Celebrate the first feast of summer at unique venues across the Borough and treat yourself to authentic food and drink experiences with Taste Summer in Ards and North Down! 

Running over two weeks (18 June – 3 July), Taste Summer will feature restaurant showcases, breakfast and brunches, picnics, food markets, guided walks and tours, as well as the much-anticipated return of the Comber Earlies Food Festival. 

This popular free Festival is scheduled for Saturday 25 June, right in the middle of the delicious two-week Taste Summer food and drink extravaganza which will delight families and foodies alike. It will feature up to 40 food stalls in St. Mary’s Car Park, Comber Square, with local artisan producers, artisan bar, plus celebrity chef demonstrations by Theo Randall and local favourites such as Jim Crawford from No. 14 at the Georgian House, brass bands, children’s entertainment and even a vintage tractor display, so don’t miss out and add the date to your diary. 

Perhaps you could even ‘sandwich’ your visit with aComber Earlies Food Festival Spud Tour (Friday 24 June tickets must be pre-booked) or take part in National Picnic Week with the Comber Earlies Food Festival Picnic at Island Hill (Sunday 26 June)! 

Beyond the Comber Earlies Food Festival and its related events, there is a packed two-week programme to tantalise the taste buds with unique foodie showcases across the Borough. 

Celebrate the summer solstice with music and a sing-along or two at the Vegetarian Evening Picnic (Tuesday 21 June) at Kylestone Nurseries, Groomsport. Or join Horner’s Farm and Friends Celebrate Comber Earlies (Wednesday 22 June) where you can enjoy an evening barbeque with local beef and those gorgeous homegrown Earlies. 

The Bangor Breakfast Banquet Showcase(Wednesday 29 June) will have plenty to satisfy the appetites of all early birds at the Salty Dog Bistro, while a Vegan Brunch at Princetown Guesthouse (Saturday 2 July) will offer a seven-course taster menu where brunch gets an imaginative makeover with plants taking the centre stage. 

Also on Saturday 2 July, the Taste Summer Picnic in the Park is a free event at Ward Park, Bangor. Really get into the spirit of the season and feel those summer vibes with this picnic event that will feature local chefs providing kitchen demos, a glorious artisanal food market, featuring 30 local producers combined with live music and kids’ entertainment. 

The two-week Taste Summer events will conclude with a Comber Earlies Sunday Lunch Tour(Sunday 3 July). Wind your way around Comber town and stop in renowned places that offer food to invigorate all your senses. For a full list of Taste Summer events and to purchase tickets, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com/tastesummer.

Guests of Lough Erne Resort are to be given the chance to savour the taste of spring thanks to the launch of the luxury resort’s newly launched Spring into Summer menus.   

Produced by the resort’s culinary team of Noel McMeel (Culinary Director); Stephen Holland (Executive Head Chef) and Mark Winter, (Executive Sous Chef), the new menus will include a vegan Afternoon Tea offering for the first time and will also see the inclusion of an interactive ‘Young Diner’s menu which is sure to entice and delight younger guests.  

The new menus, which are available throughout the resort, reflect its overall gastronomic offering, which is rooted in a simple philosophy – sourcing, preparing, and serving fresh food in season.  

Culinary Director, Noel McMeel says: “At Lough Erne Resort our reputation for fabulous food is one of the reasons our valued guests return. These new healthy eating menus for Lough Erne Resort will further enhance what we offer right across the resort.” 

Catalina Menu 

The mouth-watering Spring into Summer Catalina menu promises to “indulge the tastebuds and awaken the senses through a delectable combination of flavours, aromas, and creative artistry” says Executive Head Chef Stephen Holland. 

“The new menu evokes a sense of nostalgia through the seasonally-inspired tastes that are sure to conjure up memories of spring and summers past for guests to the Resort.” 

Menu items include Scallops served with Irish Oyster, Cucumber, Irish Quail complemented with Creamed Sweetcorn, Pickled Truffle Honey Dressing, Irish Stone Bass accompanied by lobster, Sea Herbs and served with a Citrus and Seaweed Butter Sauce.  
 
The menu is bursting with traditionally spring flavours such as the Lisdergan Local Lamb with a Horseradish and Pea Tart, perfectly paired with a Roast Onion, Black Garlic & Thyme Jus which adds a beautiful depth of flavour to the dish. 

