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

Comber Early Potatoes have recently gone on sale in local shops on time for the annual festival in the Co. Down town to celebrate one of Northern Ireland’s three EU Protected Geographic Indicator accredited food products. Sam Butler talked to Lewis Cunningham, managing director of Wilson’s Country of Craigavon, one of Ireland’s leading potato packers.

Leading Irish potato processor and packer Wilson’s Country has launched a unique four-strong range of convenience products for time pressed consumers seeking new taste experiences. The innovative range, launched under the Northern Ireland company’s established ‘You Say Potato’ brand, represents a significant diversification into convenience meals, among the most dynamic of food categories.

The company is a significant supplier of Comber Early potatoes and other locally sourced varieties to retailers across Northern Ireland.

Marketing initiatives implemented by Wilson’s Country are steadily changing the way consumers think of and buy the humble potato, our most traditional food. It’s an initiative, according to Lewis Cunningham, managing director of Wilson’s Country, that’s been shaped to offer shoppers, especially younger consumers, a tasty and nutritious alternative to pasta and rice. Greater success in the marketplace also benefits the network of farmers here supplying the company.

“Our objective is to continue with our strategy of sustainable growth through further development of existing markets and exploiting new opportunities for different products in what is a very challenging business environment,” he says. We are continually exploring opportunities to increase sales by attracting younger consumers in particular. They tend to be focused on convenience.

“Investment in new products, infrastructure and marketing initiatives has continued in 2015 and has led to the launch of the new prepared products we hope will result in further growth particularly in Great Britain. We believe the new range gives us unique products for this and other markets,” he adds.

“The new range is a response by us to the growing demand for convenience foods including meal accompaniments. What we have done is to use our longstanding expertise in potato processing to create four new dishes – two for consumers still preferring to use their oven and two for those seeking a quicker microwaveable option that doesn’t compromise on taste.

“We’ve developed flavours that should appeal to many consumers,” he explains. The company has also used focus groups to provide useful feedback. A steam cooking system has been introduced by us to retain the taste and texture of the potatoes.

The new range offers potatoes packs in a stand up pouch with a sturdy handle for convenience. The smaller packs, 400g and 650g, are easier to stand up in a fridge or cupboard and are geared for a meal for two people.

Based at Craigavon in county Armagh, the company has a successful track record in providing potato packs to foodservice and major retailers including Tesco, Asda, The Co-Op and Dunnes Stores. It is one of Northern Ireland’s best known food brands and has a longstanding commitment to new product development for key customers.

The new range is the latest development in the company’s drive to boost potato sales in Northern Ireland and also to expand its share of the market in the Republic of Ireland and especially to grow sales in Great Britain and further afield.

The prospects look good because market research has found that the new products are unique in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The new convenience dishes use only Irish potatoes from the company’s network of 25 farmers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and are steam cooked in the Armagh plant. Before processing and packaging. The range comprises two oven products and two that can be microwaved. They are:

Diced potatoes in a 360g foil tray which can be oven cooked in 15 minutes and is available in a garlic and herb flavour; and

Spicy wedges also in a 360g foil tray for cooking in an oven for 15 minutes. The products are steamed before processing.

The microwave products are designed to be cooked in around three and a half minutes and are supplied in 360g pouches. The two microwave pouches are available in garlic and herb and tomato and basil flavours.

The retail price of all four new products is £1.89. They have a shelf-life of six days. All four new products are gluten free and ideal for vegans. They are also free from additives.

Lewis Cunningham’s command of market data on potato sales, consumer requirements and developing dietary trends throughout Ireland is impressive. His finger is well and truly on the pulse of the market for what used to be a staple product in the daily diet of families throughout the island.

This comprehensive market knowledge has led to Wilson’s Country’s standing with retailers and consumers as among the most innovative food businesses in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. The business is headed by founder and chairman Angus Wilson.

Established in 1987, Wilson’s Country moved into new purpose-built premises in Craigavon in 2005, where it now employs around 80 people.

From 7th-14th October the week long celebration of seafood makes an exciting return! Seafood Week celebrates the amazing fish and seafood on offer in the UK, creating the perfect platform to encourage more people, to eat more fish, more often. Whether it’s promoting seafood in the home, at a café, restaurant, fish and chip shop, or at an event, our campaign will provide all sectors of the industry with the opportunity to get involved.

