Ballyrobin Country Lodge were delighted to welcome Celebrity chef Jean- Christophe Novelli to Ballyrobin recently as he popped in for dinner on his way to appear at the Foyle Maritime Festival and meet the crews involved in the Clipper race.

Head chef at Ballyrobin Jim Mullholland was delighted to meet him and prepared a delicious tasting menu that included, Dundrum Bay Oysters, Braised Pigs Cheek, Clogherhead Wild Halibut amongst a selection of local produce.

Jean-Christophe Novelli left praising Jim and his team , thanking them for the memories and promised to come back soon with his family.

Jean-Christophe Novelli is a 5 out of 5 AA Rosette and multi Michelin Star award winning chef who has also been dubbed “The Nation’s Favourite French Chef”, European Chef of The Year finalist representing Great Britain, recipient of the prestigious Egon Ronay Dessert of the Year award. Voted Chef’s Chef of the Year by his peers.
His Novelli Academy has been voted one of the Top 25 Cooking Academies in the World, which he still owns and performs his own demonstrations. Jean-Christophe has made ‘countless’ appearances on both British and US TV including Chef Academy for Bravo TV

Following the success of its inaugural year, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, hosts of Speciality Food Fair, have announced a packed line-up for the Fair’s second appearance in Moira Demesne on Saturday 20th August. Featuring a wide range of primary and artisan producers from the Moira area and across Northern Ireland, this year’s Fair is expected to be a date not to be missed by food enthusiasts and families across the province.

Reflecting on the growth of this year’s Fair, Councillor Uel Mackin, Chairperson of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Development Committee said, “Following the first Speciality Food Fair in Moira last year, we were delighted by the positive feedback we received from both the producers and guests who enjoyed an afternoon of local food, drink and entertainment.”

“In 2016 – Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink – our aim is to grow this event significantly, and we are looking forward to welcoming even more small-batch artisan producers and visitors from not only the locality, but from across Northern Ireland.”

This year’s festival, held in conjunction with Tourism Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink, will include many award-winning food offerings to suit all tastes. Fittingly, August has been designated the month of celebrating NI Meat in the Year of Food and Drink calendar. The Speciality Food Fair in Moira could not be more ideally placed with the celebrated Great Taste Supreme Champions, McCartney’s and Hannan Meats located in the town. Products from both will be featured by the chefs in the Kitchen Sessions, with the range and premium quality of Northern Ireland’s meat sector showcased in the artisan food market marquee. Visitors will have the chance to buy directly from the farmers themselves including lamb from Buchanan’s Farm, dry cured bacon from Kennedy Bacon and Dexter Beef from Castlescreen Farm. Whilst in the picnic area, Forthill Farm and Broughgammon Farm – amongst others – will be serving gourmet street food that epitomises the farm to fork ethos.

Alongside these primary producers guests will find organic vegetables, artisan cheese, bread and cakes, jams, chutneys , chocolates, fudge and many other speciality foods – many from multi-award winning producers.
Commenting on the diversity of local artisan food producers scheduled to set up shop at Moira Demesne event organiser Joanne McErlain, Babble, said, “We are really pleased with the diverse range of food on offer at this year’s Speciality Food Fair Moira. We have expanded the offering and have some fabulous new niche producers coming on board. Food trends and dietary needs will be catered for with sourdough baked goods, fermented, gluten free and vegan foods to be discovered. We are very keen to maintain the festival vibe and ensure that Speciality Food Fair becomes an annual must attend event that is as much a social occasion as anything else.”

One-stop shop under the food tent
The main food marquee at this year’s Speciality Food Fair will offer a one-stop shop for visitors to stock up on fresh food and larder essentials. Shoppers are encouraged to interact with local artisans who have been known to recommend food pairings and share tips on simple ways to prepare and serve. “We’re always keen to show that you don’t have to be a pro in the kitchen to assemble a great meal with quality local ingredients,” said Mike Thomson of Mike’s Fancy Cheese, Newtownards. “For example, pairing my Young Buck cheese with the gorgeous pickled watermelon rind from Passion Preserved can create a perfect snack with minimal preparation required. The artisan food producers in Northern Ireland are a collaborative bunch, so we are all very knowledgeable of neighbouring artisans’ products. This means we are well primed to steer customers in the right direction as they make their way around – so it is always worth stopping for a chat!”

Star-studded Kitchen Sessions
Adding a celebrity element to the event, appearances are scheduled by some of Northern Ireland’s leading chefs including Moira’s own Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine in advance of his third appearance on Great British Menu, Derek Patterson of Moira’s The Tannery, part of the widely-acclaimed Plough Group, and Stevie Higginson of Square Bistro, Lisburn. Acclaimed food critic, Charles Campion, will make an appearance and is also playing host to a group of influential UK food bloggers keen for a unique foodie experience.
Speaking at the launch of the Food Fair Chef Chris McGowan, Wine & Brine, said, “After a long career working in London, my passion for the high calibre of local ingredients available in Northern Ireland was one of the factors that called me home. In our restaurant we work to showcase the quality of NI ingredients – many of which are sourced from the suppliers selling their produce at Speciality Food Fair. I look forward to continuing to spread the word about the outstanding quality of Northern Ireland’s primary produce and artisan products. I feel strongly that events like this will help to build a greater appreciation by local consumers of what’s on offer on their doorstep.”

