Magnifique sums up the calibre of the internationally renowned culinary talent confirmed for Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Clipper Race Kitchens event being held in the city from July 14th-17th 2016 with the announcement of Jean-Christophe Novelli, “the nation’s favourite French chef”, to get foodie pulses racing on the banks of the Foyle on Friday, July 15th.

Multi award-winning Michelin chef, TV star and author Jean-Christophe, will bring his distinctive French flair and creative excellence to the free admission, four-day family-friendly food extravaganza taking place in Ebrington Plaza as a highlight element of the wider Foyle Maritime Festival programme which runs from July 9th-17th.
Popular local celebrity chefs Jenny Bristow, Paula McIntyre, Noel McMeel, Brian McDermott and Ian Orr will also be headlining at Clipper Race Kitchens which is expected to be one of the biggest events held during Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016, and is being supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) NI Agri Food programme, Tourism NI and the Loughs Agency through the Sustainable Development Fund.

The Mayor, Alderman Hilary McClintock, said she is hugely impressed by the stellar line-up secured for Clipper Race Kitchens including internationally renowned Jean-Christophe Novelli and a host of award-winning local chefs who are all household names and TV and radio stars in their own right.

Ald. McClintock said: “Council is to be applauded once again for organising what promises to be an absolutely superb showcase of our finest local food produce and culinary talent as part of the wider Foyle Maritime Festival programme.

“Festival-goers will be delighted at the calibre of the visiting and local celebrity chefs participating in the four-day event and we are particularly excited at the announcement that Jean-Christophe Novelli will be joining us for a series of live cookery demos in the Clipper Race Kitchen’s Theatre of Food on the afternoon of Friday, July 15th.”

Mary Blake, Council’s Tourism Development Officer and organiser of Clipper Race Kitchens, is hoping for record attendances, with an estimated 40,000 people expected to flock to the four-day culinary extravaganza on the Ebrington site.

She continued: “Clipper Race Kitchens is the biggest event in our Year of Food calendar as we showcase LegenDerry food and produce from across our Council district and beyond. This is an excellent opportunity to profile the city as a leading food destination with international appeal, particularly following our success last year as runner-up in Ireland’s Foodie Towns competition, and we expect Clipper Race Kitchens to create a huge buzz as part of the Foyle Maritime Festival.”

Jean-Christophe Novelli is a 5 out of 5 AA Rosette and Michelin award-winning chef, who began his career aged 14 as a baker in his home town of Arras, Northern France, before becoming the private Head Chef to Elie de Rothschild, of the French banking family, at the age of 19.

Jean-Christophe’s life changed completely when he arrived in Britain in 1983. He spent a year taking care of Keith Floyd’s pub,‘The Maltsters’, as Head Chef, whilst Keith was filming his famous TV shows. In 1996, Jean-Christophe opened four restaurants in London and now runs the Novelli Academy from his home in Hertfordshire, providing training for chefs and inspirational courses.

He has made numerous guest appearances on TV cookery shows including Saturday Kitchen, Chefs Academy and Hell’s Kitchen as well as on This Morning, Loose Women and Countryfile.

Clipper Race Kitchens will have three main food zones on Ebrington Plaza, including two huge festival marquees. In addition to the LegenDerry Boulevard of Chefs with 12 local restaurants cooking signature dishes priced from around £5, and Theatre of Food with live cookery demos and sampling in the Clipper Race Kitchen marquee, there will also be a Flavours of the Foyle showcase.

The Clipper Race Food Pavilion will showcase around 40 artisan producers selling their delicious wares, while the Clipper Race Village will be serving up the finest local street food from selected chefs/vendors out on the Plaza.
The family-friendly food event, which opens from 12 noon on July 14th-17th, will also have a kids zone with arts and crafts as well as water boats, jungle playground, cheroplanes and live music to keep everyone entertained.
For more details about the Foyle Maritime Festival programme, visit www.foylemaritimefestival.com

 Deanes EIPIC has just been voted the best restaurant in Northern Ireland by Restaurant Magazine UK.

