It would seem that Leona and Richard Kane have the Midas touch. What was once a milking parlour on their farm at the foot of Binevenagh was launched on Tuesday 5 February as the second ÉCONOMUSÉE in the UK.

The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) approached Broighter Gold in January 2012 and were immediately convinced that this rural family business ticked all the right boxes to be considered as the next ÉCONOMUSÉE in the region.

CCGHT Project Officer, Tiérna McAlister commented: ‘An ÉCONOMUSÉE is a working museum that sees the combination of sustainability, culture, craft and tourism and in turn offers an economic platform for local craft artisans such as Broighter Gold.   The interpretation inside the workshop will enhance the overall visitor experience and enable visitors to follow every step of the process of turning rapeseed into liquid gold. We are delighted to lead on such an innovative and creative tourism initiative and hope to encourage and promote more sustainable tourism experiences in the Causeway Coast and Glens area’.

Magne Haugseng, Project Manager, ÉCONOMUSÉE Northern Europe commented: ÉCONOMUSÉE is a concept developed in Québec, Canada.  The mission of the ÉCONOMUSÉE network is to promote and keep alive traditional crafts and knowledge, whilst ensuring economic growth within rural communities.  The project consists of partners in eight countries; Quebec, Greenland. Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden, Republic of Ireland and here in Northern Ireland.  The aim is to create 22 new ÉCONOMUSÉE and around 20 new jobs, taking the number of ÉCONOMUSÉE to around 40 in Europe.  The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust has been an enthusiastic partner from the very beginning. It is a pleasure to work with them and on behalf of the ÉCONOMUSÉE Network I wish Broighter Gold ÉCONOMUSÉE every success in the future.

Bill Harpur, Chairman of the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust commented: We have been honoured to work with Leona and Richard on establishing their small farm enterprise as an ÉCONOMUSÉE and we wish them every success in the future with their award winning Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil and also with their artisan museum.’

The Mayor of Limavady Borough Council, Cllr Cathal McLaughlin added: ‘Limavady Borough Council is delighted to be associated with this project and we welcome visitors to enjoy the experience and the hospitality offered in the Broighter Gold ÉCONOMUSÉE workshop.

2013 is an important year for the Derry ~ Londonderry City of Culture and Broglasco Farm is perfectly situated at the gateway to Derry and on the Causeway Coastal Route.’

More than 60 delegates attended the launch despite the wintry conditions including the Chief Executive of Limavady Borough Council Liam Flanigan, Micheal Scullion proprietor of Scullion Hurls, Loughgiel, Julie McLaughlin NITB, Chairperson of Moyle District Council Cllr Sandra Hunter, Robin Bolton CAFRE’s Senior Crops Development Adviser, Chairman of Binevenagh AONB Management Group Mike Jones, local restaurateurs and students from North West Regional College along with many more guests.

Leona commented: ‘We owe a great deal of gratitude to our friends and family for helping us to achieve this status and especially for helping us to get the workshop ready for today’s launch.

Huge thanks must go to the ÉCONOMUSÉE network, the Northern Periphery Programme Limavady Borough Council, NITB and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.

Thanks to a new approach on traditional favourites, Irwin’s Bakery has been named as Tesco Outstanding Supplier of the Month.  The award, which is part of the ongoing Tesco Taste NI campaign to celebrate local food & drink producers, is in recognition of the Portadown bakery’s launch of a unique new Bread Table concept in 11 Tesco stores.  The huge flour-topped crusty Belfast Baps have been an immediate best-seller.  Stefan Szymura of Irwin’s collected his trophy from Sandra Weir, Tesco NI Buying Manager, and the company will also receive free advertising and in-store marketing to celebrate their success with local shoppers.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching; the search for the perfect gift has begun. Why not let Mash Direct take the stress out of Valentine’s Day with our competition to win a romantic meal for two.

We are offering four lucky couples the chance to win a romantic meal for two. All you have to do is tell us in 100 words or less why you should win a night out for you and your significant other.

If you fancy a night in and don’t want to worry about the chopping, peeling and of course the washing up, you can use our steamy (well…steam cooked) range to start the night off!

