LegenDerry Food Festival finalist in Business Awards

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The LegenDerry Food Festival has been nominated under Best Tourism Initiative in the Bank of Ireland Derry Business Awards, after attracting a staggering 36,000 visitors in its very first year.

 

Throughout the festival visitors flocked to the immense marquis which filled the Guildhall Square with mouthwatering aromas over the St Patrick’s weekend to enjoy some of the finest local cuisine rustled up by the city’s top chefs. They were joined by TV favourites Rachel Allen and Neven Maguire, and a whole host of local food producers for a three day celebration of all things delicious.

 

The event was organized by Derry City Council, and Festival Organiser Mary Blake said she was delighted that the event has been recognized through this nomination by the Chamber.

 

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted and to be finalists in this award, we are also thrilled to see World Host win the event as we move towards World Host city status. ” she said “The LegenDerry Food Fest sets out to support our restaurant sector in the city and to recognize the excellent range of produce available locally to us. We have such a wealth of high quality food stuffs on offer and are fast developing a reputation as a food tourism destination of note, and securing positive recommendations from food critics in the national press.

 

“Our chefs and restaurants are enhancing the profile of the city and winning national recognition. This award recognizes the importance of collaborating with the private sector in developing high quality events for visitors and locals alike.”

 

The LegenDerry Food Festival showcased the cuisine of 14 of the best local restaurants from the region, all promoting the LegenDerry brand and supporting local food producers.  The programme highlighted the importance of the local food chain and was supported by key funders the DARD Agri Food programme, City of Culture, Derry City Council and delivered with support from Food NI the National Food Agency.

 

As well as all the kitchen action and the delicious array of dishes available in the Festival Marquee, the event included celebrity chef demonstrations by RTE’s Brian McDermott and Neven Maguire, and BBC favourites Rachel Allen and Paula McIntyre.

 

Food fans also got to sample some local delicacies at the Lough’s Agency Oyster Bar as well as learn more about the native flatbed Oyster. The LegenDerry Food Hall in the Guildhall featured over 20 exhibitors selling everything from locally made chocolate and patisserie, to cheese-making kits and ice cream.

 

Pictured at the awards in the City Hotel Derry are Left to Right Louise Millsopp DARD NI Regional Agri Food Programme, Brian McDermott Celebrity Chef and compere, Mary Blake, Tourism Manager and Event Organiser Derry City Council and Annmarie Moore the Northwest Regional College.

The Old Schoolhouse Inn scoops prestigious ‘Grub Club’ Award and announces new Fine Dining Restaurant

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The Old Schoolhouse Inn in Comber, run by 27 year old chef Will Brown, has won the prestigious “Grub Club Restaurant of The Year 2013/14 Award”, confirming it’s position as one of the best restaurants in Ireland.

Established over 30 years ago, the Grub Club is an exclusive private dining club, which scours the whole of Northern Ireland to find the very best restaurants that the region has to offer. With strict criteria to select its winner based on the excellent calibre, integrity and innovation of its entire food, beverage and service offering, the Grub Club celebrates culinary excellence at its best. Past winners have included Deane’s, Shanks and Roscoff.

The award win comes at an exciting time for the Old Schoolhouse Inn as this week chef Will Brown confirmed plans for a new ‘fine dining’ restaurant on site, which is set to open in the spring. The 30-seater restaurant, which will be known as Will Brown at The Schoolhouse, will introduce a whole new food offering, with a stunning menu of new dishes, fine wines and cheeses served at the high standard that the restaurant is currently well known for.

The existing restaurant will become The Schoolhouse Bistro and will continue to serve local classic dishes as well as the popular five-course tasting menu. Plans also include a new kitchen and a polytunnel where the majority of fresh ingredients will be grown. Will commented,

“Winning the ‘Grub Club Restaurant of The Year’ Award is a real honour – I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at The Old Schoolhouse Inn and am delighted that the hard work we put into our food is being recognised.

Off the back of this award, there’s no better time for us to announce the launch of our new fine dining restaurant – Will Brown at The Schoolhouse – which will open in March. We will continue to offer customers the same local classics along with the popular tasting menu in the main restaurant  – which will be renamed The Schoolhouse Bistro  – however the new fine dining restaurant will give us the opportunity to show what we are really capable of in terms of technicality and flair, which should appeal to both our current customers and hopefully some new ones too.

At The Schoolhouse Bistro we will be serving an even wider range of great dishes but at local prices – from burgers and salads through to favourites like Strangford lough mussels and beef bourguignon.  The Bistro signature dish is one that I hope everyone will want to try – a lobster hotdog!”

Will Brown took over The Old Schoolhouse Inn in 2012 and in that time has succeeded in firmly placing it on the culinary map having received several accolades to date; the restaurant has been named as one of the top 100 restaurant in Ireland, Will has been named one of the top 10 chefs in Ireland and he has also been tabbed as one to watch by culinary guide, Bridgestone. Will’s success has also extended to television thanks to him taking in part in Great British Menu 2013 where he reached the final heat in London and was nominated as one of Northern Ireland’s top three chefs.

The Old Schoolhouse Inn is Will Brown’s first restaurant, bringing together 10 years of experience in London and Ireland. He started his cooking career at the tender age of 17 when he joined the team at Marco Pierre White’s Mirabelle, since then he has trained at a myriad of Michelin starred restaurants within the UK and Ireland including The Square, Mayfair, Gordon Ramsey’s Maze, The Glasshouse for Bruce Poole and Roscoff for Paul Rankin. Head Chef, Will Brown uses the best of Ulster’s produce to create simple yet accomplished dishes which reflect their Irish heritage.

www.theoldschoolhouseinn.com

Festival of Flight

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We are delighted to announce that FoodNI are linking up with Down Council to create a food village for the Festival of Flight.