Amongst the choice of summer-inspired desserts Raspberry Fruit Souffle, refreshing Raspberry Sorbet and Vanilla Custard as well as a Coole Swan Iced Parfait served with a Hazelnut Croquant. 

Vegan Afternoon Tea  

Guests can immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Fermanagh Lakelands, whilst enjoying Afternoon Tea in the award-winning 3AA rosette Catalina, which has majestic views of Castle Hume Lough. 

Guests will delight at the fresh Mozzarella and Cucumber Wrap, the indulgent Tempura of Tofu served with a Spiced Tomato Relish – the delicate flavour combinations offering a tantalising experience for your tastebuds. 

To satisfy your sweet tooth, there are a host of mouthwatering fancies, including a decadent Apple and Nut Tart, an elegant Seasonal Fruit Cheesecake as well as a Pineapple and Coconut Smoothie. 

In addition, ‘Enchantment’ – a new Children’s Afternoon Tea offering – is sure to add a dash of magic to any visit. 

Young Diners’ Menu 

The resort’s award-winning culinary team has also introduced an innovative ‘Young Diners’ menu, overflowing with incredible flavours that are sure to win younger guests’ approval. 

The menu offers an interactive, multi-sensory dining experience which encourages children to get involved in creating their own dishes.  

Lough Erne Resort Executive Sous Chef Mark Winters says the inspiration behind the new menu was to make eating out a fun and healthy experience for young diners. 

“When eating out children can often be faced with a limited menu where many items come fried. At Lough Erne Resort we wanted to change that – offering a range of exciting food options that focus on health and wellbeing – whilst also being enjoyable. 

“The Young Diners’ menu offers a multi-sensory eating experience – the plates are visually appealing and many come deconstructed – enabling our young guests to indulge their creativity and have some fun whilst enjoying healthy food options.”  

Starters include Watermelon Pizza, served with an array of fresh fruit, locally sourced Natural Yogurt and Flaked Almonds, Mozzarella Tomato and Cucumber Sticks accompanied by a Tomato and Sour Cream dip as well as a scrumptious Chicken Caesar Plater.  

For the main event, guests can enjoy a selection of dishes including Fish and Chips, ‘Be Healthy with Vegetables’ which is served with homemade Chickpea and Lemon Hummus, Sour Cream, Avocado Dip, as well as a selection of Vegetables. Or for a taste of indulgence Pan Seared Lisdergan Beef Fillet accompanied with Carrot and Parsnip Mash, Baby Boiled Potatoes and Gravy. 

Noel McMeel, Culinary Director at Lough Erne Resort says:   

“We are delighted to launch our new seasonal menus, which include some exciting new additions that we know, our guests will love.  
 
“Spring and summer are beautiful and aromatic seasons in Fermanagh, with many local and seasonal products at the Resort’s disposal. We look forward to experiencing this wonderful season with our guests, whether they be young or old, local, or visiting tourists to the Fermanagh Lakelands’ region.” 

For more information on Lough Erne Resort visit: https://www.lougherneresort.com/  

The organisers of the first Lough Neagh Artisans Market have hailed the event a phenomenal success. Attracting almost 4,000 visitors, food traders sold out in record time at the event at Lock Keeper’s Cottage, Toome.

The market hosted by Lough Neagh Partnership was a pilot aimed at showcasing local produce, arts and crafts from the shoreline of Lough Neagh and right across Northern Ireland.

Attended by members of the Lough Neagh Artisans Group which included: Annie’s Delights, Bakehouse NI, Gold & Browne’s, TIDAL Toome at Lock Keeper’s Cottage, Noreen’s Nettles and Woodlab Distillery, they were joined by artisan traders from across Northern Ireland including: Art By Marcella McAuley, Ballylisk of Armagh, Ballyriff Buffalo, Bathe Botanicals, Causeway Cookie Company, Country Lane Candles, Granny Shaw’s Fudge, Hugable Bears, Irishmanlost, Juliana Made This, Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative, Mary McMinn, Molly & Me, Moocha Kombucha, Mourne BeachArt, Mrs B Crafts, Nitted Things, Oh Hey Crochet, Pawsome Treats, Pyrocrafts by Shauna, Randalstown Men’s Shed, Scarlett Aromas, Seaview Farms, Simple Home Holism, Small Eco Changes, The Daily Apron Bakery, The Little Shop of Plants, The Mermaid’s Jewellery Box, The Snowdrop Workshop, The Wee Wooden Company and Willow Moon Ireland.

