Italian style mozzarella made in the east of the city

A cheese which has only been in production for six months has won Bronze at the World Cheese Awards in Newport, Wales. The ultra-creamy stracciatella is made by Velocheese for Indie Fude. It is a mozzarella-style cheese made at a custom-built plant in East Belfast called the Banana Block by master mozzarella maker Davide Tani from Calgiari in Sardinia. He has been based in Belfast with his Northern Irish wife since 2015. He wanted to bring a taste of his homeland to Northern Ireland. He is also passionate about cycling and engineering.

Velocheese aims to become a carbon-neutral and zero plastic business. “This beaut was made ultra-fresh on Tuesday morning before flying over to Wales with me to be judged on Wednesday, worth the hard yards” said Johnny McDowell from VeloCheese x Indie Fude. “Freshness is key. We use milk from Farmview Dairies and the cheese is made fresh to order.” The range includes Mozzarella, Stracciatella, Scamorza and Maple-wood Smoked Scamorza. It is can be bought direct from the plant at Banana Block on the Newtownards Road. It is used in high-end pizzerias across the island.

A record-breaking 4,434 cheeses were judged in a single day at the World Cheese Awards on Wednesday 2nd November, 2022. 250 experts judged their appearance, texture, aroma and flavour. The competition, which is in its 36th year, is organised by the UK Guild of Fine Food. The winner was Le Gruyere AOP Surchoix by cheesemake Vorderfultigen and affineur Gourmino from Switzerland.

http://www.facebook.com/Velocheese
http://www.velocheese.co.uk
Contact Johnny McDonnell 07510 728109

Event 1: Doing Business in India

Tuesday 08/11/202211:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Virtual via the UK Export Academy

India is now the world’s fifth-largest economy. The United Kingdom is actively negotiating a free-trade agreement with India. There is a great opportunity for the United Kingdom and India to collaborate on innovative ideas and to help mobile finance for projects. India is actively shifting towards low-carbon fuels and has transformed into a hub for cleantech innovation. Stronger renewable capacity, greater innovation, and enhanced policy support for its cleantech sector makes India a viable destination for foreign investment.

This event is designed to help you better understand the business landscape in India and help you meet important stakeholders that could help you achieve your international growth ambitions. Discover opportunities and challenges for companies considering an expansion in India.

Event Two: Introduction to Exporting Food and Drink

Wednesday 09/11/202210:30am – 11:30am
Location: Virtual via the UK Export Academy

The Introduction to Exporting Food and Drink masterclass is a great opportunity for new or aspiring exporters to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the exporting processes and how to overcome challenges.  This session will help UK Agri Food & Drink producers to understand how to extend their reach and grow their exports. This session will be led by Department for International Trade’s Food and Drink Specialists and our Export champions.

Register here for both events: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/website/6264/events/

The Bushmills Inn has been officially recognised for its outstanding customer service at the Northern Ireland hospitality and catering industry’s biggest annual awards, confirming its status as one of region’s best venues to stay, eat and relax.

Taking the prestigious, sought-after award for Outstanding Customer Service at this year’s Licenced and Catering News (LCN) awards, the Bushmills Inn took the top prize from among six shortlisted venues vying to be the industry leader.

The awards celebrate the very best in the hospitality sector in which an esteemed panel recognises those venues which go the extra mile for their customers and, most notably, the Bushmills Inn’s prestigious award win was based on an anonymous ‘mystery shopping’ judging exercise which was carried out independently by specialists using exacting criteria designed to identify the best in the land.

The Bushmills Inn Hotel Manager, Alan Walls, said:

“I’m delighted that our committed, hardworking team has been richly rewarded for their efforts by being recognised for their outstanding customer service. I’d like to wholeheartedly thank our amazing team for their consistent focus on quality, and for the warm and friendly welcome which each of our guests receive. The judging panel quoted that our staff were professional, polite and very personable, always happy to help and they created such a good rapport that their visit was one to remember. Thanks to them all for their outstanding service.

