Three Northern Irish producers are in the running for the Golden Fork, Northern Ireland and the Great Taste Supreme Champion Award, 2023.
They are Hannan Meats whose Buttermilk Pork Chop is a 3-star winner as are Morelli’s Pistachio Swirl Ice Cream from Morelli Ice Cream and Maud’s Pistachio Ice Cream.
All will be revealed on Monday 11 September at the Great Taste awards ceremony held at Battersea Arts Centre, London
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is once again getting behind the annual Love Lamb Week initiative and the key message this year is to choose local lamb always, focusing on consumers, retailers and restaurants.
To kick start the campaign, the UFU held a lamb tasting event at Belfast City Hall. It was supported by Dunbia and the Livestock and Meat Commissions (LMC) for Northern Ireland. Farmers engaged with consumers showcasing the nutritional value, delicious taste and versatility of lamb.
UFU beef and lamb chair Pat McKay said, “Northern Irish lamb is a prime example of the high-quality produce we have here, and Love Lamb Week is a great opportunity to focus on all the positives of lamb production from beginning to end.
“It cannot be underestimated how important it is for everyone in Northern Ireland to choose local lamb. This includes when shopping for home cooked meals, ordering new produce for local stores or restaurants, or choosing from a dining menu when eating out. When you purchase lamb with the Northern Ireland Farm Quality assured logo, you are supporting local farmers who produce sustainable, high-quality food, care for the environment, create rural jobs and support communities.
“If you do not see a reference to the origin of lamb on a restaurant menu or shop shelf, don’t be afraid to ask. This simple question could inspire others to do the same and influence sourcing methods due to customer demand. What you choose matters.”
Keeping the momentum going for Love Lamb Week, social media influencer Caroline O’Neill, also known as Digg Mama, will be visiting Crosby Cleland’s fam and Brendan Kelly will be doing a takeover on the UFU platform to highlight the production process of lamb on farm.
UFU hill farming chair Alastair Armstrong said, “Not everyone gets the opportunity to see beyond the farm gate and witness how lamb is produced. Transparency in the food supply chain is very important and often the hard work and commitment that farmers put into producing lamb goes unnoticed. Through social media, we want to show farming for what it truly is.
“In Northern Ireland, there is a vast amount of hill ground and sheep production is one of very few farming commodities that can thrive in the uplands. Grazing sheep on these areas enables us to turn grass into high-quality products and is a key part of maintaining our local landscape. Sheep farmers are also working to reduce their carbon footprint with a focus on improving soil health, planting hedgerows and trees, and increasing biodiversity. By choosing local lamb you are supporting local farmers to care for the environment while delivering for you and your family.”
LMC chief executive Ian Stevenson said, “We are delighted to once again partner with the UFU to promote Love Lamb Week. LMC has been an avid supporter of Love Lamb Week since its launch in 2015. This year we have a jam-packed line up for Love Lamb Week and we are looking forward to positively profiling Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) lamb via sampling events, a radio partnership, press and digital activity.”
Noting that lamb is a versatile red meat that should not be overlooked, Mr Stevenson added, “We recognise that lamb is an extremely price sensitive food, and at a time when cost of living presents challenges for many it is of great importance that we as an industry reiterate that lamb is not a meat reserved for special occasions, but one that can be enjoyed as a staple part of a healthy balanced diet. As with all meats, choice of cut will dictate price. LMC have developed a range of lamb recipes, with a variety of cuts to help make lamb a cost-effective tasty and healthy option for all ages to enjoy.”
LMC will host a lamb sampling event at the Boulevard Outlet, Banbridge on Thursday 7th September from 12 noon. An invitation is extended to stakeholders and members of the public to attend as well as to explore LMC’s delicious lamb recipes on www.beefandlambni.com.
Chef Rob Curley of Slemish Market Supper Club, a pop up dining experience based in Ballymena Co. Antrim, will be cooking in France during the Rugby World Cup France 2023. The city of Tours in the Loire Valley is hosting the Ireland rugby team as they prepare to play their World Cup pool games.
Chef Rob will be cooking with Chef Gilles Hemart for a multicourse four hands collaboration dining experience in Les Gens Heureux Tours on Tuesday 12 th September. This will be a fantastic dining experience of Irish and French food in Tours City centre.A real showcase of the best of Irish & French Skill, creativity, passion drive and cooking just like both Irish & French Rugby teams.
Les Gens Heureux bistro will be running a fanzone for every match whilst serving beers& Irish Spice bag with a Touraine twist for fans to enjoy from 8/9/23 to 21/10/23 There will be live music from the “Life on Mars”band on 20/9/23.
