Tipperary family have firm chance to win one of world’s most coveted food awards for second time
A tasty rack of lamb produced by James Whelan Butchers gives the Clonmel, Co Tipperary family firm a chance to win one of the world’s most coveted food awards for a second time, .
James Whelan Butchers won the Great Taste Supreme Championship in 2015, and two of the company’s products have won three-star accolades this year, giving them a double shot at the finals in September.
Pork lard is the other James Whelan Butchers product given three stars by the Great Taste judges.
They tested 12,336 products from around the world in 2017, awarding stars for 4,347 products, of which a remarkable 444 came from Ireland. Three stars were awarded for 165 products, including nearly a dozen from the Republic of Ireland, and several products from Northern Ireland.
The SuperValu chain has two three-star products in 2017 — Lamb Leg with Garlic and Rosemary, and SuperValu Creme Fraiche.
The Kilkree Gold Manuka MGO 100 Honey is a three-star winner for Aldi Stores Ireland, and Simply Better French Epoisse Cheese AOC has won the same top award for Dunnes Stores.
Bewley’s is an Irish three-star winner for its Grumpy Mule Guatemala Santa Paula Natural coffee.
Other Irish three-star products in 2017 include:
n Smoked Black Pudding made by Hugh Maguire Ltd, Ashbourne, Co Meath.
n Graham’s Horseradish Sauce made by Kearns Foods, Slane, Co Meath.
n Yeats Country Sour Cream made by Green Pastures, Donegal.
n Artisan Beech Smoked Salmon made by Ballyhack Smokehouse, Co Wexford.
Swaledale Lamb Rack is a three-star winner for the UK division of Dawn Meats.
The 2017 Top 50 Foods will be announced later this month, and the Supreme Champion and regional awards will be announced on September 4 in London.
Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.