The announcement was made at a gala event in London last night where Deanes EIPIC also became the only Northern Irish in the Top 100 in the United Kingdom.

Chefs Danni Barry & James Devine picked up the awards on behalf of Deanes Restaurants.

Michael Deane said “This is an outstanding achievement for a restaurant which opened just over two years ago. I am hugely proud of the team in Deanes EIPIC led by Chef Danni Barry and Restaurant Manager Bronagh Smith.”

Deanes EIPIC also picked up the title ‘Best Newcomer’ in Ireland at the Restaurant Association Ireland ceremony and was awarded a Michelin Star last November.

A FIFTH generation apple grower who is continuing his family’s tradition is taking the flavours of Armagh’s famous orchards to Europe following a major distribution deal announced today.

Greg MacNeice, who’s family planted their first apple orchard at Ardress in 1855, said the new deal will see Mac Ivors Traditional Dry and Medium ciders distributed throughout Italy.

Mr MacNeice, an Irish craft cider producer who already supplies cider into the Danish market, said the crisp, refreshing Mac Ivors ciders are becoming increasingly popular in cities and towns across Europe.

And, with America firmly in its sights for the summer, Mr MacNeice said a new generation of consumers are embracing great tasting ciders which are quality, full of character and full of heritage.

Announcing the distribution deal at the launch of latest cider, Mac Ivors Plum and Ginger, Mr MacNeice said: “I am delighted to announce we have struck a deal with a major distributor in Rome which will greatly expand our export sales in Europe.

“This is a very encouraging development for a County Armagh product securing its place in the international marketplace. The interest in Mac Ivors Traditional Dry and Medium Ciders is increasing because Europe is fast becoming a market for premium Irish ciders.

“Mac Ivors is committed to crafting high quality and great tasting cider and demand is showing a new generation of consumers in Europe and America who want to drink ciders which are of high quality and full of heritage.

“All of our ciders, including our latest cider, Plum and Ginger, are produced here at our orchards which date back to 1855. We currently employ six full time staff at our orchards at Ardress and we are hopeful the distributor deal will dramatically increase our sales in Europe which will lead to further job creation here in County Armagh.”

The family owned and managed company has won a series of national and international awards for its products including a gold medal and overall Champion Cider at the 2015 International Brewing Awards. In the past four years, Mac Ivors Cider Co has produced 420,000 litres which is just shy of one million bottles.

Describing the company’s latest innovative cider, Mr MacNeice said: “Mac Ivors Plum and Ginger cider is the outcome of our continued commitment to create deliciously different ciders to provide new taste experiences.
“We decided to pair plum and ginger with our refreshing apple cider. The plum provides a rounded, fruity flavour while the ginger adds a subtle amount of heat to the finish. The cider is rosé in colour with delicate bubbles which make it a perfect spring-summer tipple.

“We taste tested Mac Ivors Plum and Ginger at major industry festivals in Dublin and Belfast and we are immensely encouraged by the positive feedback from both male and female cider fans.
“We are very excited to be bringing the taste of Ireland’s orchard county to Irish bars and to bars which specialise in craft beers, ciders and spirits. We firmly believe Mac Ivors will tantalise the taste buds of this new generation of cider drinkers, not only here in Ireland, north and south, but across Europe and in America.”

Thousands of chocoholics and enthusiastic foodies from Northern Ireland and beyond are set to descend again this year on Killyleagh town centre to celebrate the 2016 Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival, 23rd – 25th September. Sponsored by artisan producer Finnebrogue, based in nearby Downpatrick and famous for their outstanding quality venison and sausages, among other favourites, this year’s festival will be the largest one yet, with over 15 chocolatiers and nearly 40 local artisan food producers scheduled to set up camp at the historic Killyleagh Castle for the weekend-long festival.

