On Saturday 26th November 2016, The Carriage Rooms, Montalto Estate were transformed into a magical Winter Wonderland to raise vital funds for local charity, Cancer Fund for Children.

The glamorous gala ball took place in the beautiful and ancient surroundings of Montalto Estate, one of Northern Ireland’s best kept secret, has raised over £50,000 to support children and young people diagnosed with cancer.

The event was attended by 120 guests who were treated to a champagne reception followed by an exquisite four course meal prepared by the chef and proprietor of Yellow Door Simon Dougan. Each course was accompanied by fine wines compliments of James Nicholson Wine Merchant and teas and coffees were provided by Johnsons’ Coffee. After dinner guests danced the night away to the Just Adam Band.

As the leading children’s cancer charity in Northern Ireland, Cancer Fund for Children understands the devastating impact a cancer diagnosis and treatment can have on the whole family and that beyond essential medical care there is a family life that needs to be rebuilt. The charity offers practical, emotional and financial support as well as free short therapeutic breaks to local families whose lives have been affected by the illness.

Joan Burden, Chair of Cancer Fund for Children’s Mourne Support Group who helped to organised the Winter Wonderland Ball said,

“What a way to start the festive season. We are absolutely delighted by the success of this magical event. The funds raised will help Cancer Fund for Children’s team of Specialists provide vital support to young people whose lives have been impact by cancer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our amazing sponsors for their generosity including The Carriage Rooms at Montalto, Yellow Door, James Nicholson Wine Merchants, Henderson Food Service, Rafferty Hospitality, North Down Marquees, Finnebrogue, Morrison’s VivoXtra and Johnsons’ Coffee, our MC for the evening U105’ Paul McKenna and of course all the members of Mourne Fundraising Group who helped make this event sparkle.”

To find out more about the work that Cancer Fund for Children do, go to cancerfundforchildren.com

Leading convenience brands, SuperValu and Centra, which are owned by Musgrave NI, have exclusively launched chat show host Graham Norton’s Own Wine in Northern Ireland.

The announcement that the local retail brands will stock the wine in their stores was revealed at an event hosted at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast to showcase SuperValu and Centra’s seasonal range of food.
More than 100 media, stakeholders and retailers attended the Christmas themed evening which saw VIP guests sample SuperValu and Centra’s exciting new festive range of fresh, quality, convenience food including party foods and desserts, fresh bakery and special Christmas Gourmet sandwiches.

The venue was transformed into ‘a re-tail of two Christmases’ as SuperValu’s Bring Home Christmas campaign of indulgent food, festive value and time-honoured tradition was launched alongside Centra’s ‘Let’s Rock Christmas’ messages of food inspiration, convenience and enjoying the festive season to the full.

SuperValu’s Ambassador Chef Noel McMeel treated guests to a live demonstration of recipes he’s created exclusively for the brand, to help customers with hints and tips for the perfect family Christmas while Nutritionist Jane McClenaghan, who is partnering with Centra, created an inspiring selection of healthy alternatives for the party season.
Musgrave NI Managing Director, Michael McCormack, said: “We’re delighted that SuperValu and Centra stores have been selected to stock Graham Norton Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz exclusively in Northern Ireland.
“These are great wines for Christmas celebrations and complement our new seasonal range perfectly. The festive season is a key time for retailers and we’ve increased our convenience food offering this year by 25%, to ensure our customers have everything they need for the perfect Christmas.

“Whether you are cooking from scratch with a Fresh Turkey Dinner and all the trimmings or prefer a special Food to Go Christmas lunch, we have both the range and our Ambassador partnerships to offer recipes, inspiration and ideas to help brighten up the festive season and Bring Christmas Home to you.”

Musgrave NI’s wine expert, James McLornan said: “Graham’s favourite two wines are New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Australian Shiraz, hence the choice of his blends. Graham Norton Sauvignon Blanc, which launched in the UK last year, has already received a number of accolades and sold more than 600,000 bottles since its launch.

“Tonight we launched the Graham Norton Shiraz in Northern Ireland and it has already won a Gold medal at the 2016 Sydney International Wine Competition from its global launch earlier this year. There’s a reason why this has been described as ‘one of the most successful celebrity wine pairings ever’ and with the exclusive launch into SuperValu and Centra stores, we believe our customers may buy the wine for the celebrity behind it, but they’ll return for the quality,” he added.

Mr Nick Whelan, Group Chief Executive of Dale Farm will address delegates at the Northern Ireland Institute of Agriculture Science (NIIAS) breakfast before the RUAS Winter Fair on Thursday 8th December 2016 at 7.30am in Gowdy’s of Down Royal, Lisburn. His topic will be ‘Brexit: Risk or Reward’.

