Seaweed Companies Take Top Prizes at Blas Na hEireann Irish Food Awards
Two seaweed companies took top prizes at this year’s Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. Food NI members Kilkeel-based Crawford’s Rock Seaweed won the Best New Product Award. The winning product is a Seaweed Seasoning with Garlic and Rosemary . Their Seaweed Seasoning also won Best in County Down and a Bronze award.
There was another big award for Islander Kelp who won Best Seafood Innovation for their Spiced Relish.
The awards are the largest blind-tasted food awards on the island of Ireland. The prizes were announced online this year instead of in Dingle.
Maud’s Ice Cream took the Best in Ulster Shane McArdle Award for their Poor Bear’s Delight.
There were Best in County awards for Broighter Gold Lemon Rapeseed Oil (Derry-Londonderry), (Broighter Gold also won Silver for Rapeseed Oil) Ispini Charcuterie (Tyrone) and Holmes Bakery (Armagh) won for their Flakemeal Biscuit.
In the Meat section, Karro Group from Cookstown won Gold for Dunnes Stores Irish Centre Cooked Ham and Bronze for Cookstown Maple Cured Back Rashers. Ispini Charcuterie from Tyrone took all the prizes in their category with Gold for their Mace Coppa, Silver for Stout and Molasses Lomo and Bronze for Garlic and Black Pepper Salami. Hellbent Sausages won Bronze for their Boerewors.
In Poultry, there was Silver for Cavanagh Free-Range Eggs from Fermanagh. Glenballyeamon Eggs took Bronze.
In the Dairy section there was a Bronze award for Glastry Farm’s Pear Pear Sorbet and Silver for Ballylisk of Armagh’s Triple Rose cheese.
In Savoury Snacks and Drinks, Glens of Antrim Crisps took Silver for Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand-Cooked Clogherhead Sea Salt and White Wine Vinegar Crisps. Troughtons Premium Mixers won Silver for Cucumber and Mint Tonic and Bronze for Cloudy Sicilian Lemonade, Silver for Armagh Cider Company’s Sweet Cider, Bronze for Long Meadow’s Blossom Burst Cider
In the Bakery section, the Cookie Jar won Gold for their Soda Bread Mix and Genesis Crafty won Bronze for Signature Hand Crafted Mince Pies.
Craic Foods took home a Chef’s Larder award for their Shio Koji Black Garlic Ketchup
In the Savoury Pantry section Annie’s Delights took Gold for Tomato Chilli Chutney. Harnett’s Hemp Oil won Bronze. Deli Muru won Silver for Sweet Red Pepper and Chilli Sauce. Burren Balsamics won Bronze for their Black Garlic Infused Balsamic Vinegar.
Sea Sugar sweets won Gold and Silver for Peach and Raspberry Pulled Sweets and Rhubarb and Strawberry Pulled Sweets in the Sweet Pantry Confectionery category. Taste Joy won Gold for their Double Roasted Crunchy Peanut Butter, Annie’s Delights took Silver for Lime Curd and Taste Joy rounded off the Sweet Spreads category with a Bronze for Double Roasted Smooth Peanut Butter.
Food NI CEO Michele Shirlow said “This year has been more challenging than any other so I am delighted that so many Food NI members have done so well at these awards. It really gives a boost to producers to know that what they are doing is award-winning. Thanks also to Artie and Fallon at Blas nah Eireann for their tireless work in making sure these important awards went ahead.
