Seeing stars! White’s Oats, Northern Ireland’s only oat cereal producer is celebrating after being awarded an impressive nine Gold Stars for its range of oat based cereal products at this year’s Great Taste Awards. For the seventh consecutive year, White’s dedication, passion and expertise in growing and milling the best quality oats has been recognised by the Guild of Fine Food, the authoritative, Independent Standard for Britain’s Fine Foods Sector. Pictured amongst the golden fields of Tandragee just ahead of this year’s final harvest is Beatrice Agnew aged 4 from Hamiltons Bawn, Armagh.

White’s tastes success with 9 Gold Stars at 2014 Great Taste Awards

Local oat miller and cereal brand White’s Oats has once again enjoyed the sweet taste of success at this year’s Great Taste Awards taking home nine Gold Stars for its range of quality oat based cereal products.

The White’s ‘Great Taste’ Hall of Fame now boasts a grand total 41 Gold Stars – an incredible achievement for Northern Ireland’s only oat cereal processor.

Commenting on their success, Danielle McBride, Brand Manager of White’s Oats said: ‘’We are delighted that our cereals have once again been so highly received at this year’s prestigious Great Taste Awards. While we now hold over 40 Great Taste Gold Stars, the true stars are our loyal consumers whose love for White’s drives the passion and dedication we have for our business and our products.

Topping the pack at White’s this year was Toat’ly Oaty with added Multi Seed and Irish Oatmeal Steel Cut Oats which both received a double seal of appeal at this year’s Great Taste Awards each picking up two Gold Stars.

The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food, the authoritative, Independent Standard for Britain’s Fine Foods Sector awarding commitment to truly great tasting quality artisan products. It has been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food world and the ‘epicurean equivalent of the Booker prize’.

From food to fashion to film; celebrated flamenco, Bolshoi Ballet exhibitions, to uproarious comedy and the best of European theatre, Belfast is looking forward to raising the curtain on one of its busiest festival seasons ever.

Over 400 shows, events and exhibitions will be hosted in the Titanic City from mid-September to November, kicking off in the Cathedral Quarter with Belfast Culture Night on the 19th of September and culminating with the CS Lewis Festival in East Belfast on the 23rd of November.

Within 2 hours travelling time, and rail and accommodation packages from as little as £75, Belfast’s Festival Season will be enticing audiences from Dublin and beyond to make the journey north this autumn.

Anne McMullan of Visit Belfast says “Belfast’s cultural offering has never been stronger as we welcome international acts to join some of our best local talent in entertaining audiences across the city’s venues and attractions.”

“Visitors are constantly looking out for new experiences to make the most of their days and nights away and this year’s Belfast Festival season won’t disappoint with a 2 month programme full of food, fun, culture, arts and entertainment. One particularly unique event will be the Bolshoi Costume Exhibition at the Crumlin Road Gaol where some of the costumes will have never been seen outside Russia. ”

Featuring Europe’s top theatre directors and internationally acclaimed artists in dance, film, theatre and music, Belfast’s flagship festival, the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s will showcase a world class line-up of 110 events with 26 premieres from 18 countries filling venues all over Belfast from 16th October – 1st November.

Director of the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, Richard Wakely added, “For over 50 years the Festival has been delivering new experiences to audiences from all over Ireland and bringing new audiences into contact with the arts. We strive to spark debate, showcase diversity in its broadest sense and demonstrate that the arts can entertain, delight, inspire and transform. I am confident that the programme for 2014 does all this and more and we’re delighted to offer opportunities to our friends in the Republic of Ireland to visit Belfast to see European
Autumn is traditionally a great time for a city break in Northern Ireland with plenty to appeal to the culturally and Irish premieres with these great value offers in association with Translink and Hastings Hotels.”
curious says Clare McCoy of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board: “Belfast’s venues such as the Lyric, Grand Opera House, Waterfront Hall, and Odyssey play great hosts to some of the best acts in the World, and with World-class restaurants, golf courses and coastal scenery on the city’s doorstep there’s plenty to see both day and night.”

