Lisburn and Castlereagh presents Treat Week, a 7-day celebration of our tastiest restaurants. Running from Saturday 29th October to 5th November, eateries from the region will come together to deliver one-off food and drink experiences.

We promise to whet your appetite with a choice of gourmand evenings, cooking masterclasses, afternoon teas, brunch at my place, explore & discover, pop-up suppers, chef & guerrilla cooks, meet the producers and village food trails.

Lisburn & Castlereagh Treat Week promises to be an adventurous collaboration of all those involved in our food scene from Farm to Fork, creating a lasting legacy for our local restaurant scene.

In the spirit of the Year of Food & Drink 2016, we are encouraging the public to get involved and discover the true Taste of Ulster. Lisburn and Castlereagh has its fair share of Northern Ireland’s foodie destinations stretching from Moira to Dundonald. Leading the way is Chef Chris McGowan’s restaurant, Wine and Brine, which has recently been crowned the UK’s Best Local Restaurant by The Good Food Guide. There are many other local food heroes dedicated to provenance and showcasing Northern Ireland’s food heritage such as Stevie Higginson, Derek Patterson and Stephen Jeffers. There are a few new kids on the block too making a name for themselves so it is worth keeping posted – you never know what culinary treasures you may come across.

Whether you are a seasoned foodie or simply want an excuse for a day out or night off, our restaurants, cafés and bars will serve up a treat for everyone.

Keep eyes peeled for more information on www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com

Derry’s rising reputation as a foodie destination takes another giant leap forward this week when BBC Radio 4’s culinary panel show, The Kitchen Cabinet, comes from the Guildhall tomorrow.

The Derry show which is being recorded on Wednesday evening, kicks off the new series of the popular programme hosted by renowned restaurant critic Jay Rayner, and will be broadcast on Saturday, September 24th at 10.30am.
It may be an auspicious occasion for the city as it’s the first time the programme “packed full of tasty titbits” has been recorded on the banks of the Foyle but, also for Rayner who turns 50 on the same day.

Derry’s restaurateurs can relax for now as The Observer’s formidable food writer isn’t planning to do any reviews during his visit to host the show, with local foodies quickly snapping up the free ticket allocation to be part of the audience in the Guildhall’s stunning Whittaker Suite.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane Alderman Hilary McClintock, said she was delighted the show’s producers had chosen to record The Kitchen Cabinet in the city during NI Year of Food and Drink 2016 and is looking forward to welcoming the team to the Guildhall.

Mayor McClintock added: “This is an exciting opportunity to share some of our best food stories with an even wider broadcast audience and we look forward to The Kitchen Cabinet being aired on BBC Radio 4 on September 24th.”
Mary Blake, Council’s Tourism Manager, said: “This year has been phenomenal in terms of international interest in Derry as a destination and, to be hosting The Kitchen Cabinet with its huge listenership, is really going to help put us further on the culinary map. We are delighted to welcome Jay Rayner and hope he has an opportunity to explore some of our LegenDerry foodie destination. Derry is in the running for Foodie Destination Ireland this year so this is a very fitting location for The Kitchen Cabinet.”

Rayner will be joined by panellists including BBC Radio Ulster resident chef Paula McIntyre, a stalwart of Derry’s food festivals; Tim Anderson, 2011 TV Masterchef winner and Japanese food expert; Rachel McCormack, the Gaswegian cook and Catalonian food expert; and Zoe Laughlin, the show’s materials expert.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Rayner explained that while he’s looking forward to hearing some of Derry’s food success stories, he won’t have a chance to experience the city’s burgeoning restaurant scene on this occasion. Britain’s ‘culinary Moses’ will also be staging his one-man show the following night at Belfast’s MAC theatre, based on his book The Ten (Food) Commandments, bringing fresh rules for new foodies to live by!
While he may not be flavour of the month with every eatery – or every destination – he visits, Rayner has a “particularly good record in Northern Ireland” and loved Harry’s Shack in Portstewart which he reviewed for The Observer in January 2015.