Les Gens Heureux is located a few steps from Place Plumereau, a vibrant square in the old town of Tours where you’ll find cafes, bars & restaurants in 15th century timber framed houses. Produce will be sourced from “Les Halle’s de Tours” food market which showcases artisan cheese, breads, charcuterie, local fruit, vegetables, fish & meats; a real treat for taste buds & the eyes!
So if you are staying in the area of Tours over the next few weeks, make sure to book a place at the 4 hands collaboration or call in for an Irish Spice Bag!
Allez Les Verts! Allez Les Bleus!
Contact: Chef Rob Curley or Lucie Plisson on Facebook: Slemish Market Supper Club
Instagram: slemishmarketsclub
Website:http://www.slemishmarketsupperclub.com
Instagram:lesgensheureux_
Website:www.gensheureux.fr
Email: contact @gensheureux.fr
To mark the company’s 80th year, Moy Park has revealed its ‘This is Home’ community initiative to reward 80 homegrown sports clubs, schools and local charities across Northern Ireland and GB.
Moy Park will support 20 grassroots sports clubs with bursaries and sports equipment, celebrating the best of its communities and local talent. In addition, 20 schools will be selected to receive a £500 bursary and 20 charities will be nominated to be surprised with £1000. A further 20 bursaries will be awarded to various organisations, celebrating 20 more key moments in the year.
Moy Park’s success story began in 1943 in the village of Moy, County Tyrone and now the business spans 700 farms across NI and GB, with 12 production sites and 9,000 employees.
The first element of the ‘This is Home’ campaign will see Moy Park revisit some of the charities it has supported over the last 80 years. Employees in the company’s NI and GB sites are being asked to nominate 20 of the charities the company has supported throughout the last 80 years. The nominated charities will then be announced in early September and will each be surprised with a £1,000 donation.
Ellen Wright, Senior Brand Manager said:
“We are so proud to be celebrating our 80th anniversary and there’s no better way to celebrate with the public than to support our local communities and charities, those we place at the heart of our business.
“We’re thrilled to launch ‘This is Home’ and give back to those who’ve supported us throughout the past 80 years of success, as Moy Park has grown to be an integral part of many homes within our communities.
“It will be great to revisit some of the many charities we’ve supported over the years, with many donations made to date towards a variety of very worthy causes.
“Having also just announced our new charity partnership with Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, we’re delighted to have awarded them with the very first of our £1,000 to help support the amazing work they do. We are extremely honoured to have our company-wide partnership with Sands.
“As well as our charity initiative, Moy Park will celebrate 80 years in lots of different ways, including a ‘Home Grown Farmers’ series which has started to play out on our website and social media platforms and our ‘Home for Dinner’ TV campaign due to launch in September, so keep your eyes peeled.”
Newry-based Irish whiskey bonder and blender, Two Stacks Irish Whiskey has announced the rollout of two of its best-selling products into Tesco stores in Northern Ireland.
In a new partnership, Tesco Northern Ireland will now stock Two Stacks Dram In A Can and Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur on shelves across 26 stores.
Two Stacks Dram In A Can
Spearheading an innovative new way to drink Irish whiskey, shoppers can now pick up the cult-favourite Dram In A Can, a first-of-its-kind 100ml can of Two Stacks Irish whiskey that blends the rich heritage of Irish whiskey with modern convenience.
Designed for ‘on-the-go’ whiskey moments, this sustainably produced can is eight times lighter than a conventional miniature bottle and welcomes shoppers to enjoy the distinct taste of Two Stacks’ award-winning blended or single malt Irish whiskey at an accessible price point.
Dram In A Can Single Malt Double Barrel is a ready-to-go can of Irish single malt whiskey, matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, with tasting notes of deep oak spice, wild dark fruits and a lingering nutty finish.
Dram In A Can Complex Blend offers whiskey drinkers an approachable way to enjoy Two Stacks’ award-winning Complex Blend, and expert five-part blend of grain, malt and pot-stilled whiskeys.
Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur
As the world’s first Irish Cream liqueur to blend four different styles of whiskey, Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur uses eight times more Irish whiskey in this handcrafted blend than the market standard.
Created in collaboration with renowned Irish cream liqueur makers, Robert A. Merry & Co, this luxurious new liqueur offers a delicately balanced flavour and a velvety, rich sip.
A new chapter in Irish whiskey
Two Stacks’ new partnership with the supermarket giant follows a successful four years for the Newry-based business, with Dram In A Can surpassing 1 million cans sold worldwide since its launch in 2021, and several global distribution and travel retail deals underway, including Dubai Duty Free, Woolworths in Australia and Whole Foods in the US.