Unique tipples on a Saturday afternoon
Offering a quirky way to take in a refreshment at this year’s Speciality Food Fair, the Tipi café bar, hosted by The Four Trees, will include local drinks ranging from artisan teas, coffees, lemonade and apple juice, to a showcasing of Northern Ireland’s craft beers, ciders and spirits. Expect to find small-batch whiskeys, gins and vodka from the likes of Echlinville, Shortcross and Hughes Craft Distilleries. Craft beers and ciders couldn’t be more local with Hilden and Farmageddon Breweries and Tempted Cider all in residence. For those that like a little sparkle in their choice of beverage, Ruby Blue Liquer will be hosting a ‘pimp your prosecco’ bar.

Local street food vendors to roll into Moira Demesne
With speciality teas and coffees served from vintage trucks and a gourmet street food village offering premium sausages and burgers (with beef, lamb, goat or indeed a vegan black bean burger on offer) to fresh oysters, seafood chowder, pizza and freshly made crepes, expect to be spoilt for choice. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the picnic area with a range of family friendly activities including face painting, storytelling, pop-art and more, while enjoying tunes played by local musicians, all in the spirit of keeping it local this summer.
Entry and parking to the Speciality Food Fair Moira is free. The Fair will run from 10am – 6pm on Saturday 20th August. For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/foodfairmoiraor follow the Speciality Food Fair Moira on Twitter and Instagram @FoodFairMoira.

Kilkeel is preparing to swing into its third B/E Aerospace GI Jive Festival on Saturday 30th July.

In July a packed week-long programme of events will honour the town’s historic associations with the thousands of GIs who made the locality their temporary home in World War II as they trained to play their part in the allied invasion of Europe.

The festival will launch on Saturday 30 July when the sights and sounds of the past will create a distinctly 40’s vibe at Mourne Esplanade in the town centre. Attractions will include historical re-enactments, vintage vehicles, swing music and dance plus bustling American-themed market stalls and artisan food producers offering everything from home baked delicacies to beers brewed at the foot of the Mourne Mountains.

This year food and drink will take centre stage at the festivities, marking Tourism NIs Year of Food & Drink 2016 and Kilkeel, long famous for its fishing fleet, will serve up a vast range of fabulous locally caught fish and seafood. Celebrity chefs will be on hand to demonstrate how to prepare and cook the catch of the day… with opportunities for the public to taste their creations!

Celebrity chefs on the day will include Michelin Star Danni Barry, Danny Millar, Chris McGowan, Eddie Attwell, Roger Moynihan and compere Paula McIntrye.

The usual performers will again be converging on Mourne Esplanade including the very popular Wartime Living History Association, War Years Remembered, Ulster Aviation Society and Living Vintage, all of whom have wowed the crowds during the previous two years. The Wartime Living History Association will be carrying out their exciting re-enactment as well as making American style donuts and showing visitors around their authentic American camp. War Years Remembered will be displaying their unique collection of wartime memorabilia which includes a 1944 Morris Gun Tractor which went into action on 8th June 1945 during the Normandy Landings on Sword Beach! Ulster Aviation Society will be presenting all their fascinating aviation attractions including a real life replica Spitfire of which you can climb into the cockpit and get your photo taken. For the ladies, Living Vintage will be back with their beautiful collection of vintage 1940s fashion, modelling them and telling the story behind the clothes. Swingabella and Nightswing will be making their long awaited return along with newcomers The Swing Gals to provide the musical backdrop with 1940s swing and jive…so make sure you bring your dancing shoes! If you would like to brush up on your swing dance skills you can learn all the moves from the professional dance troupes who will be performing in the marquee. For those who wish to dress to impress there will be an opportunity to enter the fancy dress competitions and win lots of great prizes for the best costumes.

GI Jive promises a full programme of exciting events throughout the week so please check the website for more details: http://www.gijivefestival.com/

Gin lovers are in for a treat this summer as The Merchant Hotel plays host to a very special event in its Rooftop Garden.

The Shortcross Twilight Picnic event will take place on Wednesday August 10 at 7.30pm and will showcase the locally crafted Shortcross Gin which is distilled just outside Downpatrick.

Gin connoisseurs will hear the story behind the brand from one of its founders and will have the opportunity to discover more about the distilling process, while enjoying gin cocktails, signature serves and delicious picnic food that will complement the drinks.