Gearing up for that big birthday on September 14th, Rayner revealed that his food preferences are also maturing with age. “I turn 50 on the day we are recording The Kitchen Cabinet in Derry. I am quite a different man now than the man I was at 40 and restaurants are very emotive places so it changes all the time.”

Declaring himself to be “so over Michelin-starred tasting”, he added: “Anybody who does my job does it because they are greedy and does not have limited choice. I am as happy in a Japanese or Chinese restaurant as I am in a French bistro…I am all over everything.”

Derry was one of seven towns and cities around the UK selected for the latest series of The Kitchen Cabinet and the producers were also keen to shine the spotlight on new destinations with a passion for food. Rayner continued: “Every part of the country has a food story. It is not about grand restaurants… it is about how people eat and their own stories.”
The well known food savant, whose mother was the renowned journalist, author and agony aunt, Claire Rayner who died in 2010, also enjoys cooking up a storm in his own kitchen. The Ten (Food) Commandments features recipes for such culinary delights as Braised Shoulder of Lamb and, Chicken Wings with Fennel and Garlic. Among his self-styled commandments are those which exhort diners to ‘eat with thy hands’, worship the false god of leftovers and ‘Thou Shalt Not Cut Off The Fat’.

The Kitchen Cabinet is described as witty, fast-moving, and irreverent, but packed full of information that may well change the way you think about cooking and eating. Audience members have the opportunity to put their questions to the panel and enjoy plenty of good-humoured conversation about food and drink during the half-hour edited programme.

Darby Dorras, lead producer from Bafta Company of the Year Somethin’ Else, said: “We are really excited to be bringing the programme to Derry. We haven’t recorded The Kitchen Cabinet there before and the uptake for tickets has been fantastic so it looks like it’s going to be a great show.”

Sharon Machala, Taste of Ulster manager at Food NI, said that having previously recorded in Belfast, they were delighted The Kitchen Cabinet was visiting Derry during NI Year of Food and Drink 2016.
“It is the collaboration approach that really works in Derry and makes it stand out. The Council and the strategic partners have delivered specific festivals and, the award winning restaurants, chefs, drinks and cheese-makers have ensured that Derry has its own unique identity.”

The Kitchen Cabinet from Derry’s Guildhall will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday, September 24th at 10.30am and repeated on Tuesday, September 27th at 3pm. For details on how to apply for forthcoming shows, visit www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

The best of local, clean, fair food will be on the menu when Derry City and Strabane District Council hosts Northern Ireland’s first Slow Food Festival next month in the latest of a series of flagship culinary events celebrating NI Year of Food and Drink 2016.

The Slow Food Festival will be centred in Guildhall Square from 12noon until 6pm on Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme with assistance from Slow Food NI.

The free family-friendly event will incorporate a Slow Food Harvest Fayre, Slow Food Street Food Zone, Family Fun Zone and fringe events including a Made in Derry Slow Food Walking Tour and cycling tours around the city, tours of Butterlope Social Farm at Plumbridge by shuttle bus and an eco-tourism experience at St Columba’s Heritage Centre, which will bring to life stories of our forgotten and local foraged foods focusing on seaweeds and other edible, sustainable wild foods, their traditions, myths and cures.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Alderman Hilary McClintock, warmly welcomed the Council’s initiative in organising the upcoming event which will embrace the aims and objectives of Slow Food, a global, grassroots movement founded in Italy in 1989 which links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
“Slow Food recognises the fact that Northern Ireland has a unique culinary heritage with indigenous breads, fish from the loughs, world class produce and progressive artisans contributing to the agri-food sector in the province.
“We are very proud to be leading the way as a Council in promoting our local food provenance through the commitment of dedicated producers and suppliers which has contributed hugely to the city’s rising reputation as a food destination of note.”

Jennifer O’Donnell, Council’s Rural Tourism Officer and organiser of the two-day Slow Food Festival, said: “Building on the legacy of our previous festivals which attracted thousands of visitors to the banks of the Foyle in March, April and July this year, and other Year of Food events including our success as a finalist in Ireland’s Foodie Destinations 2016, we are delighted to be hosting the first Slow Food Festival in Northern Ireland, linking into a global movement that has supporters in more than 150 countries around the world.

