We’re so excited to see another artisan cheese producer in Northern Ireland. Dart Mountain Cheese belongs to the Tamnagh Foods group based in the Sperrin Mountains area of County Derry.
They have worked together with Northbound Brewery in Derry, another Food NI member and Great Taste Winners to create Northern Ireland’s only washed ale cheese Banagher Bold, using their No. 26 Pale Ale. Their long aged Tirkeeran Cheese, due for release May 2016, is eagerly awaited.
They want the range to reflect the landscape of the area. They live just below the peaks of Dart Mountain and Sawel Mountain, the highest, both visible from their dairy. Every single cheese is produced using traditional methods with a dedication to hygiene, quality and flavour. It’s all made on site at the purpose-built facility, where they also make granolas, chutneys and relishes under the Tamnagh Food brands.
This Irish artisan food company has been quietly working away in the Sperrin Mountains in County Derry since 2010. Owner Julie Hickey has been involved in the food industry for more than 18 years both as a chef and a restaurant owner. She handcrafts small batches of great tasting award winning granola, relish and chutney under their Tamnagh Foods brand. It’s all done on site at their modern approved food unit.
The granola is either flavoured with maple fruit and nuts or honey, nuts and seeds. The relishes and chutneys are all free from artificial flavourings and colourings.
These are committed people. They’re committed to the principles of artisan production – with the minimum use of machines to maximise the natural flavours of the food. They are also committed to the environment – they source locally to keep food miles down, ensure traceability and recycle to minimise waste. And they are committed to food integrity – they source directly from local farms to guarantee traceability and to improve spend in their local community.
This town is home to the famous Comber Early Potato, which has special EU PGI status. With such fine foodie credentials, it needed a farmers’ market, and that’s exactly what the good people of Comber did to regenerate their town and boost the local economy. The market is supported by Comber Regeneration Community Partnership and is managed by a team of volunteers. Morning tea, coffee and home baked treats are provided by the catering team of St Mary’s Parish Church in the church hall.
On the first Thursday of every month, the market is held in the car park of St Mary’s Parish Church beside the Square in Comber. Local food producers, growers and bakers sell their produce at market value prices to a wide range of customers. Usually there are 22 stands with everything from fudge to fadge. The market has been so successful that there is a waiting list to book stalls.
This is an artisan food market (there are no crafts or fast food) selling the highest quality local, fresh, seasonal produce made by people who are passionate about producing food for people who are passionate about cooking and eating food!
First Thursday of every month 9.00am- 1.30pm. Closed on Thursday, 1 January 2015.
This trendy Lisburn Road bar and restaurant is based on the elegant sophistication of old-school America. Here they combine very slick décor, a stonking array of drinks and an exciting menu filled with offerings like Duck bon-bons with rocket and plum and ginger jam, oak-cured salmon with watercress pannacotta and 21 day dry-hung steaks with all of the trimmings.
There’s fine dining on the wine evenings and on Thursdays at the Curry Club from 5-9pm, you can have curry and a pint for just £7.95.
It’s open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with a loyal Sunday lunch crowd, some of whom will have had a great Saturday night in the bar and want to make the weekend last as long as it can. Those Sunday roasts are a true Taste of Ulster. For great food, drinks and style from an award-winning team, look no further.
Opening Times
Mon-Sat 12pm- 1am. Sunday 12pm-12am.
Food served daily 12pm-10pm Mon- Sat, 12pm-9pm Sundays.
Bean to Bar Stone Ground Chocolate made from single origin cocoa beans. Rebel Fudgery (nothing traditional), Hot Chocolate and Almond Butter Cups. Gluten Free and Dairy Free Range.
The NerayNog family have been pairing best quality chocolate with winning flavour combinations for years in South Armagh. The quest to source ethically grown chocolate made with no unnecessary ingredients wasn’t easy. Being adventurous, they sourced single cocoa beans from fair trade farms in Ecuador, Peru & Madagascar. NearyNogs now sort, roast, crack, winnow, stonegrind and then temper small batches of cocoa beans to make beautiful hand crafted chocolate.
Rebel Fudgery flavours are plenty! Sea salted caramel, sea salted chocolate, chai, espresso, orange basil &poppyseed, lemon & green tea, chilli, chocolate, mojito, whiskey salted caramel, toasted walnut etc.
Do you ever wish for a European-style coffee house that cook and bake fresh food every day while also caring passionately about their coffee? Well, wish no more. Oliver’s Coffee Bar on Belfast’s stylish Belmont Road is just that place. Its design is industrial but with an emphasis on comfort.
The ambience is equalled by their attention to fresh local produce. Their bread is freshly baked by award winning baker Stephen Chisholm, his sourdough sells out every morning.
They have built a very strong reputation for their food and coffee, winning a UK-wide Best Breakfast award for 2015.
They have introduced an evening menu and have also recently opened a deli @ 69 Belmont Road, where you can purchase their very popular coffee and sandwiches for takeaway along with their large range of cooked and cured meats which can be seen hanging from the traditional hooks.
Oliver’s have earned a great reputation for their homemade Granola and award winning scones. One of their raspberry and white chocolate scones accompanied with locally made Abernethy butter, which they also stock, is a sublime combination.
So if you see the lights on in the middle of the night, that’ll be Stephen and his team creating another batch of bread ready in time for sunrise and another busy day at this wonderful coffee shop.
Opening hours 7 days a week –
Monday – Friday 8:30 to 9:00 Saturday 8:30 to 5:00 Sunday 10:00 to 4:00
