood is key to John and Grainne’s innovative business and offering to their customers. This event has showcased their new Healthy Options Menu as well as new opportunities on the horizon. It has been a great success as Fish City continues to flourish.”
While John focuses on the high quality of all fish and produce prepared by his team, Grainne manages front of house and welcomes customers to the restaurant, stating: “We are keen to promote fish and chips as one of the most nutritionally balanced takeaway options in the UK.
“We are customer focused and customer lead and one of our many success stories is to have our menus translated into different languages, supporting our local community as well as our tourism industry. Tonight, has been a huge success in bringing together like minded people both local and from around the UK.”
John and Grainne Lavery are unique on their take on the industry. Constantly breaking new ground in research and development, investigating new ways to showcase the best our fish industry can deliver and how we as consumers have other options when we go out to eat. Fish City aims to encourage the next generation of chip shop and restaurant owners to understand why using local suppliers and sustainable fishing practices matter. For more information on Fish City Belfast go to www.fish-city.com or @fishcitybelfast.
Following the success of the Carrickfergus Castle Food & Craft market in October 2016, Department for Communities and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council will be running another one on 22nd April 2017.
They are now inviting applications from potential exhibitors. Taking part in this event is free to exhibitors/traders.
The market will take place on Saturday 22nd Aprilin the grounds of Carrickfergus Castle, 11am – 3pm.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 20th March.
The award winning Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge in Ballingarry, Co Limerick has teamed up with Sharon Noonan, presenter of the Best Possible Taste West Limerick 102FM radio show and food podcast to host a special dinner to mark International Women’s Day 2017.
On Wednesday 8 March, guests to the Ireland’s Blue Book property, which is recommended by Georgina Campbell and has won numerous accolades for its fine dining, customer service and luxurious accommodation, will choose from a menu which features some of Sharon’s favourite ingredients and dishes from both sides of the border. Originally from Co Antrim and now resident in Newcastle West, Sharon has included the recently announced Northern Ireland signature dish “Born and Braised” on the menu. The ingredients to make the dish and other courses will be sourced mainly from local businesses including butcher Pat Barry, Cahill’s Cheese, the Little Milk Company as well as the Mustard Seed garden. Head chef Angel Pirev will demonstrate/demonstrated his ethos for using locally sourced produce during an appearance on the last programme in Neven’s Irish Food Trails aired/airing on RTE1 on Wednesday 1 March 2017 at 7.30pm.
“It has been such an exciting process collaborating with Sharon,” explained the Mustard Seed’s John Edward Joyce. “We look forward to producing our West Limerick interpretation of the Northern Ireland signature dish which incorporates beef shin and I’m sure guests will have difficulty deciding between it and the other options on offer.”
“Yellowman” will also make an appearance on the 5 course menu as it was a visit to the top restaurant that inspired Sharon to make her BAI funded radio documentary “Devlins’ Yellowman – A Taste of Childhood” last year. “When I first started thinking about what to put on the menu, “Yellowman” was top of the list,” Sharon said. “Although it will be the Mustard Seed kitchen’s version and not the one using my family’s secret recipe. I don’t want to be excommunicated!” she joked.
International Women’s Day takes place on Wednesday 8 March and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. The 2017 campaign theme is #BeBoldForChange.
The dinner costs €47.00 per person for 5 courses plus tea/coffee with petits fours. Guests wishing to spend the night in one of the recently refurbished rooms can avail of a special overnight rate of €55 B&B per person sharing. Pre booking is essential by contacting The Mustard Seed on 069 68508 or email mustard@indigo.ie
Nineteen companies have responded to Food NI’s search for entries for the prestigious People’s Choice Award in the forthcoming Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association’s Awards (NIFDA). Overall, 20 products have been entered for the award.
The NIFDA awards are taking place on 24th March at a gala event in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast and voting is now live on the Food NI website. Voting closes on Sunday 19th March and the winner will be announced at the NIFDA awards.
Food NI invited local food and drink companies to bid for the popular vote as part of its support for the coveted NIFDA awards, which are held every two years and showcase the quality and innovation of local producers.
Michele Shirlow, Food NI chief executive, says: “The NIFDA awards have proved to be an immensely important initiative for the agri-food industry here. We have organised the popular voting for the People’s Award over a number of years and are delighted to again be involved.
“This is a golden opportunity for people here to choose a food or drink company they believe provides simply the best tasting product.
“Nineteen companies, both large and small and across all sectors, responded to our invitation to submit entries. I’d urge people to get involved in what is a hugely significant competition that has an influence on retailers and foodservice operations here.
“People can show their support for a company by clicking onto our website below to vote for a company which they believe has made the greater impact with consumers in terms of original and outstandingly tasty products.
“Awareness of the quality of local food and drink was enhanced substantially during last year’s tremendously successful Year of Food and Drink. We continue or campaign to promote local producers and to help them increase business both here and outside Northern Ireland,” adds Mrs Shirlow.”
On Thursday 2 March, recently awarded ‘Best NI Local Market’ Comber Farmers’ Market will celebrate World Book Day in a special way!
We all have that one cook book where we have only used a few ideas or recipes from… it is time to swap it out!
Out with the old and in with the new as Comber Farmers’ Market will have a ‘Cook Book Swap’ stall in which you can do exactly that!
With some schools off for the election the market will also have a colouring in competition for kids, looking for the best cook book cover design.
This month Comber Farmers’ Market was recognised as the Best NI Local Market at the Belfast Telegraph Year of Food and Drink Awards, an amazing accolade voted for by peers from the NI food and drink industry.
As Comber continues to develop as the ‘Home of Great Taste’, the market is delighted to play a part in putting the town firmly on the foodie map.
Every first Thursday of the month, Comber Farmers’ Market holds around 25 stalls who individually show off their locally grown and sourced items with meat and fish, fresh bread, eggs, milk, jams and chutneys, chocolate, plants, fruit and veg, baked goods, cheese and so much more.
The market can be found in St Mary’s Church Hall car park in Comber Square. Car parking is available nearby at Parkway off Killinchy Street and 1st Comber Presbyterian on High Street.
More information on Comber Farmers’ Market can be found at combermarket.co.uk, and regular updates are posted on the Facebook, Twitter pages and Instagram pages.