“This exciting new Festival promises to be a really family friendly event incorporating a Slow Food Harvest Market, demos and talks, guided tours and tastings. There will be lots of free family entertainment with arts and crafts, petting farm and children’s demonstrations including an edible garden and pea potting stand.
“We have a fantastic line-up of local producers from across NI and Donegal including Broighter Gold, Tamnagh Cheese, Scarpello Slow Food Company, Donegal Prime Fish, Pennyburn Playtrail, Pier 59, Baked in Belfast, Erin Grove Preserves, Red Dog Foods and more exhibitors still to be announced.

“Festival-goers will also be able to grab a bite from some of the North West’s mouth-watering creative slow food cuisine with Emmett Mc Court’s Irish Food Heritage, Lisnamulligan Farm, Hog Roast Company, Amara Dexter Beef, Coffee & Cream and Morelli’s Ice Cream all confirmed to date.
“Festival-goers are in for a real added treat with opportunities on some of the guided food tours to view fresh produce available at this time of year, learn about growing your own vegetables and the free food available by foraging in the countryside.”

Paula McIntyre, Director of Slow Food NI and Slow Food UK Board member, explained: “Slow food is the opposite of fast food, it’s not about slow cooking, it’s about slow production and letting things grow naturally, for example vegetables which are seasonal, hopefully organic but not always, and grown without pesticides.”
The Slow Food movement promotes the rearing of animals in the traditional way, encouraging the use of rare breeds, with meat allowed to mature slowly without the use of growth hormones.

According to the popular BBC Radio Ulster chef presenter who will be taking part in live cookery demos throughout the Festival weekend, Slow Food is reminiscent of the way many of our grandparents lived off the land, right down to sitting around a table and eating together as a family.
“It’s knowing where your food comes from and taking the time to enjoy it. Slow Food has some of the best chefs in the world and it is something I am really passionate about. Yes, we talk about ethics and issues and we should all care about our food and where it comes from but I want this Festival to be fun and interactive and it’s great that it’s happening in Derry,” she added.

Paula McIntyre is a Slow Food Chef Alliance member alongside the likes of Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and will be travelling to the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto international Slow Food convention from September 22nd- 26th that brings thousands of farmers and food producers from 150 countries including Northern Ireland to Turin, Italy every two years.

For further information on the Slow Food Festival and how to book places on the tours, visit www.derrystrabane.com/food where a copy of the programme will also be available soon

– Dale Farm, Northern Ireland’s largest dairy company, to sponsor this year’s Grand Opera House pantomime, Cinderella

With 40,000 tickets already sold, Dale Farm has been announced as the official sponsor of the Grand Opera House’s pantomime title, Cinderella.

The partnership was launched on the rooftop of the Merchant Hotel, where Queen of Panto May McFettridge, Pop Idol Gareth Gates and Coleraine-born belle of the ball, Jayne Wisener, were gathered to bring a little panto magic to Belfast ahead of the show kicking off on 3 December.

As the official ice-cream supplier to the venue, Commercial Director – Branded Products at Dale Farm, Jason Hempton commented:

“Dale Farm is delighted to sponsor this year’s pantomime at the Grand Opera House. The pantomime brings so much enjoyment to families from across Northern Ireland and is an annual festive highlight for many children and adults alike. We are proud to now be part of that tradition.

“Like most, we’re excited for the panto season and the arrival of Cinderella – topped off with a Dale Farm ice-cream at the interval!”
Liam Nellis, Acting Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House, added:

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dale Farm for saying ‘oh yes we will’ and sponsoring this year’s production. Their support is vital in ensuring that the show will go on!”

Last night local Comber food business, Mash Direct, picked up the Irish Quality Food Award for their Vegetable Burgers at a glitzy ceremony in Mansion House, Dublin. In its fourth year the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards were held at a dazzling ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin on the 8th September, hosted by Ballymaloe Celebrity Chef and cookery author Rachel Allen.