There is a suite of marketing materials and promotional ideas which will hopefully help you to get involved and generate increased sales of super tasty seafood. In this toolkit (Seafood Week FS April16 Print) you’ll find specific plans and ideas on how you can take part, including information on how to get hold of all the marketing materials you need to make the most of the week – from a local media press release template, written and ready to be sent, to social media ideas, downloadable logos, posters and bunting.

Below is some information to get you started!

My Seafood Week:

To help promote and share what you are doing for Seafood Week click here and login. You will then be able to update your promotions for the week.

Seafood Week Toolkit:

To download and access all co-lateral and resources to help promote this event in your organisation just click here.

Ideas for your business:

For some information on how to get started just click through here.

If you have any questions or require any additional information please email seafoodweek@seafish.co.uk.

 

Derry City and Strabane District Council is set to host its biggest ever culinary showcase during Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 with the Clipper Race Kitchens promising to cook up a storm in Ebrington Plaza from July 14th-17th.

The four-day flagship family-friendly event taking place as part of the Foyle Maritime Festival programme, is expected to be the second biggest food festival in Northern Ireland this year after the Balmoral Show, attracting an estimated 40,000 visitors to the city.

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Alderman Hilary McClintock said she’s hugely excited that Clipper Race Kitchens will comprise three exciting food zones showcasing the wealth of delicious home-grown local produce on offer in the north west.

Ald. McClintock continued: “Festival-goers who love fantastic local food that is grown here not flown here, will be totally spoiled for choice at Ebrington where we will have two large marquees housing the Clipper Race Kitchen – incorporating the Flavours of the Foyle Seafood Showcase – and the Clipper Race Food Pavilion, as well as the Clipper Race Food Village, all on the plaza just across from the Peace Bridge.”

The Mayor said she’s delighted that the Clipper Race Kitchen will feature the LegenDerry Boulevard of Chefs where chefs from 12 restaurants across the north west will be serving up signature dishes that you can try and buy for around £5.

The Clipper Race Kitchen marquee will be a hive of foodie activity as some of Ireland’s best known celebrity chefs work their culinary magic in the popular Theatre of Food live cookery demonstrations. They’ll be whipping up creative mouth-watering meals using the finest and freshest local ingredients, with everyone getting a bird’s eye view of the sizzling action thanks to the big screens.

And if all that is not enough to whet your appetite and to tickle and tantalise your taste buds, the festival marquee will also incorporate a special Flavours of the Foyle seafood and shellfish showcase featuring Mourne Seafood Bar, Donegal Prime Fish (Skeoge, Derry), fish filleting as well as a Seafood BBQ.

The adjoining second festival marquee will be the Clipper Race Food Pavilion where 40 artisan food producers will be demonstrating and selling a wide range of tasty local produce including award-winning cheese and chutneys, ice-cream and patisserie, including a showcase of ‘Slow Food’ such as Broighter Gold oil and slow cooked breads.

The third zone will be the Clipper Race Food Village where high quality street food which has really taken off here in a big way – exemplified by Derry’s own award-winning Pyke ‘n’ Pommes – will offer the very best dishes from vendors across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland using locally sourced ingredients.

In addition, the four-day festival celebrating all things food related – and which is free to access – will comprise lots of interactive and ‘hands on’ opportunities throughout all zones including fish filleting, cookery demos and talks, sampling and tasting opportunities.

As always there will be a wide range of family-friendly animation guaranteed to entertain little gourmands, including comedy chefs, walkabout fish, talking vegetables and a culinary themed kids zone with arts and crafts as well as kids water boats, jungle playground, cheroplanes and live music, all on the Ebrington site.

Mary Blake, Council’s Tourism Development Officer, said excitement is already building ahead of Clipper Race Kitchens which will be open to the public on Thursday, July 14th, Friday, July 15th, Saturday, July 16th, and Sunday, July 17th, from 12 noon-6pm.

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 food destination with international appeal, particularly following our success last year as runner-up in Ireland’s Foodie Towns competition, and we have some really exciting celebrity chefs lined up for the event which will create a huge buzz for the city.”

Citing the numerous industry awards bestowed on local restaurants, chefs and Council itself over the past year, Council’s Tourism Officer said: “It is not just us saying it. Our LegenDerry Food Festival was runner-up in the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards 2015 and won the Chartered Institute of Marketing Awards 2015.

“We had another 38,000 visitors at the LegenDerry Food Festival in March this year and almost 15,000 people attended the Big Cheese & Beer Expo in April. We are hoping that Clipper Race Kitchens as part of our Foyle Maritime Festival will beat all records.”

For further information on Clipper Race Kitchens, visit www.foylemaritimefestival.com