The folk at Belfast Food Tours believe the best way to get to know a place is to taste it. The tour takes you on a culinary walk through the city, lasting around four and a half hours, starting at the historic St George’s Market and then on to 6 other top “foodie” destinations, ending in the Cathedral Quarter – tasting and sipping all the way! What better way to experience Belfast than with a local who is passionate about showing off the fine products Northern Ireland has to offer, and where best to try them!
There is no need to eat breakfast or lunch on the day you do the tour, and you should leave the car behind. The tour is for locals and tourists alike. You just need to love good food and bring your appetite.
The places they visit are a surprise and that’s part of the fun.
Fellow Food NI members featured include Passion Preserved, Ann’s Pantry, Abernethy Butter, Keen Nutrition, SD Bell, Suki Tea, Leggygowan Cheese, Broighter Gold, Suki Tea, Hilden Brewery, Hannan Meats and Tyndale Goat to name a few.
One Trip Advisor reviewer said there was “no better way to spend the day”. We totally agree!
Tours on Saturdays but they will also run on Fridays and Sundays at peak times.
Gift vouchers, Belfast Bar Tours, private bookings and bespoke tours available.’
Robert Neill has covered the best part of twenty years working within the various departments of the UK wine trade beginning in retail then eventually into the wine wholesale market selling directly to the hospitality industry. In 2002 he set up his own wine importation and distribution business up to present day through Neill & Co.Fine Wine Importers (Trade) and Neill Wine (Retail).
Robert’s reputation has been built on knowledge, honesty and the ability to offer a wide range of products that brilliantly capture their regional and varietal styles at an unbeatable price.
Neil Wine has a wholesale division supplying to many restaurants, hotels and golf clubs across Northern Ireland as well as two retail outlets in North Down. They import wine from all the major wine producing regions of the world and as an independent their wines are exclusive to their two retail outlets. They have fully embraced the current buzz around local craft beer and ‘The Beer Wall’ at Neill Wine in Groomsport is a beer lover’s delight!
The big red tractor on top of the Hillstown farm shop is the inspiration for one of the craft beers made by Hillstown Brewery. Their Massey Red is part of a 5 strong range. The microbrewery hasn’t been in operation for very long, but it’s already won a Great Taste Award for their Rye Hybrid Goats Butt brews. It has delicious ripe summer fruit flavours and aromas of banana with a gentle spice note from the rye.
Then there’s The Spitting Llama. They call it Ireland’s Champion Belgian Ale, a strong golden ale packed full of aromatic spices. Horny Bull Stout is a full bodied stout bursting with flavours of coffee, liquorice, chocolate and a huge addition of fruity hops perfectly balanced with roasted flavours.
Creating the perfect espresso is a blend of science, training, practice, patience, engineering and passion. You will taste the difference and so will your customers. 38 is why they are different – from light roasts to dark roasts, the one constant is 38.
It’s what’s in the cup that counts and it’s what’s in the cup that your customers will judge you on and ultimately determine if they come back. They never lose focus that it is all about what your customers enjoy. They start this process by sourcing the finest green beans and carefully developing them until they reach your cup.
They are obsessive about it – The Perfect Espresso doesn’t just happen.
“An individual step in training is to put faith in the individual”
Full regular and complimentary training, either on or off site (you decide) is a key factor in the coffee you sell. 38 Espresso is committed to maintaining your quality and consistency.
38 Espresso supplies a full range of equipment, with full in house company employed service team providing 7 day cover.
Felicia Matheson has a Diploma in Wine and Spirits. She’s also a wine and beer judge and is working towards being a beer sommelier. She knows her craft drinks in December 2013, she saw a business opportunity in the sector.
“I worked in the wine trade and while there were lots of specialist wine distributors, there were hardly any for beers and spirits” says Felicia.
She set Prohibition Ltd to curate and distribute craft drinks within Northern Ireland. That market has now grown so much she is able to export NI craft drinks to the UK and beyond. She also has a range of drinks from the Republic of Ireland and the UK in her range.
“It’s not just about selling beer, it’s also about education and training” says Felicia. “I do a lot of tastings, beer dinners and tap takeovers. It’s getting busier every day!”
Since successfully crowd-funding their beer brewing robot via Kickstarter in 2013 the Belfast-based team at Brewbot have been on a worldwide quest to switch people on to brewing. The team invented a robot that brews beer, controlled and monitored using a smartphone app.
Their latest venture is a bar situated on the thriving Ormeau Road area of Belfast. The bar boasts 12 rotating taps featuring the best beer from across the world, as well as showcasing the best in local. In addition to the draught list they have over 300 bottles of beer behind the bar.
Also on offer is craft beer cocktail list, pairing the best in craft beer with the best in local craft spirits—the first of its kind in Ireland—and a food menu featuring a selection of charcuterie, cheese and bread boards, with hot food options like pasties, open pies and sausage rolls like they ought to be. Pork scratchings too! Yum!!
OPENING HOURS
Monday-Saturday 9am–1am Sunday 12pm–12am