The Irish Quality Food Award Judges were extremely complementary about the Mash Direct Vegetable Burgers, saying they are “Perfectly balanced. Lovely flavours which dance on the palate. Cabbage is so mild, carrot is perfect, parsnip perfect too and pepper enhances the flavour. Packaging is very good. This is an exceptionally superb product” and “The idea is smashing to get kids eating more veg. I liked it and I would certainly look out for it in the supermarket. Very well done”.

This is not the first time in which Mash Direct’s Vegetable Burgers have been recognised after winning The Grocer New Product Award in London in 2015 and collecting a silver award in the Free From Food Awards Ireland 2016.

On collecting the award, Tracy Hamilton, Director, said “We are delighted to have won our first ever Irish Quality Food Award for our Vegetable Burgers. We are extremely proud to have won this award, as we were up against such excellent competition from major retailers and brands such as Mr. Crumb. As a Northern Irish company growing our brand in Ireland, being recognised for this award gives our team great encouragement to continue our success in Ireland. It is a real testament to the hard work that the whole team puts in every day.”

Organised by Metropolis Business Media, group publisher Helen Lyons commented, “The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have become a major part of the Irish food calendar. Once again we received a huge number of entries, and spent three weeks testing and judging the most delicious products. We had another wonderful night celebrating the success of our winners – huge congratulations to everyone.”

Mash Direct are also looking ahead to the prestigious Food and Drink Federation Awards 2016 at the end of September, held in Barbican, London. Where they have been shortlisted for Regional Growth Business of the Year.

September is a wonderful time for lovers of Northern Ireland’s wide and tempting ranges of breads and buns. Not only is this month dedicated to Bread and Baking in the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016 calendar but the latest Great British Bake Off competition has just gotten underway meaning it’s almost impossible to avoid tray bakes, bread rolls and delicious scones.

Tourism Northern Ireland’s Communications and Destination PR Officer Rachel Quigg explained why everyone should put an apron on and try out a new baking recipe or local product this September:
“There is no better time to find out more about NI’s rich bread and baking heritage. There are lots of delicious treats and bakes native to Northern Ireland which are known all around the world like wheaten bread, fifteens, Soda Farls and Potato Bread so if you haven’t sampled any of these why not have a go at baking your own!
“There are also a variety of fun food experiences where you can try a variety of baked goods whilst enjoying music and family fun, such as the Belfast Bred Tour and the Tesco Taste Festival,” added Rachel.
Tourism Northern Ireland has put together a list of NI based foods, producers, events and recipes for you to enjoy:

LOCAL DELIGHTS
Baking is very popular in NI and in particular tray bakes with afternoon tea. One of the most famous bakes from NI are the always popular, fifteens. This traditional Northern Irish treat gets its name from the fact that you need fifteen of each of the main ingredients (digestive biscuits, marshmallows and glace cherries) to make them. Fifteens are a popular sweet treat thanks to how easy they are to make.

Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 saw the inaugural Ulster Fry-Day back in January, a celebration of this hearty local breakfast. Our variation on the morning fry-up wouldn’t be nearly as popular however, if it weren’t for two inspired pieces of Northern Irish baking: potato bread and soda bread. Potato, or “tatie” bread is a form of unleavened bread in which potato replaces a major portion of the wheat flour, and soda bread is soft, thick and fluffy. Both of these are popular breads on their own but they truly come into their own when they are served with bacon, sausage and eggs in a hearty Ulster Fry.

Other baked institutions in Northern Ireland include the Belfast Bap, dreamt up by a Belfast man to keep thousands of people alive during the famine and it is still being eaten today.
Another popular bread unique to Northern Ireland is Veda which was invented by Scot Robert Graham in 1904. It’s so popular that many people living abroad rely on their relatives to send them a Veda to satisfy their craving.

