The LegenDerry Food Guide now available in over 1,500 bedrooms across the city and district. The guide promotes the use of local product and highlights local food provenance.

The new book, which was produced by Derry City Council and is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland, is a beautifully designed reference guide to the many top quality establishments scattered throughout the city, from cosmopolitan café cuisine to high end dining.

The Irish Food Heritage Project has been entered into the Arthur Guinness Projects -Food Section. Please see below details of why the Arthur Guinness projects fund has been set up.

If you could take 2minutes of your time to vote ,I would really appreciate it!

The Arthur Guinness Projects – Championing the talent and creativity of Ireland

The Arthur Guinness Projects exist to celebrate and reward the next chapter of Irish talent and creativity. We are looking for extraordinary people with innovative, inspiring, brilliant ideas, and the passion and drive to make them happen. So if you have a potential project in Music, Sport, Arts or Food that would benefit from financial and practical assistance, this is your chance to bring it to life.

Please take 1 minute to vote .click on the link below ,you will be asked to click on your Country and age before voting. Your support is greatly appreciated .If successful this help from Guinness will help drive the Irish Food Heritage Project much further, mutually beneficial across all sectors.

www.arthurguinnessprojects.com/food/irish-food-heritage-project

Irish Food Heritage Project  is a multifaceted award winning food heritage initiative which seeks to promote the North West as a cultural culinary tourism destination and drive inward investment into the Irish agri-food & tourism industry using a range of food heritage revival products/services, including: Guided tours, Education projects, Exhibition trailer, catering services, publication, app, TV programming and website..

Thanks again for your continued support.

Emmett McCourt

Irish Food Heritage Project

Local cereal and porridge brand White’s Oats of Tandragee has launched a healthy multi-seed porridge into Tesco to join its successful range of Toat’ly Oaty instant porridge. White’s Toat’ly Oaty with added Multi Seeds is a wholesome blend of oats and crunchy seeds providing even more nutritional benefits than regular porridge.

Containing wholegrain jumbo oats with a mix of flaxseed, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, Toat’ly Oaty with added Multi Seeds is packed with energy and health boosting nutrients such as protein, fibre, omega 3 and b vitamins.

Trying out the new porridge out are the mums of the Tribal Fitness Pramtastic class with their own little baby bears.

Danielle Mc Bride, Brand Manager of White’s Oats explained, ‘’This latest addition complements the existing Toat’ly Oaty porridge products by appealing to both the health conscious consumer and those leading busy, active lifestyles’’.   ‘’The complex carbohydrates and low GI properties of oats release energy slowly keeping energy levels topped up throughout the morning and helping the body stay fuller for longer thereby reducing the cravings to snack’’. ‘’This is great news for mums looking to get their post baby bodies back in shape or indeed anyone looking for a healthy, low fat and power packed breakfast to get their day started’’.

Steven Murphy, Buying Manager, Tesco NI said, “We are delighted to be launching Toat’ly Oaty with added Multi Seeds from White’s.  They are a superb example of the Taste Northern Ireland suppliers at Tesco – a Northern Irish company using locally grown oats and delivering an innovative product.  There’s nothing else like this on the market at the minute and we’re delighted to be offering it to Tesco consumers.”

White’s has also launched a new Extra Fine Oat Bran product, favoured by the health-conscious for its cholesterol-lowering properties. This is due to being high in soluble fibre- beta glucan which has been shown to help reduce cholesterol¹.  As well as being eaten as a porridge, Oat Bran can be sprinkled onto low fat yoghurts, salads and used in dressings and sauces.

For more info on home-grown and locally made produce at Tesco follow on www.facebook.com/tastenorthernireland

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated Tyrone’s Corick House Hotel and Spa on achieving four-star status under the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s Quality Grading Scheme.

The award for the Clogher hotel follows a major investment of £1.4million including £230,000 support from Invest Northern Ireland. A new extension has more than doubled the number of bedrooms and a new spa and leisure offering will also open later this year.

Speaking during a tour of the new facilities Arlene Foster said: “The investment at Corick House further enhances the accommodation and hospitality offering for visitors to County Tyrone and the Fermanagh Lakelands. The superb facilities and proximity to the many attractions of this wonderful area make for a perfect location and I commend the directors and management for their vision in taking Corick House to the next level of quality.”

The 17th century country house now has 43 bedrooms and luxurious suites, nine of which are decorated in period style and situated in the original Georgian building. The remaining rooms and suites are located in the new wing, finished to an exceptional standard with stunning views of the gardens, valleys and local countryside.