“Focused on service delivery and to continuously innovating to meet our guests’ needs, we invest heavily in what we offer everyone who visits the Bushmills Inn, and are delighted to have recently added a new and indulgent afternoon tea experience which promises luxury, decadence and relaxation for family and friends.”

Congratulating the Bushmills Bill on its awards success, Bill Penton, LCN Managing Editor and organiser of the LCN Awards, said:

“The Bushmills Inn is one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic luxury hotels, is in an enviable location and surrounded by many of Northern Ireland’s most important tourism assets, but importantly, and as experienced by our mystery shopping specialists, it is now even more widely known for its warm hospitality and exceptional customer service. It’s a privilege to be able to acknowledge and reward their exemplary standards and commitment to an unrivalled guest experience.”

The Bushmills Inn has a long track record of award success. For almost a decade, it has annually received a TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award, is one Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 Hospitality Businesses, and is also included in this year’s Irish Independent’s Best 100 Hotels on the island of Ireland, all part of a long catalogue of distinguished awards.

Located within the stunning Causeway Coast and Glens, an area of outstanding beauty just 2.5 miles from the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, the award-winning four-star Bushmills Inn Hotel and Restaurant encompasses 41 guest rooms, a traditional gas bar, conference facilities and 30-seater cinema. It blends stunning architecture, beautiful grounds, unique rooms and modern facilities and has been lovingly restored to pay homage to its rich Irish history.

The Bushmills Inn was acquired by Wirefox, a Holywood-based investment company, through its Marram Hotel Partners entity earlier this year.

To celebrate World Porridge Day [Monday 10 October] a new report has shown that for 8 out of 10 adults across Northern Ireland agree it’s important to start the day with a healthy breakfast.

The research, commissioned by Co Armagh based White’s Oats to coincide with World Porridge Day, placed a spotlight on the breakfast habits of people across Northern Ireland. It looked at their preferences and what influenced their choices as well as examining wider consumer opinions on sustainability.

73% of adults ranked oats in their top three preferred breakfast meals which includes porridge, granola and/or muesli with 57% rating taste the top priority.

The research also explored consumer’s awareness around the benefits of oats with all adults agreeing that the number one benefit of oats is its high fibre properties and a quarter of all adults agreeing that oats help lower cholesterol and support good gut health.

Danielle McBride, Marketing Manager of White’s Oats said ‘’It’s encouraging to see that so many people across Northern Ireland recognise and enjoy the benefits of starting their day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Whether you’re a regular porridge eater or have recently joined the growing overnight oat trend; oats are packed with nutritious goodness- 100% wholegrain and high in fibre, they also pack a punch when it comes to supporting our immune system owing to their rich source of vitamins and antioxidants, which is especially important as we come into the colder winter months.’’

The research also looked at wider consumer opinions around the importance of sustainability with 70% of adults agreeing that when shopping for breakfast they would prefer to buy products from local producers.

90% of adults agreed that only when ingredients come from Northern Ireland and the product is made in Northern Ireland should it be labelled as a local product.

“With the research supporting consumer’s conscious efforts to embrace sustainability in their shopping baskets; from supporting local products to preferring to buy products in recyclable packaging, we also remain committed in our approach to providing sustainable products, and not just nutritionally but in everything we do from farm to bowl’’, says Danielle.

“Our conventional oats are grown locally helping to reduce food miles. We work in close partnership with over 100 trusted farmers, of which 40 are located within 60 miles of our mill in Tandragee. We’ve also made great strides in our packaging with all our porridge oats now available in fully recyclable paper bags.”

Find out more about White’s Oats here: https://www.whitesoats.co.uk/

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has announced the return of the popular Moira Speciality Food Fair this time with an autumnal flavour to proceedings. The artisan food fair will set up in the picturesque setting of Moira Demesne on Saturday 15th October from 10am – 6pm.

In a change to events this year, a new dimension has been added with a community centred family event taking place the evening before to launch the weekend of food and fun! ‘Friday Fun in the Park’ takes place in Moira Demesne from 5pm-6pm on Friday 14th October and will give families the chance to come along and enjoy the colour of street theatre, with a range of seasonally inspired craft and dance workshops and family fun sports races.

