Heritage varieties of vegetables really are the best as judges favour tradition and provenance in food and name Mash Direct the winner of the innovation award at the International Food Show, SIAL Middle East held in Abu Dhabi.

SIAL is a global event that showcases products that are at the forefront of innovation. Mash Direct’s Crispy Vegetable Bakes were awarded the highest accolade, the Gold Innovation Award out of 251 products.

The judges awarded Mash Direct for it’s ‘quality and innovative recipe which exceeded very high expectations.’

This year the show was held over three days in Abu Dhabi and attracted over 333,000 attendees, exhibiting industry leaders from over 105 countries and showcasing emerging trends in the food market.

The Crispy Vegetable Bakes are noted for their distinct use of heritage vegetables that are grown for superior flavour and not their appearance and are also 100% gluten free.

“We wanted to make a vegetable burger that didn’t masquerade itself as a ‘meat-free alternative’, we wanted to celebrate the flavour and texture of the vegetables used in the bakes. My family have been growing these varieties of vegetables on our farm for six generations and we’re overjoyed that they are gaining appreciation on an international level.” Says Martin Hamilton, Managing Director of the family-run farm in Northern Ireland.

A recent survey highlighted eating habits haven’t changed much since the 1950s, with over 75% of British parents still serving traditional vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and peas on a daily basis, it’s easy to see that the older varieties of vegetables are still a clear favourite when it comes to flavour.

Get into the festive spirit with a visit to Portadown’s Twilight Market, packed full of gorgeous goodies for the Christmas season ahead!

This Friday (9 December) the plaza will be aglow with Christmas splendour from 6pm-11pm.
Shoppers will have the chance to fill their Christmas stockings with beautiful gifts from the array of retailers set up on the plaza. While browsing the fairy-lit stalls of jewellery, home baking, crafts, accessories and more, the public will be entertained by a host of local musical talent performing live.

There will also be two fantastic local cookery demonstrations by Jenny Turley at 6-8.30pm and again from 8.30-10.30pm

Children will love the arts and crafts tent and the chocolate fountain, and adults can take the chill off with hot drinks and tasty crepes while shopping for artisan crafts and handmade chocolates! Ice sculptures, live music and sensational street entertainment from FirePoise and local dance troupes make this an event not to miss!

“Portadown Town Centre will come alive with the fabulous sounds and sensational smells of Christmas this Friday” Comments Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Councillor Paul Greenfield “With creative crafts, fabulous food and merry music, it’s the perfect place to sample some seasonal treats and pick up some glorious yuletide gifts.”

The Twilight Market is being organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in partnership with the Department for Communities.

As the Year of Food and Drink enters its final month celebrating Christmas and premium foods, international media are touring Northern Ireland enjoying the festive sights, sounds and tastes on offer as guests of Tourism NI.

German journalist Joerg Berghoff recently joined travel blogger Lela London to experience first-hand how to farm Brussel sprouts, assisting local famer Andrew Herron on the Ards Penninsula.

The duo will tour Belfast, County Down and the Causeway Coast experiencing traditional festive Irish bread making, both the Comber and Belfast Christmas Market alongside our signature tourist attractions. Also supported by Tourism Ireland the aim of the trip is to increase visitors from continental Europe to Northern Ireland.

Festive foodies will have their appetites whetted with a unique alternative to traditional seasonal fayre thanks to a food tour celebrating the legacy and delicacy of the native Foyle Oyster which takes place in Derry on Sunday, December 11th from 7pm-9.30pm.

The event, which is being organised by Wild Strands Ltd, an innovative seaweed food adventure company based at the Creative Hub in Building Eighty81, Ebrington, will be led by your guide and seaweed chef William McElhinney, aka ‘The Seaweed Man’. It is funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council through the Tier 2 Industry Engagement Programme for Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 and celebrates Tourism NI’s theme of ‘Legacy and Learn to…’

William explained: “The Foyle Oyster is the pearl of the North West food scene, a gourmet delight, but sadly rarely experienced here because of its esteemed market value internationally. The intention is to create a multi-sensory festive celebration of locally sourced seasonal and wild produce. The tour will also explore the Foyle Oyster’s heritage as an important food resource for past generations and explain how Irish emigration influenced the food culture of America.”

The evening begins at Building 80/81, Ebrington, where guests will be greeted with festive homemade non-alcoholic seaweed punch and tasters, accompanied with music by a local harpist. There will be a talk by William and the first viewing of drone video footage created especially for the event by Little Films of wild oysters being fished in the Foyle.