The hotel has also won several awards for its food offering and provides a secluded wedding venue and conference facilities for up to 400.

Caroline Adams, NITB Quality and Standards Manager said: “This is the first hotel in County Tyrone to achieve four-star status through NITB’s Quality Grading Scheme, which is designed to give visitors a clear idea of the standards of hospitality, service, cleanliness, comfort and food they can expect during their stay.

“Consumers very much value these star ratings and for providers it makes sound business sense for accommodation providers to become quality assured. I would encourage other hotels and guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering establishments in the area to follow Corick House’s example and lead.”

Avril Robson, Director at Corick House said: “It has taken a strong vision and a tremendous amount of work to get to this point, so we are delighted that our efforts have been recognised by the Tourism Minister and that we have been graded as the first four star hotel in Tyrone by the NITB.

“We believe this quality acknowledgement will give Corick House increased visibility, a sharper marketing edge and will appeal strongly to visitors to the area.”

We’re just bursting with pride here at Food NI. No fewer than 23 of our Producer Members have won Gold at the prestigious Great Taste Awards.

Hannan Meats of Moira – last year’s Great Taste Supreme Champion with Moyallan Guanciale has triumphed again. That Himalayan Salt Chamber has certainly earned its keep. Hannan’s entry of Salt Aged Rack of Glenarm Shorthorn beef gained 3 stars. In Great Taste Land, that means “Exquisite, Wow, Taste That!”

One judge said “It leaves me speechless.  It is absolutely a revelation” while another judge sat in silence, slowly savouring every last morsel of the beef before declaring it “incredible.  Buttery, melt in the mouth, full of long flavours and excellent fat”.

Also in the 3 star category were a number of other salt aged products; Euro Angus Cote De Boeuf, Euro Angus Fiorentina T-Bone,  Glenarm Shorthorn Fiorentina T-Bone, Euro Angus Sirloin, Seasoned Fiorentina T-Bone and Salt aged sirloin. A whopping 44 stars in total were awarded for 25 Hannan Meat products.

Also on the list of 3-star winners, it was double whammy for En Place Foods UK from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone  for its Sea Buckthorn Berry and Lime Jam a product which judges described as “an explosion of fabulous flavours” and Sea Salted Caramel with Fennel Pollen.  Four other condiments were also recognized. Well done, Jilly Dougan!

Bruce’s Hill Farm Shop took away four Gold Star; one for steak, two for sausages and one burger. Dale Farm impressed with their Dromona Butter, Cheddars and their Loseley Meadow range. Thompson Tea did the business again. Their new fruit blends like Turkish Apple went down a storm in a bone china teacup. Judges loved the Yellow Door’s Cumin and Coriander sausage roll and Beef Cheek Pie.

We all know how good Irwin’s Nutty Krust is. The judges appreciated it and three of their Rankin’s Selection breads too. MacIvor’s Dry Cider and McKee’s fish cakes were a hit as was the Heatherlea’s Brown Spelt Soda.  Mash Direct’s Mashed Potato and Bubble and Squeak Mash Pot went down well and Suki Tea took home four Stars.

Kettyle’s Dry-Aged Lamb Rack with Marrow Malt had them salivating.  Their Guinness Stincotta Ossobucco, Dry Cured Collar Bacon Steaks and Tomahawk steaks also hit home.

Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil 1 star, Glastry Farm 1 star for three ice-creams and 2 stars for Raspberry Sorbet

Forthill Farm took 3 for Pork Shoulder, Sausage and Fillet Steak. Two awards for newbies KookyCook Fresh Pesto and Basil Pesto. Three coffees and two teas from Bailies got gongs and Holmes Delicatessan Flakemeal Biscuits were universally liked.

Whites Oats won 11 awards (they liked their Steel Cut as much as their newer convenience packs) while the Armagh Cider Company got 3 and a new one for their Berry Cider. Linden’s got 5 for meat products including Lamb Shish and Rose Veal Sirloin.

The Good Food and Wine Company’s Marmalade with 24 Carat gold Leaf was a winner as were two of their juices.

We’re so proud of all our Producer Members. These really are the Food Oscars. By their own admission to win a Great Taste 1-star award is a great achievement, to win 2-stars means that many judges have been bowled over by the product, and to win a 3-star Great Taste award is comparable to a chef winning Michelin stars. It simply is seen in the world of fine food as a hallmark of taste, quality and excellence.

WELL DONE!