To enter this competition visit our website: www.mashdirect.com/competitions and click on the Valentine’s link. Closing Date: 12 pm Tuesday 12th February 2013. Please see website for full terms and conditions.

Mash Direct, making more time for love this Valentine’s Day!

Sealed with a loving kiss!

 

The High School Ballynahinch invited its pupils to shake up their wake up on Monday 20 January. Article 24 of the UNCRC states that all children have the right to nutritious food and the School Council and the Rights Respecting School Steering Group encouraged the pupils to make breakfast part of their day.

The event was part of the celebrations for Farmhouse Breakfast Week (20-26 January 2013) and was one of hundreds across the country celebrating the most important meal of the day.

To help the pupils to feel the benefits of breakfast, The High School Ballynahinch provided a free breakfast on each day during the week sponsored by Crossgar Foods, Supervalu, White’s Oats and Linwoods. On Friday 25 January there was an All Day Breakfast served.

Farmhouse Breakfast Week is a nationwide annual campaign in its 14th year, organised on behalf of UK cereal farmers and producers. It aims to educate people about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and to encourage the public to start the day with breakfast.

New research  conducted for the campaign shows that nearly half of us (47%) skip breakfast at some point during the week and 15 per cent do not eat it at all! Research also shows that 32 per cent of British children are regularly missing breakfast . This is despite the fact that scientific research has shown that eating breakfast can make you healthier and happier.

Guest of honour: Ed Kilgore, Head of Mountain Rescue, Newcastle

NORTHERN Ireland’s leading hotel group is continuing its quest to support local suppliers with the launch of a new booklet showcasing its breakfast offering to guests.

Hastings Hotels launched its Who Made My Breakfast? booklet at an event in the Stormont Hotel which was attended by a host of local politicians including Ian Paisley Jr and Alastair Ross, industry experts and local suppliers.

Howard Hastings, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels said: “We are Northern Ireland’s only hotel group to use only 100% local produce for our breakfast. Food Provenance is of major importance to us as a group and the aim of the Who Made My Breakfast? booklet is to showcase the true Northern Ireland breakfast experience we offer at Hastings Hotels which would not be possible without our wonderful local suppliers.

“We use only the finest local produce and provide a breakfast experience which is consistent across the six Hastings Hotels and this booklet is about the people behind the magnificent produce which offers guests a true Northern Ireland experience  (used twice in sentences above??),” Howard said.

“Who Made My Breakfast? allows us to tell the story behind the breakfast giving guests the opportunity to find out more about what they are eating. They can even see the pictures of the people responsible for what they are eating including the suppliers from Armagh Apple Juice, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, bacon from Hannon Meats, Clements Eggs in County Down, Malachy McKenna Mushrooms from Mid-Ulster and Get Fresh Tomatoes from Drumbeg.

“Food is a hugely important part of the visitor experience, so the more we can do to promote the quality of our local produce and our local suppliers, the better. At Hastings Hotels, we are proud of what our local soils, our local climate and our local people can produce and we hope that this booklet will help our local suppliers, which I think are amongst the best in the world, increase their business,” Howard concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO CAPTION

Howard Hastings of Hastings Hotels was joined by Bob Colhoun from Get Fresh Tomatoes, Jilly Dougan from Hannan Meats and Stephen McKenna from McKenna Mushrooms at the launch of the Who Made My Breakfast? booklet at the Stormont Hotel. Hastings Hotels launched the booklet to showcase the true Northern Ireland breakfast experience offered at Hastings Hotels as well as its local suppliers. The booklet tells the story behind the breakfast giving guests the opportunity to find out more about what they are eating and where it came from.

Not so long ago, nobody went out to eat in the city centre of Belfast. It’s taken years of hard work and dedication by local chefs to bring people in, but all that hard work may have been for nothing as the hospitality industry struggles to cope with the impact of the ongoing flags protests.

After a dismal Christmas, many may not make it to the spring. Taste of Ulster supports the Backin’ Belfast campaign 100 per cent. It stands with the rest of the people of Northern Ireland who want peace and our evening economy restored.

Show your support by pledging to eat in three different places over the next week. Why not breakfast in one, lunch in another and dinner somewhere else?  If we all did this, it would give bars and restaurants much needed revenue boost and show them we want our city back.

#TakeBackTheCity