Most demanding palates are salivating over Irish products
Getting into this list of the finest foods and drinks is a prestigious honour, and a great marketing boost
Some of the world’s most demanding palates have been salivating over Irish products, in the judging for this year’s Great Taste awards.
Out of 12,336 products judged, 4,347 got the Great Taste accolade, and 444 of these came from the Republic of Ireland (with an additional 180 Northern Ireland products also making the cut).
Tasters remarked on the “fabulous long lasting and clean pork flavour” of the James Whelan Butchers’ Pork Lard, a natural and clear lard made from slowly rendered back fat, made in Clonmel, and one of the Republic of Ireland’s 12 products to get the top accolade of three stars.
Equally impressive was the “gentle pepper warmth, saliva-inducing aroma and careful smoke, which whooshes across the tongue”, of the Smoked Black Pudding traditionally made by Hugh Maguire in Ashbourne, Co Meath, smoked over beech wood chippings for 45 minutes.
From Co Wexford, Ballyhack Smokehouse’s “firm yet melt in the mouth” salmon is slowly smoked over beech wood chips in a 70-year-old smoker giving it a “wonderful smokiness,” according to judges — who this year included chef, food writer and author Gill Meller; MasterChef judge and restaurant critic Charles Campion; author and Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen chef Zoe Adjonyoh; baker Tom Herbert; and food writer and baking columnist Martha Collison, as well as food buyers from Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
Getting into this annual list of the very finest food and drink items is a prestigious honour, and a great marketing boost, for Irish produce.
Organised by the Guild of Great Food, the Great Taste awards are recognised as a stamp of excellence, with the award-winning foods finding space on the shelves of Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges.
Munster can claim five of our 3-star winning products in 2017. James Whelan Butchers’ Rack of Lamb also got three stars, while SuperValu made the list with two products — Lamb Leg with Garlic and Rosemary, and SuperValu Creme Fraiche.
And Limerick’s Masterchefs Hospitality have a Goats Cheese, Spinach & Caramelised Red Onion Quiche that garnered a 3-star rating.
Only 165 out of the 12,336 products judged were awarded 3-stars.
Along with the Republic of Ireland’s 12 products, Northern Ireland had nine.
Of the 1,011 products awarded the 2-star accolade, the Republic of Ireland had 97 and Northern Ireland 46.
Watch out for the gold and black Great Taste logo on products. According to the judges, 3-star means “Exquisite, Wow! Taste that”; 2-star means “Outstanding”; and 1-star means “Simply delicious”.
Anticipation is high to see which products scoop the top awards for their regions, and who’ll be crowned Supreme Champion 2017. These ultimate awards will be announced in London on Monday, September 4.
Here are the Irish 3-star winners by county, product, company and location.
CORK
SuperValu Lamb Leg with Garlic & Rosemary, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, Tramore Road.
SuperValu Creme Fraiche, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland.
DONEGAL
Yeats Country Sour Cream, Green Pastures Donegal, Convoy.
DUBLIN
Dunnes Stores Simply Better French Epoisse Cheese AOC, Dunnes Stores.
KILDARE
Nutmost Tamari Activated Almonds, Nutmost, Moone.
Aldi Kilkree Gold Manuka MGO 100, Aldi Stores Ireland Ltd, Naas.
LIMERICK
Goats Cheese, Spinach & Caramelised Red Onion Quiche, Chefs & Bakers, Ballysimon Road, Limerick.
MEATH
Graham’s Horseradish Sauce, Kearns Foods Limited, Stackallen, Slane.
Smoked Black Pudding, Hugh Maguire Ltd, Ashbourne.
TIPPERARY
Rack of Lamb, James Whelan Butchers, 18 Staunton Row, Clonmel.
Pork Lard, James Whelan Butchers.
WEXFORD
Artisan Beech smoked Salmon, Ballyhack Smokehouse, New Ross.
The Irish 2-star winners.
CLARE
Dry Aged T.Bone Steak, B. Molloy Master Butchers, Ennis.