Mr Whelan took up his appointment as Group Chief Executive of Dale Farm on 1st August 2016. He graduated from University College Cork in 1995, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Following this he held senior management positions in the Kerry Group from 1995 – 2006. Previous to his appointment to Dale Farm, he was Commercial Director in Glanbia with responsibilities for sales, marketing and business development activities into 60 countries globally.

Speaking ahead of the event, Louise Millsopp, Chair of NIIAS said ‘we are delighted to have Nick address the Institute. At a time when our dairy industry has sustained a prolonged period of low milk prices and the recent decision for the UK to leave the European Union, it is very opportune that we hear from one of the key players within our agri-food industry.

The event has been kindly sponsored by Devenish and Ulster Bank. A light breakfast will be served from 7.30am with Mr Whelan speaking at 8am, followed by a question and answer session. The event is open to NIIAS Members and Non-Members. The cost for Members is £15, Non-Members £20 and Students £5.

To book your place at this breakfast meeting or for any further information about the event, please contact Robert McKnight, NIIAS Secretary, at secretary@niias.co.uk or ring/text 07756009770 by Monday 5TH December 2016.

Derry’s Sippy Fest which takes place this weekend is a fitting showcase for local craft brewers and distillers during Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016, the event organisers have said.

Speaking as the second annual Sippy Fest gets underway in the city’s historic Guildhall on Friday, November 25th and Saturday, November 26th, from 2pm-midnight, Connor Doherty said the two-day celebration promises to be yet another LegenDerry event for Ireland’s second top Foodie Destination.

Derry City and Strabane District Council is funding craft beer production demos at the event, through the Tier 2 programme for NI Year of Food and Drink 2016. These demos fit with the Tourism NI theme for November, which is ‘Legacy and Learn to …’ The craft beer demos will feature around 15 local brewers paired with artisan food producers.

Hundreds of craft beer aficionados are expected to attend the Sippy of Culture event to discuss, taste and sample many of the best traditionally produced local craft beers available in the region.

Connor Doherty, said: “We’re delighted to be coming back to the Guildhall for the second Sippy Fest. The event has grown from small beginnings to being a focal point for brewers and artisan producers from the North West and across Northern Ireland as well as Co Donegal. It’s a fantastic opportunity for festival-goers to meet brewers to learn the craft that goes into their products and also acts as a showcase for local musical talent and as a promotional vehicle for local companies.

“The event will bring together 15 brewers from across the North of Ireland, with a large cohort of those based here in the North West who are playing a key role in driving the city’s food tourism offer. As well as promoting the great work that companies in the city are doing, Sippy Fest also introduces customers to other regional suppliers and is a fitting showcase for NI Year of Food and Drink.”

A large range of craft beers will be available to sample as well as locally produced cider, whiskey, gin and vodka produced by companies including the city’s award-winning Walled City Brewery, Northbound Brewery, and Quiet Man Whiskey as well as leading craft brewers across the region.

Connor Doherty continued: “We want people to learn from the brewers directly at the event, most of whom have studied their craft for many years. The legacy of the event is to help change people’s perceptions of beer as a mass produced product and to showcase the tastes and flavours that are available to customers across Northern Ireland, produced from the best locally sourced ingredients, with brewers on hand to guide their choices and palates.”

Mary Blake, Tourism Development Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, said it was delighted to support Sippy of Culture which also helped to deliver the first ever Big Cheese and Beer Expo organised by Council in April 2016 which attracted 15,000 visitors to Guildhall Square as part of NI Year of Food and Drink’s ‘Brewing and Distilling’ month.

She continued: “Sippy Fest is now in its second year in the Guildhall and is led by a team which has developed strong links with the craft beer industry and suppliers across the region to deliver what we anticipate will be another hugely successful and positive event for the city.”

Catering will be provided by the Guild Café, who have devised a menu incorporating and complementing the beers and spirits on offer at the event which is expected to attract hundreds of visitors to the city during the weekend.
Sippy Fest is sponsored by Airporter, Quiet Man Whiskey, Doherty’s Meats and Urban Tonic Beard Oil. For further information including ticket prices, visit www.sippyfest.co.uk or its Facebook page, and to learn more about Derry City and Strabane District Council’s activities during NI Year of Food and Drink 2016, see www.derrystrabane.com/food

The always popular Christmas Market opened its doors in the grounds of Belfast City Hall at the weekend, and I hope Farm Week readers will take the opportunity to support the food and drink companies selling local food, made by local people, in the Year of Food and Drink section. You can easily find it, just outside the gates on the pavement opposite Robinson & Cleavers. If you’ve not had a chance to visit the market, I’d urge you to take this opportunity to see just what’s available from our innovative local producers.