This event will take place on from Friday 8 August to Sunday 10 August 2014 in Newcastle, County Down.

During last year’s Festival of Flight, 125,000 people attended the event and all food stalls sold out of product. There will be numerous County Down food suppliers at the village this year.  This guarantees to be a great family event which many food stalls including a range of products for both adults and children.

Chef Apprentice Programme Launch

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The search is on at James Street South for eight Apprentices, aged between 16 and 24 who have the drive and enthusiasm to develop their skills and learn everything they can from some of the best chefs in Northern Ireland during the year-long placement.

The Apprentice Program will last for 12 months of which 9 will be centered on a planned program of college work with a 3 month mentoring and support to gain employment. On completion you will have completed the NVQ level 2 in Food Preparation and will have completed any essential skills work, which may be required. In addition to this you will have worked with the kitchen team at James Street South. As part of the Programme you will for no more than 40 hours per week.

As an Apprentice you will be based in James Street South Restaurant and you will attend college 2 days per week in order to learn and practice the skills required to support your progress. The college days will be spent with the Department of Hospitality and Catering at Belfast Metropolitan College in Titanic.

Assessments will be conducted at Belfast Metropolitan College by skilled tutors and the Apprentice Program will follow the traditional NVQ agenda ensuring that you receive classic tutoring.

Support

In addition to the tutoring you will receive training and development through weekly workshops in their Cookery School and also regular activities will be arranged so that you get a greater appreciation of food planting, management and manufacturing. The activities will be scheduled and will include meeting the producers and also the supply chain. Through this program it is hoped to equip the apprentices with skills for their future as a chef as well as equip them with great organizational and interpersonal skills for their ongoing careers.

 

On Completion

On completion of the Apprentice Program you will be equipped with the skills to get a job in hospitality and catering and the program will support you in finding full time employment. One Apprentice will get the opportunity for a Commis Chef position in James Street South Restaurant.

 

How to apply?

To apply for a space on the Apprentice Programme you will need to complete the application form. You can obtain a copy of this form from The Belfast Met, your school or directly from:

 

Contact: Geoff Kemps, Business Manager

Telephone: 028 9560 0701

To download the brochure or application form, please visit http://www.jamesstreetsouth.co.uk/Apprenticeship

Email: apprentice@jamesstreetsouth.co.uk

Address: 21 James Street South, Belfast BT2 7GA

Launch of Sloane 350 Chocolate & Fine Food Festival

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Sloane 350 are proud to announce the launch of their 3rd biennial Chocolate and Fine Food Festival which will take place on Monday 16th June at 4.30pm at Killyleagh Castle.  Gawn Rowan-Hamilton, Killyleagh Castle will be officiating with our Chairman Prof Bob Elwood QUB and Sir Hans Sloane aka local historian Clive Scoular. They will welcome our festival sponsors, exhibitors and unveil this year’s festival programme with Maeve Davison, Festival Organiser, and the Sloane 350 Committee.  But why celebrate Sloane why in Killyleagh, why with Chocolate and why with such style?

Hans Sloane was born in Killyleagh on 16th April 1660, was educated at Killyleagh Castle and went on to become a huge figure of his time. He was both physician and scientist and held the very top positions in each area. He had enormous influence, considerable wealth and a passion for collecting all sorts of objects to make sense of the world. In short he had his own vast museum, which on his death was passed to the nation and became the British Museum. He had the idea of using chocolate (then only a drink) for medicinal use but found it too bitter and nauseous so he created a recipe with milk and sugar. That recipe was subsequently used by the Cadbury Brothers. He is remembered in Chelsea, which he owned, with Sloane Square and several streets bear his name and his bust is the first item on display at the entrance to the British Museum and also the foyer of the British Library. His name, of course, is now used in fun to describe the wealthy Chelsea set. Our nominated charity for this year’s festival is the Cancer Fund for Children and we are delighted to be able to support this leading children’s charity.

We will also be launching our Hans Sloane VIP (Visit be Inspired, Participate) Art Competition and the judges Alan Beers, Deepa Mann-Kler and Leo Casement will launch this innovative art competition with children from local secondary schools and the competition sponsors Simplicity Group and EE.

Join us and prepare for some serious fun @  www.hanssloane.com

Prof Bob Elwood QUB Chairman Sloane 350 e-mail:- R.Elwood@qub.ac.uk

Ann Fee, Sloane 350 Press Officer e-mail:- ann_fee@hotmail.com

Photographs by Alex Marr

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Fuelled by Success! Local Food Ambassadors Recognised!

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Many congratulations to our FoodNI Board Member Howard Hastings who was awarded an OBE for his Services to Tourism and Hospitality in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Congratulations must also be extended to Jenny Bristow, Northern Ireland chef and broadcaster who has also been awarded a British Empire Medal.

As Platinum Sponsors of the World Police and Fire Games, Food NI would also like to congratulate Judith Gillespie and John Tully, were awarded OBE’s.

We would also like to congratulate Bill Wolsey who was awarded an OBE for his services to Northern Ireland’s Business and Hospitality industry. These awards mark the excellent achievements and the services of extraordinary people across the UK.