Founded in 2010 to celebrate Killyleagh’s most famous son, Hans Sloane, who was born in the village in 1660 and later became one of the most famous men of his time partially because of his development of milk chocolate, the biennial festival has grown from strength to strength and is now regarded as one of the leading events of its type in the UK and Ireland and a highlight of the summer calendar for locals in Killyleagh.

“Now in our 4th festival season, the committee is working tirelessly to ensure that this year’s Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival is the best one yet. With increased interest in our abundance of local produce and artisan suppliers with thanks to 2016’s Year of Food & Drink, our chocolate-themed festival stands as a unique event in this year’s events calendar,” said Meave Davison, festival committee member. “We look forward to welcoming guests coming from as close as Killyleagh and as far as mainland Europe who will share in this special festival.”

Joining the line-up of this year’s festival is Cancer Fund for Children, who have been confirmed as the beneficiary of this year’s fundraising activities. The leading local charity provides practical, emotional and financial support to children and young people affected by cancer and their families, and also offers therapeutic short breaks at Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, just a short drive from Killyleagh.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with this year’s Killyleagh Chocolate Festival,” said Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive of Cancer Fund for Children. “Beyond the essential medical care there is a family life that needs to be rebuilt. Our charity provides specialist services both at home and in the community, as well as therapeutic short breaks to families impacted by cancer. The children and families we support are at the heart of everything we do, and we are thrilled to be a part of such a family-friendly, wide-reaching event.”
The festival will kick off on Friday 23rd September with the Chocolate Ball which will take place on the grounds of the stunning Killyleagh Castle, one of Ireland’s longest-inhabited castles. Guests will be treated to a chocolate-rich menu prepared and curated by the Chef Simon Dougan of Yellow Door and Finnebrogue consultant development chef Chris Burt, followed by world class entertainment set in a stunning marquee against the backdrop of Killyleagh Castle.

The three-day celebration will continue on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th September with the Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival, where guests can enjoy the range of chocolatiers’ displays and market stalls, taste and purchase local artisan produce, and be entertained by the activities for the whole family, offering serious fun for all in 2016!

The Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival kindly acknowledges the support of Tourism Northern Ireland, Newry Mourne & Down District Council, and Food NI in the staging of this year’s event as well as the support of sponsors Bryan Somers Travel, Finlay Wealth Management, Jeep, Killyleagh Development Association, Mash Direct, Roskyle, and S.D. Bell’s.

Ticket prices vary, based on events running throughout the Festival. For further information on all events taking place and to book tickets visit www.hanssloane.com or https://www.ticketea.co.uk/tickets-the-hans-sloane-chocolate-festival/ or follow the Killyleagh Chocolate Festival on Twitter @KillyleaghChoc or facebook.com/KillyleaghChocFest.

The News Letter, Derry Journal and Morton Newspapers are delighted to be hosting their inaugural GrowMakeEatDrink Awards in celebration of NI Year of Food & Drink 2016. We want to acknowledge and honour Northern Ireland’s own thriving industry of locally made food & drink products and services, giving them the opportunity to be recognised for the valuable contribution they make from their base in Northern Ireland, to industry on the local, national and international stages.

Whether it’s made, produced or innovated in Northern Ireland, we are seeking to recognise the businesses that make this country such a great asset in the food & drink sector worldwide.

Closing Date is 1st July 2016

GrowMakeEatDrink Entry Form

 

Due to the success of the 2016 Sea Bangor BBQ Competition, The Stove Yard have decided to take the opportunity and hold another at this years Dalriada Festival in Glenarm on the 16th & 17th of July.

The same rules apply and the same fantastic prizes are up for grabs, that means you could be in for a chance to win a Large Big Green Egg worth over £1000 or a MiniMax Big Green Egg worth £550!

8 contestants or teams will be chosen to cook, grill, bake or smoke their way to the top spot and receive the prestigious title “Dalriada Festival Big Green Egg BBQ Champion”

Find out more information and the application form at https://www.thestoveyard.com/dalriada-festival