There will also be a specially made gin cocktail that has been inspired by a luxury summer picnic with gooseberry, elderflower yogurt and lavender hued Parfait Amour all making an appearance.
Michael Patterson, Manager of the Cocktail Bar at the Merchant Hotel is looking forward to the event;

“Northern Ireland, along with most of the world, is currently experiencing a gin revival and this event is designed to give gin lovers the opportunity to really find out about the brand.

“We’ve purposely selected the locally distilled Shortcross Gin and hope that the event will provide an educational experience for those attending.

“The event is set to be very popular and what better way is there to spend a summer evening than in relaxing surrounds of The Merchant’s Rooftop Bar.”

For further information, or to book a ticket, call The Merchant Hotel, Belfast on 028 9023 4888 or visit themerchanthotel.com

Linwoods, the Northern Irish healthy foods producer and a Food NI member company, has moved into the snacks aisles, with a slow cooked, natural and nutrition-packed alternative to crisps.

Linwoods Snackettes, the new range from the county Armagh food business, are snacks with a difference. The dynamic little triangle-shaped treats, invented by Linwoods in- house team of seeds and nuts specialists, are 100 per cent natural and organic, and minimally processed … a guilt-free option. The company already produces the Linwoods award winning health food product range.

The range is being promoted by Michael Conlan, the Commonwealth, European and recently crowned World Boxing Champion, who is the new Health Food Partner of Linwoods.

Sarah Shimmons, head of marketing at Linwoods, says: “Eating well isn’t just about avoiding the foods which we all know are firmly on the ‘naughty list’. “We also want to help people to make positive choices by offering great natural foods which not only taste good, but which actually do you good with every bite!”

That’s a philosophy which has already paid off handsomely for the Armagh based, family owned company. In recent years the business, which was founded on dairy and quality baked goods, expanded to create the hugely successful Linwoods Health Food product range of healthy seeds and berries, which today deliver accessible, easy to use nutrition to health-conscious consumers right around the world.

She adds: “When we fancied a healthy snack in a handy packet we couldn’t find one, so we harnessed our seeds, nuts and berries expertise and invented Linwoods Snackettes! The result is a great-tasting alternative to sugar- and salt-filled snacks, perfect to eat on-the-go or post workout; to pop into lunch boxes or simply to enjoy when you feel you need a tasty treat or a pick-me-up.

“The handy sized packs pack a powerful nutritional punch with important health benefits. Linwoods Snackettes are a great source of fibre, protein and omega 3, are 100 per cent natural and organic; they have no added sugar or salt; and are gluten-free.”

The new Linwoods Snackettes which will be launched in outlets across The UK and Ireland come in three flavour variants: Banana and Coconut; Spicy Tomato and Superseeds.

 

It was immensely encouraging to see so many talented and enthusiastic young people graduating recently from our universities and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) with the skills and qualifications that the food and drink production sector needs to ensure continued growth. I know that most of the latest batch of CAFRE graduates have already found employment in the industry.

This is illustrative of the scale of opportunities our biggest industry offers young people. The food and drink industry, after all, includes many of Northern Ireland’s biggest companies and most successful exporters. I believe that the current Year of Food and Drink initiative is helping to showcase the contribution of this £5 billion industry to young people and their families. It’s a vibrant industry on the move in terms of international sales, new product development, innovation in processes and procedures and focusing increasingly on developing the skills and experience of its people. The days when food processing was seen as a low wage industry are largely in the past.
It is, furthermore, an industry offering great opportunities to entrepreneurial young people to set up their own small businesses. The emergence of a dynamic micro and small business sector in both food and drink is evidence of this encouraging trend.

Our food and drink products are now exported to around 80 countries worldwide. You’ll find our food being enjoyed from the US to China and from Finland to New Zealand. While sales to these markets are important, Northern Ireland is a major supplier of food and drink to the hugely significant and easily accessed markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Year of Food and drink has been showcasing the innovation in processes, products and career development within what is now a dynamic and progressive industry. We’ve also seen leading companies such as Dunbia in Dungannon and Genesis Crafty in Magherafelt setting up academies to develop the skills of young people. Many other businesses are now offer rewarding career progression structures for new recruits.

The strengthening export focus means greater opportunities for travel and working abroad. Food is a progressive sector with a developing focus on new technologies including preservation of the environment, alternative energies and sustainability.

Food and drink, furthermore, is an industry firmly rooted in the soil of Northern Ireland, driven by locally-owned companies and bound to remain so. We’ll always need local food and drink. As the global population grows to reach a projected nine billion by 2030, demand for the quality and safe food and drink that we provide will increase substantially. Even in Britain there are serious concerns about long-term supply of everything from vegetables and fruit to bread and meat. Our fertile soil, temperate climate and heritage in the production of premium quality food and drink should help us meet some of the challenges that the UK will face.

We’ve got to continue to press home the message about the industry and career opportunities to universities, colleges and schools and engage with parents. At FoodNI we have worked with many fantastic undergraduates on their placement years and have been impressed by the talent, dedication and new ideas they have brought to our organisation. We look forward to seeing them progress successful and rewarding careers in this great industry.