Flaggy Shore Oysters, Redbank Food Co, New Quay, Burren.
Burren Hot Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Black Pepper, Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoonvarna.
CORK
Finnbarra Rós, Finnbarra Cider. Stonewell Cider, Carrigaline.
Black Twist, Rubicon Centre CIT, Bishopstown.
SuperValu Signature Tastes Pink Grapefruit Juice, Musgrave Retail Partners.
SuperValu Signature Tastes Luxury Mincemeat, Musgrave Retail Partners
SuperValu Signature Taste Beechwood Smoked Rack of Irish Hampshire Bacon, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland
SuperValu Signature Taste Irish Hampshire Pork T-Bone Steak, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland
SuperValu Sour Cream, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland
Supervalu Signature Tastes Gubbeen, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland.
SuperValu Signature Tastes Jewel Topped Pudding 908grm, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland
Hanleys Traditional white pudding, Hanleys Puddings, Mitchelstown.
Smoked Dry Cured Streaky Bacon, Irish Bacon Slicers, Ballincollig.
Milleens, Milleens Cheese, Eyeries.
Macroom Buffalo Ricotta, Macroom Buffalo Cheese Products
Cully & Sully Hearty Chicken & Vegetable Soup, Cully & Sully, Boreenmanna Road.
Pork Rillettes, On The Pig’s Back, La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd, English Market.
Mella’s Irish Butter Salted Caramel Fudge, Mella’s Fudge, Lisavaird Co-op, Clonakilty.
DONEGAL
Yeats Country Spreadable Goats Cheese, Green Pastures, Convoy.
Donegal Rapeseed Oil infused with Lemon, Donegal Rapeseed Company, Raphoe.
DUBLIN
Baxter & Greene Cauliflower and Cheddar Soup, Dunnes Stores
Baxter & Greene Curried Parsnip, Celeriac, and Apple Soup, Dunnes Stores
Baxter & Greene Chicken Liver Pate, Dunnes Stores
Pow-Cow Natural Quark, PowCow, Dublin 4.
Crafty Brewing Company Irish Stout, Lidl Ireland GmbH, Tallaght.
Deluxe Organic Wafer Oats, Lidl Ireland
Deluxe Duck Breast with garlic & pepper, Lidl Ireland GmbH
Lidl Deluxe Irish Cherry & Pecan topped Christmas Pudding with Orange
Deluxe Raspberry and Hazelnut Roulade, Lidl Ireland GmbH
Low GI Multiseed Cob, Lidl Ireland GmbH
Celeste, Watermark Coffee Technology Limited, Dublin 24.
Espresso and walnut roulade, Fusco Foods, Blackrock.
Chocolate mocha roulade, Fusco Foods
Bewley’s Earl Grey Pyramid Teabags, Bewley’s, Malahide Road.
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Pressed Pure Wexford Apple Juice 750ml, Dunnes Stores, Dublin 2.
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Sicilian DOP Val Di Mazara Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Italian Made Raspberry Lemon Sorbet.
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Italian Made Mango & Passion Fruit Sorbet.
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Seville Orange Marmalade, Dunnes Stores, address as above.
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Made Fruit & Nut Muesli with Red Berries
Honey and Hazelnut, Ó hArtagáin Bakery,Rathfarnham.
Lentil Dahl, Morehampton Foods Ltd, Clondalkin.
Peanut & Coconut Butter, Morehampton Foods Ltd.
Dunnes Stores Prepared Selection Broccoli, Quinoa & Kale with a lemon and chive butter
Lamb Empanada, Mora Foods Ltd, Broombridge Business Centre
Tesco Finest Black Tellicherry Peppercorn Grinder, Tesco Ireland, Dun Laoghaire.
Tesco Finest Beechwood Smoked Dry Cured Streaky Rashers.
KILDARE
Kill Lager, Trouble Brewing, Kill.
Nutmost Maple Activated Walnuts, Nutmost, Belan, Moone.
Aldi Kavanaghs Organic Porridge Oats, Aldi Stores Ireland Ltd, Naas.
