Ireland’s ever-growing and improving food sector and some of the country’s best sightseeing spots were showcased to an international audience of experts over the last week as the Great Taste Awards came to Tipperary.

Fifty years of hard work has really paid off for the family-run Quinlan’s Kerryfish — the business struck gold twice at the Great Taste Awards.

The Menu is packing his theatre binoculars with the mother-of-pearl inlay and his most elasticated cummerbund for what promises to be a splendid evening of theatrical and culinary high-jinks at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre throughout the month of August. 

Taking a creative approach to an age-old dish, Dublin company Nobó has invented a new ice-cream that doesn’t have dairy or additives but which does have good export potential, writes Trish Dromey.

Irish food producers have cleaned up at this year’s Great Taste Awards — the world’s largest blind-tasted food awards — with local suppliers for the likes of Aldi and SuperValu going down a treat with a judging panel comprising of leading chefs and food critics.

Bord Bia has announced the organisation’s latest round of recruitment to select 20 graduates for the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship.

A Kinsale-based company has proved pick of the bunch at this year’s Great Taste Awards.

It’s been a very good year for Stonewell Cider, both because of the sunshine and because the South Cork cider has just scooped two gold awards at the UK Great Taste Awards.

The Cork-based spice company Green Saffron has doubled the number of employees from six to 12 in the last two years.

Food business start-ups can now avail of a near two-third fee support for UCC’s part-time diploma in specialty food production under a new Department of Agriculture bursary.

Preserves producer G’s Gourmet Jams and Abbey Farm Foods has signed a contract to supply renowned British retailer Fortnum and Mason.

Great Taste 2012 Award Winners

Catherine Ketch looks ahead to Monday’s announcement of the 2012 Great Taste supreme champion

An award-winning yoghurt maker in West Cork will make “strong profits” this year after going into the red last year.

A year after the brand was launched, Sarah’s Wonderful Honey has celebrated the range’s first anniversary with a prestigious Great Taste 2012 award.

A Cork company has almost eclipsed Katie Taylor by punching above its weight to win 16 golds at a prestigious food-tasting competition.

Connacht Gold has been awarded the highest accolade of three stars for its softer butter at the UK and Ireland Great Taste Awards 2012.

IN the final run-in to Christmas, business is booming at the Blue Haven Food Company as last-minute orders are readied for supermarket shelves around the country.

A RECORD 240 food and drink products from Ireland have won a 2011 Great Taste Award.

WEST Cork food producer Caherbeg Free Range Pork has just won a highly respected French award for its Rosscarbery Recipes White Pudding range.

SEVENTEEN Irish-made products sold by German discount supermarket group Aldi have been nominated at one of the premier national food awards.

AN extraordinary number of food producers in Munster have won international acclaim at the 2010 Great Taste Awards held in London.

THE Great Taste Awards have brought confirmation for more than 100 Irish farmers that they are up there with the best.

Stephen Cadogan says winning eight of the top honours in the 2010 Great Taste awards represents unprecedented success for our food industry.

EIGHT Irish food companies are among those first in line for the overall prizes in Britain’s foremost food competition, the 2010 Great Taste Awards.

* LOOK out for fresh new season asparagus at your local farmers’ market. Check out www.irelandmarkets.com — this site will give you details of the farmers’ market closest to you. It also lists country markets in your area.

A WATERFORD-BASED premium foods firm which is only three months in full production has been selected as a supplier of products to Harrods’ Food Hall.