FoodNI were delighted when the organisers invited us to involve local companies in this celebration of Year of Food and Drink. As a result, there will be a much stronger and more varied Northern Ireland presence this year. I’ve certainly enjoyed visiting what is a very colourful and fun event over the years. I am very confident that the engagement of local companies will continue to grow in the future and I hope it will become a strong attraction for foodies and tourists alike.

Several of our member companies, including Suki Tea and Melting Pot fudge, have taken part in previous Christmas markets and have enjoyed good business in the weeks running up to Christmas. Experience shows that it’s a market, now among the most popular in the UK, during which companies really do sell a lot of product…and to visitors from many parts of Northern Ireland and even from further afield.

Even more encouraging is the fact that this area has been supported by a number of councils also keen to show their support for local food companies, namely Ards and North Down, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Newry Mourne and Down and Fermanagh and Omagh. Ulster Artisans has a chalet dedicated to artisanal producers. The support of Ulster Bank and TourismNI was also vital to make this new initiative work.

FoodNI are determined to grasp every opportunity to showcase the food and drink industry. Our engagement at the recent BBC Good Food Show at the splendid Waterfront Hall was another example of the strength of our commitment to provide a lead in marketing local companies. Indeed, I believe that Food NI has the experience and the expertise to play a pivotal role in carrying the standard for our superb food and drink to other markets.

Encouragingly many of our niche producers are enjoying increasingly success in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Some excellent recent examples of this development are our good friends at Abernethy Butter, who have just added The Ritz Hotel in London to their impressive list of high profile clients. Abernethy is a real trailblazer and probably the only smaller business from here to supply the famous hotel in London’s Piccadilly.

Mash Direct continues to build its rightful reputation in top awards in Britain, winning a UK Quality Award for one of its original side dishes and Best UK Manufacturer in the same week that Moy Park also won National Awards. Two local companies winning top awards in the UK is testament to our great industry.

Our participation at the Christmas market will be one of the final events in the Year of Food and Drink. There will be further initiatives in 2017 and beyond to carry forward the many achievements of the campaign particularly in Northern Ireland and abroad through the activities of TourismNI, Tourism Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. There’s so much more that can be achieved in both the short and long term by further developing this important collaboration for such a vibrant, ambitious, innovative and enterprising industry.

Banagher Bold, a beer-washed cheese developed by Dart Mountain Cheese Company in Northern Ireland struck gold at the annual World Cheese Awards in San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque country.

The semi-hard cheese has been created by husband and wife team Kevin and Julie Hickey at their purpose-built creamery near Dungiven, a small rural town in county Derry. The handmade cheese uses milk from grass-fed herds in the rugged Sperrin Mountains and is washed in beer from Northbound, a craft brewery based nearby in Derry city.
Named after the parish in which the creamery is located, the cheese is washed in Northbound’s number 26 craft beer and uses the local Gaelic football team’s colours, the cheese is made from cow’s milk, washed in a local Derry craft beer, No. 26, and then aged for at least three months.

Kevin Hickey, commenting on the coveted award, says: “We are delighted and tremendously proud to have won a gold award at the World Cheese Awards, the world’s most important event in the cheese calendar for our unique Banagher Bold. Winning this award is a marvellous boost for our small business and should be hugely important as we expand our marketing operations for our range of cheeses and the new varieties we will be launching soon including Ballydonegan, a new smoked cheese.

“Banagher Bold and other cheeses are deeply rooted in the area in which we are based and from which we draw our milk. We wanted to create a beer washed cheese to provide a different flavour, and using a local craft brewery, Northbound, made sense. The brewery uses fresh water from a river near to use.”

The cheese, winner of a UK Great Taste Award earlier in the year, was the only winner from Northern Ireland in the World Cheese Awards held in San Sebastian by the UK Guild of Fine Foods and an integral part of the International Cheese Festival.

Now in its 29th year, the World Cheese Awards witnessed a record number of over 3,000 cheeses from across the world being judges representing Australia, the Basque Country, France, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, the USA and the UK.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the World Cheese Awards, commented; “What an incredible way to cap off another record-breaking year for the World Cheese Awards. We were certainly in the presence of greatness, as nearly three decades’ worth of World Champion Cheeses took the stage in front of our audience of food professionals, cheese-makers, journalists, buyers and retailers.
The World Cheese Awards drew entries from 31 different countries this year, from Australia to Italy and Mexico to Mozambique.

The final judging panel, made up of top names from the world of cheese, featuring cheese makers, buyers, retailers and writers, including Suzy O’Regan from Woolworths Foods in South Africa, Cathy Strange from Whole Foods in the USA, Roland Barthélemy, President of Guilde des Fromagers in France, and Mary Quicke from Quicke’s in the UK, then debated the top 16 cheeses in front of a trade and consumer audience.
Dart Mountain Cheese Company was established in 2012 as part of Tamnagh Foods, a small business which also produces award-winning granolas.