Aldi Specially Selected Tipperary Blue.
KILKENNY
Mileeven Manuka Honey MGO 250, Mileeven Fine Foods, Piltown.
LIMERICK
Sea Salted Caramel Spread, MoonRiver Chocolates, Redgate Road.
BeeActiv Raw Ivy Honey, BeeActiv, Hartnett Centre, LIT, Moylish.
Apple Chai Shrubs, Ballyhoura Apple Farm, Kilfinane.
Raspberry Vinegar, Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms, Ballylanders.
LOUTH
Greenbean Londinium Blend, Greenbean Coffee Roasters, Dundalk.
Carlingford Oysters, Carlingford Oyster Co Ltd.
MAYO
Achill Mountain Lamb Rack, Achill Mountain Lamb, Westport.
Wildwood Aged Balsamic Blackberry Vinegar, Wildwood Vinegars, Ballina. Wildwood wild blackberry vinegar.
MEATH
Boyne Valley Blue, Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese, Slane.
Boyne Brewhouse, IPA, Na Cuana, Boyne Brewhouse, Drogheda.
Boyne Brewhouse Irish Craft Saison.
MONAGHAN
Silver Hill Whole Fresh Duck, Silver Hill Farm, Emyvale.
Homemade Brown Bread, IGWT Meeting House Farmshop & Café, Castleblayney.
OFFALY
Irish Stout Penny Loaf, O’Donohues Bakery Ltd., Tullamore.
Seeded Soda Penny Loaf, O’Donohues Bakery Ltd.
Dandelion Petal Shrub, The Wild Irish Foragers, Millhouse Farm, Birr.
ROSCOMMON
SuperValu Signature Taste Roasting Beechwood Smoked Silverside of Irish Hampshire Bacon, Oliver Carty, Athlone.
Oliver Carty Irish Hampshire Dry Cure Cooked Ham with a Sticky Apricot Glaze
Rosé Veal T-Bone Steak, Gilligan’s Farm, Four Mile House
SLIGO
Pear & Pecan Tart, Elizabeth Ann Dessert Collection, Riverstown.
TIPPERARY
Cashel Blue, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers, J&L Grubb Ltd, Fethard.
Crozier Blue, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers.
Blackcurrant Jam, Ayle Foods, Oola.
Quince & Medlar Jelly, Crossogue Preserves Ltd,Thurles.
Rib Roast of Beef, James Whelan Butchers, Clonmel.
Columbian Single Origin, Ponaire Coffee Roastery, Newport.
Lomo Extra Maturado, ABP Cahir.Tipperary Gold Dry Aged Certified Irish Angus Rib Eye Joint, ABP Cahir.
Platinum Prime Certified Irish Shorthorn Rib Eye Steaks, ABP Cahir.
WATERFORD
WBS Oyster, Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd, Dunmore East.
Flahavan’s Irish Oaty Cranberry & Orange Flapjack, E. Flahavan & Sons Ltd, Kilmacthomas.
Natures Meadow Lamb Chump garnished with a rosemary drizzle and sprig, Dawn Meats, Waterford.
West of Ireland Rack of lamb, Dawn Meats
WESTMEATH
Supernova espresso, Bell Lane Coffee Company, , Mullingar.
WEXFORD
Killowen Farm Greek Style Yogurt with Wexford Rhubarb, Greenvalley Farms Ltd., Enniscorthy.
Wexford Home Preserves Clementine Marmalade, Wexford Home Preserves, New Ross.
Smoked Irish Organic Salmon, Ballyhack Smokehouse,New Ross.
Hazelnut Gelato, Natural Ice cream Wholesale Ltd, Wexford Enterprise Centre.
Stafford’s Bakery Chia & Wholegrain Bread, Staffords Bakery, Gorey
Scone Bread, Staffords Bakery
WICKLOW
Fresh Basil Pesto, Avoca Handweavers Ltd, Kilmacanogue.
Dry Cured Back Rashers, O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co, Enniscorthy.