Speaking on the new partnership, Tesco Northern Ireland Buying Manager, Michael Crealey comments, “We’re thrilled to have Two Stacks Irish Whiskey products on Tesco shelves across Northern Ireland. Crafted with passion and precision, these locally produced, award-winning Irish whiskeys offer Tesco customers an exciting new tasting experience at the right price.
With Two Stacks Dram In A Can, we’re helping to make premium Irish whiskey more accessible to the everyday shopper, without breaking the bank or having to commit to a full-sized bottle.”
Two Stacks co-founder, Shane McCarthy adds, “Two Stacks Irish Whiskey is excited to announce its partnership with Tesco Northern Ireland. Championing quality and accessibility, Tesco is the perfect home for our whiskey creations.
Irish whiskey is a notoriously tight-knit category, and we’re excited to welcome new and seasoned whiskey drinkers to a new chapter in enjoying our native spirit. We feel that, as a nation, Irish whiskey is ours to own and nurture as a craft, and making it more accessible with affordable, high-quality products like Dram In A Can is important to us.”
Two Stacks Dram In A Can and Two Stacks Double Cream Liqueur are now available at select Tesco locations in Northern Ireland. Dram In A Can is 43% ABV and priced at £5 per 100ml can. Two Stacks Double Cream Irish Liqueur is bottled at 17.5% ABV and is priced at £25 for 700ml.
Armagh’s Food & Cider Weekend is back this September with a tasty line-up of new events, fresh features and an unrivalled tasting menu designed to deliver a uniquely memorable experience worth sharing.
From artisan markets, delectable tasting specials, banquets and cidery tours to fiery cooking demos and foraging for food, the island of Ireland’s celebrated Orchard County promises an unrivalled gastronomic line-up for food and drink lovers that will embolden its culinary reputation.
In stunning, historical locations and amidst the county’s lush apple-laden orchards and parklands, Northern Ireland’s official Food Heartland has more than 40 standout events planned from September which celebrate the best food, history and culture of the Cathedral City and its surroundings at harvest time.
Backed by award-winning local chefs, producers and food experts, this year’s Armagh Food and Cider Weekend is once again guaranteed to be Northern Ireland’s biggest food and harvest celebration.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Cllr Sorchá McGeown, said:
“Outstanding food, quality ingredients and world class cider are always reasons to celebrate which is why we’re delighted to welcome back visitors from near and far to experience the fresh menu and new crop of activities at this year’s Armagh Food & Cider Weekend.
Packed with great places to eat, and vibrant markets, come along with family and friends to indulge in a culinary kick through our city and enjoy the region’s best produce in a one-of-a-kind destination you’ll want to come back to. Good food and drink are always on the table in our Food Heartland”.
Crannagael House – where Armagh’s apple story officially began – is a big feature in this year’s programme. Award-winning 4 Vicars team Gareth Reid and his wife Kasia will be serving up a sumptuous Celebration of Cider and Cheese event showcasing the best of local produce, as well as the chance to savour a delicious Sunday lunch prepared by The Cook and The Gardener in stunning Georgian surroundings.
Across the long weekend, well known harvest ambassadors the McKeever family at Long Meadow Cider Company will host a series of special events including a Wine V Cider evening and a hugely popular ‘Flash Fiction’ event for new and experienced writers.
In Markethill, at the edge of Gosford Park, lively food aficionado team ‘On the Hoof’, which specialises in outdoor woodfire cookery, will share its expertise with guests as part of a special Woodland Supper– and to learn new skills there are two Cooking with Fire events focusing on both meat and fish and concluding with a celebratory BBQ serving the scrumptious low and slow dishes lovingly prepared by you.
Fifth Quarter, Banbridge’s newest restaurant, will host a Beef Tasting Menu & Wine Tasting as well as a Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie evening, while The Vault in nearby Banbridge is offering visitors an exceptional ‘Tipsy Tea’ experience, bringing the authentic taste of Italy to County Armagh with its renowned artisan woodfired pizzas.
Multi-award-winning Blackwell House will be welcoming guests to its outstanding Pudding Club on Friday, celebrating a special line-up of delicious homemade fruity treats and drinks, followed by a decadent, luxury weekend of Afternoon Teas to ease your way through the Orchard weekend.
Armagh Cider Company will also host its popular Cidery Tour, taking you on the journey from apple to bottle so that you can see for yourself how the magic happens!
There are also plenty of food and cider tours lined up over the weekend including a walking and coach tour, comprising great tastes and a chance to meet and chat to the local suppliers.
For more information and to book early to avoid disappointment, jump into https://visitarmagh.com/festivals/food-cider/food-and-cider-events/