MUCH LOVED BAKERIES
Over one hundred years ago, W.D. Irwin and his wife Ruth opened a small bakery in Portadown, Co. Armagh, baking fresh bread for local people, delivering far afield and expanding, before the introduction of its iconic nutty crust loaf gave it a place in the history books. Nowadays, Irwin’s is situated in a purpose-built plant bakery on the Portadown outskirts and is found on shelves all over the country. It is still a family-run business and their scrumptious products include Veda, batch bread, fruit bread, and many more.
Another iconic Northern Irish brand is Ormo. Established in 1875, Ormo bread and pancakes have been loved by generations. Situated, until recently, in its famous Ormeau Road building in South Belfast, Ormo products are still being lovingly made by a 400-strong workforce in Hovis Bakeries nearby and include favourites such as pancakes, wheaten bread and soda farls.

A favourite amongst those with a sweeter tooth is French Village, a wholesale bakery in East Belfast producing cakes, muffins, cupcakes and all sort of treats for any occasion. There are also two French Village restaurants in Belfast where customers can pop in and sample freshly made delectable delights.
Another of Northern Ireland’s much loved bakery’s is JBird Bakery which offer cupcakes and muffins in a huge range of scrumptious flavours such as Madagascan vanilla, decadent chocolate, red velvet, coffee crème and coconut and raspberry.

The Heatherlea Bakery was first established in 1937 and was taken over by Paul and Patricia Getty in 1990 who have carefully grown the business. The bakery offers a range of fresh breads and cakes which have won coveted national Great Taste Awards in various categories. Try out some of their tasty treats at their cafés in Bangor or Belmont in Belfast.

EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
Some of the best Northern Ireland food producers will be present at the Tesco Taste Festival in Custom House Square, Belfast on September 16-18. Now in its eighth year, the festival showcases everything great about Northern Ireland food and drink producers, suppliers and chefs, with tastings, demonstrations, tips and entertainment for all the family.

The Belfast Bred Tour runs until September 10 and participants can discover the city’s fascinating culinary history in the company of Barney, a cheeky chef from RMS Titanic. The tour is written by Seth Linder, performed by Michael Lavery and Stephen Beggs and directed by Kabosh’s Paula McFetridge. This mouth-watering tour offers the chance to chat with local chefs and savour a range of free samples at each location including Sawers Deli, Mourne Seafood, the John Hewitt and St George’s Market.

Orchard Acre Farm in Irvinestown is the perfect location for enhancing baking skills as they host a programme of farmhouse and modern cookery classes, Irish craft courses and foodie events. Tours are also available for visitors as well as presentations of the gardens, orchards and farm. From afternoon teas to seven course dining experiences, there is something for everyone and all the food is naturally home grown and made from scratch.
Suitor Craft Gallery and Coffee Shop in Dungannon offers a wide range of beautiful gifts, specialising in high quality traditional wooden toys, handmade jewellery and ceramics. Not only this, but every day, fresh homemade baking is served up, with scones, toasties and other sweet delights, and all through September, Ulster bread-making is being celebrated there, making it a unique and mouth-watering place to stop on your travels.

Those wanting an interactive day out involving some of our local baked delights need look no further than a session at James Street South Cookery School. Located in a purpose-built kitchen above the Bar and Grill on James Street South, it offers hands on cookery classes for all abilities, including bread making, and gorgeous desserts. Other cookery schools around NI which are available to test out culinary skills at include the Belfast Cookery School, Aine’s Kitchen Cookery School in Newry and Belle Isle in Co Fermanagh.
For those who have an interest in baking traditions of old, travel back in time at the Ulster American Folk Park, where the story of the Irish emigration to America in the 18th and 19th century is told, bringing to life people’s daily routines and activities from the time.

The Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival takes place in Killyleagh to commemorate and celebrate one of Northern Ireland’s most famous legends, Sir Hans Sloane who invented the recipe for milk chocolate. Fun events to look out for include a Chocolate Ball on September 24, the Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Family Fun Day on September 25 and the Hans Sloane Chocolate and Fine Food Family Fun Day.
For more information on things to see and do in Northern Ireland go to www.discovernorthernireland.com.