Good morning,

For more information click http://www.shakeupyourwakeup.com/breakfastawards

It is a national award so we want Northern Ireland to be well represented, we’re fully behind our members so we can help by encouraging the general public and industry to get voting.

It’s free to enter, so there is no excuse.

A big congratulations to Colin McKee- farmers weekly food farmer of the year 2013!

When Colin McKee opened the doors to McKee’s Country Store and Restaurant in 2005, the town of Newtownards in Northern Ireland was a local food desert.

No one for miles was doing what he was doing, which meant there was no blueprint, no local success stories to glean ideas from and no guarantee that customers would come.

But customers did come. In fact, so many came that when Colin and his wife Linda first opened the farm shop and 60-seater restaurant, capacity was instantly too small to cope with demand.

“We couldn’t believe the success of the restaurant,” says Colin. “There were queues every day and people would have to leave because they realised they would never get in.”

Responding to the overwhelming demand, the McKees opened an expanded farm shop and restaurant in 2007 and the business has been growing year on year ever since.

“Home-grown beef and chickens, a busy production kitchen and thriving deli, combined with a strong vision and close attention to detail, make this business a winner.”

Sally Jackson

Chairman, Farm and Retail Markets Association

It took bags of leadership and vision, several calculated risks, some gutsy investments and an unerring confidence in his home-reared meat to build McKee’s into the £3m-turnover business it is today, but it’s easy to see why customers keep coming back.

In the restaurant, customers can eat fresh, home-cooked, locally-sourced food while they take in stunning views of the Craigantlet hills. In the shop, a vast butchery counter displays beef and free-range chickens reared on-site. And the deli counter was described by our independent judge as a “masterclass in added value”. A colourful display of local vegetables is supplied by farmers in nearby Comber – less than a 10-mile drive from McKee’s. Freezers and cold cabinets complete the local food offering, with butter, milk, cheese and ice cream from a range of Northern Ireland farms, dairies and creameries.

Professionalism runs throughout the business – from the in-store graphics that tell the story of the family farm’s 91-year history, to the organisation of staffing. By appointing general managers in each section, Colin has been able to hand over much of the day-to-day running of the business, giving him more time to focus on driving it forward.

This has helped McKee’s record an impressive growth rate of more than 7% in 2012. In the longer term Colin is aiming for a more sustainable annual growth rate of 3.5%, and there is a clear business plan in place to achieve that. The McKees have already got planning permission for an extension to the restaurant and an improved entrance to the building. They’re also hoping to grow the number of orders through their online shop and expand their relatively new catering operation.

One of the biggest testaments to the success of McKee’s is the opening of new farm shops in the area – all hoping to emulate its success. Newtownards is no longer a local food desert, which goes to prove that Colin is a true local food pioneer.

HADSKIS

Hadskis is open! A new dining experience has opened at the heart of the Cathedral Quarter situated in Commercial Court. We look forward to welcoming you, why not visit our website to view the menu, make an online reservation or even better pop in and sample some of delicious dishes. See you soon. The Team

hadskis.co.uk

Harnett’s Oils is a Co Down food business that grow oilseeds, cold-press the seeds to produce an oil which is then filtered to produce an extra-virgin oil. The oils are then bottled and hand labelled. The entire process from planting through to the final product is processed on the home farm; The Waring Estate.  The business is proud of the fact that the oil that they sell is produced all on the farm and specialises in knowing the exact fields that the oil is grown on.

Harnett’s Oils a member of Good Food Ireland and Food NI (Taste of Ulster)  where pleased to be a finalist for Blas na hÉireann (National Irish Food Awards) in Dingle, Co Kerry and as such went down to Dingle Food Festival for the awards ceremony last weekend.  The National Irish Food Awards had over 2000 products entered this year and this had been dwindled down to the final 250 products.