Visitors flocked to the four hour market from as close by as Toome to as far away as Fermanagh and as well as sampling the sights and sounds and tastes of Lough Neagh, accompanied by local singer Malachi Johnston, they also had an opportunity to take a boat trip along the Toome Canal or enjoy an eel supper at Grans.

Gerry Darby, Strategic Manager at Lough Neagh Partnership, said: “We are so proud of the success of the first Lough Neagh Artisans Market. The event was created to showcase the vast array of high quality locally produced goods, from here on our doorstep to right across the country and, with food traders selling out in record time, we certainly achieved what we set out to do. I would like to pay tribute to the visitors who attended in their thousands, as they truly made the market the success that it was. Lough Neagh Partnership is already exploring ways in which we will be able to make the Lough Neagh Artisans Market a regular feature in our events calendar.”

Roisin Lagan from DAERA’s NI Regional Food Programme (NIRFP) said: “The Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme was delighted to provide funding support for the first hugely successful Lough Neagh Artisans market. This artisan market was an excellent example of customers supporting their local producers by purchasing high quality sustainable Northern Ireland food and drink products.”

The Lough Neagh Artisans Market was hosted by Lough Neagh Partnership and was jointly funded by DAERA’s NI Regional Food Programme, Rural Development Programme and The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas and the UK Community Renewal Fund which aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invests in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.

To find out more about the Lough Neagh Artisans Group, please visit: http://www.loughneaghartisans.com or follow Lough Neagh Aristans on facebook @loughneaghartisans; instagram @loughneaghartisans and twitter @artisansln

Award-winning chef Niall McKenna launched his new Waterman restaurant in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter on Friday June 10.
 
The new 50-seater restaurant at Waterman House comes as part of strategic plans to create a large-scale hospitality hub at the Grade B listed building on Hill Street, which is already home to Niall’s thriving Waterman House Cookery School.
 
The acclaimed restaurateur and entrepreneur purchased the building at 5-23 Hill Street in 2018 as part of an investment in Belfast city centre, relocating the former James Street South Cookery School, previously housed within the popular James Street restaurant.
 
As well as the cookery school, which opened last summer, and the new Waterman restaurant, the old Bushmills bonded warehouse is also home to conference and event spaces.

Niall, a proud champion for Northern Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector, said:
“Waterman House is an iconic building in one of Belfast’s finest architectural locations, and we’re thrilled to announce that Waterman opens under the same roof as our Waterman House Cookery School has now opened. We hope our plans for an exciting, creative hub in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter can help breathe new life into this vibrant part of the city, and we believe it’s the perfect spot for a new culinary venture.
 
“Customers will enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and excellent classic European-style cuisine made with quality local produce. What people want more than ever is quality food and great service, and that’s what we will deliver at Waterman.
 
“Like cities across the world, Belfast has faced many challenges over the last few years, but as we look to the future we’re excited to play our part in cementing its status as a top destination for local, national and international visitors with this exciting new step at Waterman House.”

The new restaurant opens as Niall and the team close the doors at Hadksis on Commercial Court, although the entrepreneur will retain the lease with plans for the venue to be confirmed at a later date. The same award-winning team will move directly across to Waterman, with plans to add new staff in the coming months.
 
Former James Street Apprentice and Head Chef at Hadskis Aaron McNeice has been appointed Head Chef at Waterman. He said:
“I am really excited for the opening of Waterman. I think it’s going to be a great addition to the Cathedral Quarter. I think the people of Belfast will be very interested in what we have to offer with the restaurant, event spaces as well as our cookery school. I’m very excited to be given this opportunity, a new restaurant in a great location and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
 
Since opening in 2003, restaurants within the James Street South Group of restaurants have been recognised for food and service excellence by the Michelin guide, the Waitrose Food Guide, Food & Wine Magazine and in the prestigious Georgina Campbell awards.

Waterman opened at 5pm on June 10 with walk-ins only over the weekend. From week commencing June 13, the restaurant opens Thursday to Sunday.

For more information, please visit: http://www.waterman.house

The #FoodOscars in conjunction with the Restaurant Association of Ireland are back! Online nominations have opened up, have your say before 22nd June here: https://www.irishtimes.com/sponsored/restaurant-awards-ireland

Good luck!