We all know September can be a solemn month; end of summer, kids back to school, cold, dark nights start creeping in, so join us and celebrate surviving September on the last Friday, the 26th September, at our renowned Wine Dinner!

Champagne and canapes on arrival, 6 delicious courses accompanied by perfectly selected wines and live music in our champagne lounge with Ruth Mc Phillips after dinner.
Just £65 per person.

For more information visit http://brownsrestaurant.com/wine-dinner-series/

The Good Food Guide, published by Waitrose, has today announced two new entries from Northern Ireland in the 2015 edition of the Guide, which is published on 8th September. The Guide reflects the high standard of dining in Northern Ireland with a total of 18 restaurants, pubs and cafés from across the region included in the UK’s bestselling restaurant guide.
The two new entries that have achieved a spot in Waitrose Good Food Guide 2015 are Hadskis in Belfast and The Eagle at Galgorm in Galgorm.
Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor of the Waitrose Good Food Guide commented: ‘Congratulations to the new entries from Northern Ireland in the Good Food Guide 2015. Particular acknowledgement goes to Niall McKenna of James Street South, who not only won the Readers’ Restaurant of the Year Award for Northern Ireland this year, but also opened the fantastic new Hadskis in Belfast . Along with the likes of OX, and Michael Deane’s revamped flagship, there’s a real buzz in Belfast and an ever-more-exciting food scene in Northern Ireland.’

Walled City Market, in Derry’s City Centre, hosted the formal launch of a new mobile cookery demonstration theatre and roadshow with Irish Food Heritage Chef, Emmet Mc Court.
The Cookery Road Show is a new initiative funded by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development NI Regional Food Programme, Derry City Council and facilitated by the Old Library Trust. It introduces a new dimension to Irish Food Heritage Project led by Emmet McCourt and brings together live food demonstrations and local indigenous food suppliers.
Speaking at the launch event Emmett welcomed the opportunity to share his passion and knowledge and explained how this new development advances his ambition to breathe new life into traditional recipes.
“It is my ambition to share my passion with as many people as possible through the Cookery Road Show. Through sourcing local artisan produce to make these classical Irish dishes, I also hope to support local business and create a new live cooking experience. I hope it will inspire many to take a new perspective with the many amazing untold stories of local food and its connection to our unique social history”.
The road show adds a new dimension to the Irish Food Heritage Project. The Mobile Cookery Demonstration Theatre & Roadshow is a fully fitted mobile demonstration kitchen that will tour the various markets, fairs and food events throughout Ireland.
Mayor, Cllr Brenda Stevenson, who attended the launch said:
“This innovate resource provides an exciting platform for the promotion of local food and food producers. It will support the animation of Ireland’s Food Heritage story through interactive demonstrations and provide a new experience for community and heritage audiences. I believe it will energise a new generation of food lovers by bringing together classical menus with the unique taste of their home grown produce”.
Louise Millsopp, Head of Supply Chain Development Branch (DARD) also commenting on the initiative said:
“This unique project offers a window into the past to gain a wider understanding of the culinary history of regional Irish food which can provide competitive advantage in the marketplace. I would like to wish the Irish Food Heritage Project every success in their adoption of this new approach to conveying factual information about quality regional food and food heritage through the use of the mobile cookery demonstration theatre”.
Emmett cooked up a storm in Guildhall Square in the afternoon at the Walled City Market. He included dishes such as Pigs Trotters & Stout, Corned Beef Cabbage & Boxty. He was joined in the Road Show by local suppliers Glens of Antrim Potatoes, Glebe Wagyu Beef, Donnybrewer Hand Crafted Butter and Broightergold Rapeseed Oil.
More details on how to book the Cookery Demonstration Theatre & Road Show is available by visiting www.feastorfamine.ie