On Saturday 5 October Harnett’s Oils received a bronze award for Harnett’s Rapeseed Oil; a great accolade for the business.  This was exceeded further with the results of the National awards with all the businesses entered.  Harnett’s Oils went on to win AIB Business Diversification 2013 and in all Ireland Harnett’s Oils accepted the award for the coveted, ‘Best in Farmer’s Markets 2013’.

It was success all round with Jane Harnett commenting, “I am completely overwhelmed and so happy to see that what we do is being recognised.  Thank-you to the judges and the Blas na hÉireann team and of course everyone who have supported Harnett’s Oils over the years. ”

It is possible to purchase these oils in local delis, butchers and garden centres, all year round at St Georges Market on a Saturday or online at www.harnettoils.com and www.goodfoodireland.ie

A big congratulations to Harnett’s Oils!

 Competition in Pesto Making at Giants Causeway,

Qualify for the World Championship 

Thursday 24 October we have the first ever Northern Irish qualifying heat for the World Championship in Pesto making.

To participate, contact sarah@nigoodfood.com  or phone 028 90 249 449 by Friday 19 October.

To watch the competition, just turn up at the Causeway Centre before 8pm.

The winner will receive free travel and hotel to participate in the World Championship in Pesto making at the spectacular Palazzo Ducale in Genoa in March 2014.

As the competitors struggle to make the best pesto ever, Innova Irish Dance Company will give one of their fantastic performances, a heady mix of modern music and spectacular Irish dance.

Our Italian judges, who fly in from Genoa just for this event, will provide free samples of  pesto and give us a short demonstration of how to make the delicious sauce.

As the actual judging takes place, the famous harpist Maria McGowan will help settle the nerves with her beautiful music.

The doors open at 7.30, to secure a place in the audience and a free tasting, be early!

For more info check… www.pestochampionship.it/en/component/eventlist/details/153-Giant%27s%20causeway-%20la%20prima%20volta%20in%20Irlanda%20del%20Nord!.html

www.pestochampionship.it

Hastings Hotels are a proud sponsor of this event!

Twenty-two year old Belfast girl, Anna Carling, has won the highly coveted James Street South Bar and Grill cooking competition, an innovative culinary initiative  to celebrate the upcoming Belfast Restaurant Week which takes place this Saturday  5th until 12th October. Anna will now see her recipe feature as a ‘Restaurant Week Special’ on the menu.

After scrutinising a number of entries, the impressive judging panel compromising of Niall McKenna, Head Chef and owner of James Street, renowned food critic Joris Minne, well-loved chef and BBC radio personality Paula McIntyre and influential food blogger John Ferris, decided the culinary masterpiece of rhubarb compote, jelly and sorbet with a pistachio sponge should take pride of place on Restaurant Week’s menu.

Speaking about the award winning dish, Niall McKenna said, “Anna’s dish really is fantastic. The judges and I loved the use of fresh local seasonal produce. Anna has brought a fantastic range of flavors together for this mouth-watering recipe. It really compliments our menu at the Bar + Grill and we look forward to serving it up as a Special during Belfast Restaurant Week.”

“We would also like to thank and congratulate all other competition entrants. The standard of recipe entries was exceptionally high which made the decision a difficult one. Many of the entries displayed a fantastic use of local produce, using fresh fish from our own shores, local meat and home grown vegetables. I really believe the high caliber of entries reflects the quality of Northern Irish cuisine and the passion that local people have for fresh food.”

“I am really looking forward to welcoming Anna and her friends to the cookery school master class and hope she enjoys spending their vouchers in Le Creuset.”

On winning this prestigious competition Lisburn Road resident Anna said “I am absolutely delighted to have won this competition. I always fancied myself as a bit of an amateur chef. I love cooking and am really passionate about fresh food. I love experimenting in the kitchen and coming up with new and interesting recipes. It is such an honor to have my recipe rated by the highly esteemed judging panel. I can’t wait for my master class with Niall – it is a dream come true to cook with one of Northern Ireland’s most respected chefs.”

For more information about Belfast Restaurant Week please visit:  www.visit-belfast.com/food