Irish products tasting success
Products from the Republic came from many ends of the food spectrum, and from a scattering of geographical locations.
Three gold star winners included:
beef dripping from the Tipperary Food Producers, made by James Whelan butchers in Clonmel.
Northern Ireland rapeseed oil made by the Donegal Rapeseed Oil Company.
salt with dill pollen from Irish Atlantic Sea Salt.
sea salt caramel made by The Cloudberry Bakery in Castlemaine, Co Kerry.
coffee from Dragonfly Espresso in Mullingar.
a Fortnum and Mason Panama Esmeralda Special coffee.
dairy free ice cream made by nobó in Dublin.
Each year, thousands of producers enter this massive food awards competition, which draws largely from the UK and Ireland.
The numbers have risen steadily in recent years, with an incredible 10,000 entrants for 2014.
This year, there were 153 three-star gold winners, 697 two-star, and 2,531 one-star awards. In total, 89 Irish products received two or three stars, with a large number also receiving one star.
Amongst the two star winners were some rising luminaries, such as Cork’s Green Saffron and Cuinneog Irish Butter.
Established stalwarts such as the Burren Smokehouse, Oliver Carty, Murphy’s Ice Cream, and Flahavans, were also nestled comfortably into the two gold medal category.
Co Tipperary had a good showing.
In total, 16 one, two or three gold stars were awarded to the producers in the Premier county, including Cashel Blue and Cooleeney, both two gold star winners for their cheeses. Con Traas (the Apple Farm), Michael Seymour (Sheepwalk Farm), Mags Bergin (Mag’s Home Baking), Vera Miklas and Cate McCarthy (the Cookie Jar), and Pat Whelan (Whelan Butchers) all entered and won medals under the Tipperary Food Producers banner.
The large number of Irish winners which were supermarket own-branded was noteworthy, especially when compared to the UK.
Almost one in five of the two-star Irish winners were from Supervalu/Musgraves, Aldi Ireland, Lidl Ireland, Dunnes Stores, or Tesco Ireland.
In Ireland, more so than the UK, some small to medium-sized quality producers do a range for a multiple or discounter, alongside with their typical fare.
Examples from 2014 include a cheese from Gubbeen (Musgraves), and craft beer by O’Sheas (Aldi), both of which won two gold stars.
A judging session was held in Belfast this year, and Northern Irish producers certainly stepped up.
Moira-based company Hannan Meats has no fewer than seven three gold star awards in 1014, recognition of its quality meat products: Hannans claim to have the world’s largest Himalayan Salt Chamber, and six of its seven awards were for products salted in this fashion.
Peter Hannan’s company is a previous Great Taste supreme champion.
In total, 255 Northern Ireland food producers were presented with one, two and three stars.
All three gold star winners are in the shortlist for the supreme champion awards.
This year, there will be a top 50 countdown on twitter.
For details of all winners, go to the www.finefoodworld.co.uk website.