The tour will then move next door to the Walled City Brewery in Ebrington Square for a talk by Master Brewer James Huey and the opportunity to sample a selection of their beers including Kicks, Derry Milk and Wit. Native oysters will be served from handcrafted wicker baskets and accompanied with William’s wild dipping sauces. While you are enjoying the taste of oysters with top quality beer there will be a demonstration of how to properly shuck a Foyle Oyster; the delicate art of releasing the oyster carefully from its shell.

Wrap up well! The tour will then proceed with a guided walk across the Peace Bridge to the Central Bar (Strand Road). There you will be served the signature dish Wild Foyle Oyster Stew which has been created especially for the event, inspired by the Christmas Eve Oyster Stew, a legacy of Irish emigration in America. The dish will be served with William’s dulse brown bread and samples of Guinness/locally brewed Dopey Dick Brewing Co. beer.

Mary Blake, Tourism Development Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the event offered an exciting new gourmet experience based around the iconic Lough Foyle Oyster originating from the largest native European oyster bed. “We are delighted to be supporting Wild Strands who are providing a unique opportunity to experience the native Foyle oyster as never before. This creative and innovative event will help enhance our region’s reputation as a world class food destination.”

Wild Strands, which took part in Derry City and Strabane District Council’s recent hugely successful Slow Food Festival, will also be showcasing local producers such as Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, Donnybrewer Butter, Emerald Isle Seaweeds, Farren’s Non Toxic Home Clean products, Tamnagh Foods, Whiteoaks Organic Farm. There will also garments from Moville Clothing Company, handcrafted wicker baskets by Brendan Farren and the award winning cook book ‘Feast or Famine’ by local chef and author Emmett McCourt on display.

To book a place on the Wild Strands festive food tour on Sunday, December 11th, contact William by email info@wildstrands.com or call 00353 (0)85 1053893/0044 (0)7445015939. Spaces are limited and booking in advance is essential.
For more information on Derry City and Strabane District Council’s events during NI Year of Food and Drink 2016, visit www.derrystrabane.com/food

Have you got your Christmas tree up yet? At Mash Direct they decided to put up a slightly different Christmas tree this year… building a 6 metre tall ChristMash tree out of Potato boxes!

The tree is designed to celebrate the excellent harvest which Mash Direct had this year and build the teams festive spirit as they move into the busy Christmas period.

If you’re hoping to reduce your time in the kitchen this Christmas, Mash Direct offer a variety of seasonal products ideal for your Christmas feast, check out their website for more information.

An award winning Irish cider maker has announced a £250,000 investment in a state of the art German apple press and the planting a new 10 acre heritage orchard as the Irish craft cider market continues to boom in Ireland.

Fifth generation apple grower Greg MacNeice, owner of Mac Ivors Cider Co, said the investment in the new Flottweg cider press is essential for the development of the business which produces and then sells its three craft cider varieties all over Ireland.

Mr MacNeice, who’s family already manage 100 acres of apple orchards opposite the National Trust’s Ardress House, said the new press crushed 60 tonnes last week, which is nearly half a million apples.

Speaking about the investment, Mr MacNeice said: “There is a new generation of cider drinkers in Ireland and the market is booming. Times have changed so much and people are connecting with the land and it tastes good. There is a huge appreciation in the Irish market for our heritage, provenance and craft.

“This year alone, all of our ciders have received awards. We got a silver in Blas na hÉireann for our Traditional Dry and our Plum and Ginger. We have been voted best Artisan producer in Armagh, joint best in Ulster and joint best in Ireland. We have also picked up a Great Taste Awards for our Traditional Dry and Medium ciders and we got a silver medal at the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards.

“The market is exploding and people in our cities, towns and villages, the length and breadth of Ireland, are enjoying our great tasting ciders. We are a key producer in the Irish market and our ciders will also soon be distributed in continental Europe and we continue to look towards the American market.

“To ensure that our production capacity keeps up with our sales growth, it is imperative that we continue to reinvest. For Mac Ivors Cider Co that means making this significant investment in state of the art machinery which complements the planting of a further 10 acres of orchard to satisfy a growing demand for heritage cider varieties.”

Mr MacNeice said that after harvesting a great crop, it’s now time for the apple press to go to work pressing a huge variety of apples including Allington Pippins, Cox Orange Pippins, Laxton Fortune, Lord Lambourne, Elstar, Idared, Jonagored and Armagh Bramleys as part of the overall cider production.

He added: “The Flottwegg belt press is a great addition to our process. Beautifully perfumed apples are being turned into great tasting cider and the team are delighted to have this facility on site in Co Armagh.”