The much loved and hugely successful Belfast Restaurant Week will be returning next month. Dates have just been announced to entice diners into the city centre with a host of gastronomic treats at tastier-than-usual prices from 20 to 26 February.

The eagerly anticipated initiative is supported by three Belfast Business Improvement Districts (BID); Belfast One, Destination CQ and Linen Quarter. Collectively they have created a feast of activity during the week at some of the city centre’s biggest and best loved restaurants where chefs will be out to impress with special menus carefully curated for the week-long event.

Belfast Restaurant Week 2023 will feature a diverse range of participating venues, bringing an affordable choice of food offerings to encourage families, couples and friends into the city centre to enjoy our hospitality industry at its finest.

Kathleen McBride, Managing Director of Belfast One said the key diary date for food lovers will see main courses served up for as little as £20 in the evenings and lunches for just £10. “We are excited to host Belfast Restaurant Week next month, after what has been a challenging few months for most people. We are really looking forward to this event as it truly is a highlight in the food lover’s calendar.

“Belfast Restaurant Week is a well-earned treat for everyone and the perfect opportunity to sample restaurants they’ve maybe yet to experience in the city centre. Some very impressive participants took part in September and wowed with some spectacular dishes so February’s event will be even more exciting.”

Damien Corr, Business Improvement Manager, Destination CQ, said: “We are delighted to welcome Belfast Restaurant Week back as part of our jam packed calendar of Culture, Craic and Hospitality. We want to build on the success of the last Belfast Restaurant Week, to welcome back old friends and to attract new customers to sample the legendary eateries in the iconic Cathedral Quarter.

“From cool street food to Michelin Stars, the Cathedral Quarter has it all and there is no better time to be part of the buzz! Check out the menus and fantastic offers and get yourself into a Restaurant that you haven’t tried, go for a dish that you’ve always fancied, most importantly…enjoy the Cathedral Quarter Craic!”

Charlotte Irvine, Linen Quarter BID, said: “We’re excited to bring back Belfast Restaurant Week next month. Chefs and restaurants get the opportunity to showcase their talents while customers get to really see, taste and feel how vibrant and varied our hospitality industry is through snapshot menus with very accommodating prices.

“Our last event in September was a huge success with some of the participating restaurants telling us activity throughout the week was elevated as much as 70% and there were more than 500 dishes to choose from.”

One venue owner said that they witnessed a big uplift in business over the week compared to what would tend to be a quiet month while another found they had a significant rise in bookings during Belfast Restaurant Week for lunch and dinner. They had the busiest Saturday since pre-covid. Usually, they would have around 140 covers on a Saturday however during Belfast Restaurant Week, they had 210, so they said it was really worthwhile for them to participate.

Belfast Restaurant Week will culminate with weekend food demos by local chefs at St George’s Market, hosted by TV presenter Pamela Ballantine, where visitors will be offered the opportunity to taste dishes directly from the demo oven. And as well as dishes priced from as little as £10 for lunch and £20 for dinner, there will be special offers throughout the week.

Belfast Restaurant Week is organised and delivered by Belfast One, Destination CQ and Linen Quarter BIDs across BT1 and BT2 and runs from 20 to 26 February. For participating restaurants and menus, please visit www.belfastrestaurantweek.org.

Follow Belfast Restaurant Week on social media at www.facebook.com/belfastrestaurantweek2023; www.instagram.com/belfastrestaurantweek23; www.twitter.com/BelfastRW23.

Dromona has confirmed that it is the proud sponsor of UTV’s hit series ‘Rare Breed – A Farming Year.’

Dromona’s sponsored adverts will feature its range of delicious products including award-winning Great Taste mature cheese and butter, during the three-month sponsorship for the primetime television show.

The show documents Northern Ireland farming families as they share their experiences, trials, and life moments on their farms throughout the year. The first episode features Dale Farm member Tim Morrow of Streamvale Farm.

The sponsorship is a prime opportunity for Dromona to catch the interest of viewers of the much-loved programme now in its eleventh year. Sharon Campbell, Head of Marketing, Dale Farm comments –

“It is fantastic to achieve a highly popular sponsorship slot on one of UTV’s most popular shows. We are very excited to showcase the range of our quality Dromona products to whet the appetites of viewers with our delicious recipe suggestions that will be coming to their screens during the 12 episodes.”

Sharon adds – “This is a chance for viewers to appreciate Dromona as a truly local Northern Ireland brand crafted with care to be the best quality butter and cheese. We only ever use local milk to make Dromona produce, so this sponsorship is a celebration from field to fork.”

The popular show makes a return to screens on Thursday 19 January at 8.30pm. To find out more about Dromona products visit www.DromonaMakesIt.com 

A popular pairing since the 1600s, gin and gingerbread will come to life in the iconic, lifesize Gingerbread House at Titanic Hotel Belfast this month. A new combination for the multi award winning hotel and restaurant, three gins will be served at an exclusive tasting event, beginning with a mulled gin on arrival. The tasting event can be coupled with a three course dinner after, ingredients of which will follow the gin and gingerbread theme.

Executive Chef at Titanic Hotel Belfast, Nigel Mannion, said: “Our Gingerbread House has become a fabulous feature in our award winning Wolff Grill restaurant and so we decided to create a gin and gingerbread tasting opportunity to showcase pairings which have been popular for hundreds of years, against the backdrop of our Gingerbread House.