Commenting on the upcoming Moira Speciality Food Fair, Alderman Allan Ewart MBE, Chairman of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Development Committee, said, “Throughout the last year we have continued to see LCCC businesses grow and many new businesses coming onto the food and drink scene. I am delighted to see the return of the Moira Speciality Food Fair and to welcome our new aspect to the weekend with Friday Fun in the Park. Both events will give our local producers, craftspeople, and entertainers a well-deserved stage that will shine a light on their talents and offerings. We are really looking forward to welcoming foodies and families back to Moira Demesne for one of our favourite events of the year.”

Taking on a similar format to previous years, Saturday’s Speciality Food Fair will showcase a diverse range of producers, traders, chefs, musicians, and family fun activities, hailing from the council area and across Northern Ireland. The timing of the event in the heart of harvest season is fitting as sustainability in where we source our foods, reducing food waste and the benefits of eating with the seasons is now more important than ever. The artisan Foodhall will reflect the richness of NI’s food and drink offering with the prevalence of food trends such as organic, fermented and vegan foods very much to the fore.

Festivalgoers will be glad to know that all the usual characteristic features are retained for this year’s event. As well as the artisan Foodhall, the Kitchen Sessions with Chef Demos, Craft drinks tent, Street Food hub and live music all return to include a widened programme of family fun activities. Producers and chefs that will feature at this year’s Moira Speciality Food Fair from varying artisan backgrounds include Spontaneous Deuce, Jack’s Fudge, Ispini Cured and The Daily Apron with craft beer specialist Hilden Brewery at the helm of the craft drinks tent. The artisan street food and coffee offering are always a big draw to the event and this year it will feature The Quirky Bird and Steady Neddy coffee trucks, Tribal Burger, The Hatch, Simply Scampi and newcomers to the NI street food
scene, LASA and Feast. Kitchen Sessions will feature cookery demonstrations and expert tips from Moira based Chef Chris McGowan of the acclaimed restaurant Wine & Brine, Chef and author Paula McIntyre and fermentation guru and author Dearbhla Reynolds of The Cultured Club.

The impending weekend of food and fun has something for all ages to enjoy. Both the Friday Fun in the Park event and Speciality Food Fair will have a programme of interactive family friendly activities to include magic and street theatre, Movement and Dance with entertainer Squiggles and Giggles and ballet inspired dance and Pilates sessions in the park. There will also be art and craft workshops, storytelling with Moira Library, and science workshops where children can embrace kite making whilst learning the physics behind making kites fly.

Entry is free and there is parking onsite with provision for accessible parking.

For more information on traders and a full programme of events visit visitlisburncastlereagh.com or follow Visit Lisburn Castlereagh on Facebook.com/enjoylisburn, Twitter @VisitLisburn and Instagram
@visitlisburncastlereagh.

Ella Mills (‘Deliciously Ella’) has been announced as one of the headline speakers at Women in Business’s all-island Female Entrepreneurs Conference taking place on Tuesday 11 October. Speaking about the growth of her business and her own journey into entrepreneurship, the award-winning food writer and businesswoman will be joined by over 400 attendees at the conference, which will take place between live audiences on an all-island basis for the first time, while also interactively linking participants in Dublin’s Gibson Hotel and Titanic Belfast.

Commenting Ella said, “Consistency is critical to me, especially as our business grew. I had to be across so many elements, 24/7, 365 days a year, there’s a relentlessness to owning your own business that people don’t talk about enough and the only way to grow is to continue to put everything you have into what you’re doing every day. I am looking forward to sharing my entrepreneurial journey to inspire women across Ireland and to help shape the future of their businesses.”

The conference is being hosted by Norah Casey in Dublin and Sarah Travers in Belfast and is sponsored by InterTradeIreland and the Yes You Can female enterprise support programme. For more information visit https://www.womeninbusinessni.com/events/belfast%20%7C%20all-island%20female%20entrepreneurs%20conference