“The gin and gingerbread event will also offer guests the chance to experience a three course gin and gingerbread inspired meal, comprising of cured trout, duck breast and parfait to complement the theme perfectly. We have collaborated with United Wines to ensure that the vision for the mouth-watering tasting will be unique and exquisite. Their gin specialist will deliver a presentation delving into the 17^th century history of gin and gingerbread in the most appropriate of settings.”

Adrian McNally, General Manager of Titanic Hotel Belfast, said: “At Titanic Hotel Belfast we are always seeking to create new and exciting experiences for our guests. We believe that this event kicking off 2023 is unique in every way as it gives guests an opportunity to visit the only life-size Gingerbread House in a hotel in Northern Ireland while sampling some of the most wonderful tasting gins.”

The Gin and Gingerbread Experience at Titanic Hotel Belfast takes place on 12 and 13 January 2023 from 6.00pm until 7.30pm and is priced at £15.00 per person. The three course evening meal is priced at £35.00 per person and pre-booking is advised. To book a place at the Gin and Gingerbread House Experience in Titanic Hotel Belfast or to enquire about the three course dinner menu, please email: restaurantmgr@titanichotelbelfast.com

The winners of the 2022 Georgina Campbell Irish Food & Hospitality Awards have been announced with a top accolade for Niall McKenna of James Street South group. He was awarded the Movers and Shakers Award.

In her citation, Georgina Campbell said “That Belfast chef and restaurateur Niall McKenna is a man on a mission is no secret. He has a culinary vision for Belfast that may well date back two decades, to when he and his wife
Joanne opened the acclaimed fine dining venue James Street South and the adjacent Bar & Grill – all now reimagined as James St.

“Their excellent Hadskis on Commercial Court closed this year but, far from being the negative move that might be expected in these daunting times, it was all part of the grand plan – to create a major hospitality hub in the city’s Cathedral Quarter. The whole Hadskis team moved over to open a new restaurant at Waterman House, a Grade B listed Bushmills bonded warehouse that is also home to the former James St Cookery School – and Waterman Restaurant soon became one of Belfast’s hottest dining destinations. So now the cookery school and the restaurant are in place, along with conference and event spaces. There’s plenty going on to appeal to different ages and interests, so the buzz is growing. It’s big city but one man’s vision is near to becoming reality, and it’s all the better for that.”

Celebrating 24 years in their current incarnation, the Georgina Campbell Awards recognise and honour Ireland’s standard-bearers in food and hospitality with particular focus, this year, on those who have maintained standards across the board in the face of post- pandemic energy and staffing crises, among many other challenges – and the brave newcomers who, against the odds, continue to delight with inspiring new businesses. Georgina Campbell’s Ireland’s rigorous programme of anonymous assessment visits is a year-round process and winners are nominated solely by an independent assessment team.

The new head of Lough Erne Resort’s award-winning culinary team has promised to continue and develop the legacy of highly respected Culinary Director, Noel McMeel who has formally announced his intention to step down after 15 years at the luxury Resort.

Executive Head Chef, Stephen Holland who has been an integral part of the exceptional culinary team at Lough Erne Resort for more than 12 years, says 2023 will herald an exciting new era as he formally takes up the reins. “We are so fortunate to have built an incredibly talented team of chefs at Lough Erne Resort over the last 12 years or so, under Noel’s leadership. We plan to harness that talent and continue our successful philosophy of sourcing, preparing, and serving fresh food in season as we embark into 2023.

Stephen Holland started his impressive culinary journey as ambitious 13-year-old who secured his first paid job as a porter in a local hotel in Dungannon. As he explains it was there, that he got taste for life as a chef. “I have very fond memories of my time there and the learning was second to none. In fact, I still use and practice many of the skills I learnt there today. Whilst studying at college I also worked at the luxurious Castle Leslie Estate under the leadership of Noel McMeel which is where I first met someone who has become a massive figure within the Irish food scene.”

Following his studies Stephen spent some time in an events’ company before setting off to travel the world where he cooked in some of the best establishments in USA, Australia, Dubai, and New Zealand. “These were crucial years for me as I was able to experience diverse cultures and benefit from learning under some of the most creative and talented chefs in the world. As I look back, this period really shaped my life and prepared me for my current role as Executive Head Chef in one of Ireland’s top food destinations. To this day I find my travels provide great inspiration for my dishes.”

During his 12-plus years at Lough Erne Resort Stephen has cooked for world leaders including US President, Barak Obama and British Prime Minister, David Cameron – but he counts meeting his wife, Rachael – a colleague at the Resort – as amongst his greatest achievements. Meanwhile, Noel McMeel, who advised senior executives at the Resort some time ago that he wished to explore other professional opportunities and begin a new chapter in his life, says he has no doubt the Resort’s treasured culinary offering is in safe hands.

Congratulations to Taste of Ulster member, Killeavy Castle Estate in Armagh on the awarding of not one, but TWO AA Rosettes for its restaurant.

Following a secret inspection, the venue has just been named an AA four-star hotel in recognition of the quality of the food and drink offering. The awards are for Culinary Excellence. These awards are the most recent in a string of plaudits including being named Hotel of the Year at the Licensed and Catering News Awards and Best Food and Drink Experience (Large) at the NI Embrace a Giant Spirit Awards. The owner of the Estate, Mick Boyle also received a Local Spirit Awards in recognition of the contribution he has made to tourism and the community in recent years.

Killeavy Castle Estate opened after a major refurbishment in 2018. The Head Chef is Darragh Dooley.