FROM over 800 entries, the judges and organisers of the National Irish Food Awards, Blas na hÉireann, have come up with the list of the best of the best when it comes to food produce in this country. A large selection hail from the Munster region while a chosen few adorn our very Golden Vale.
Log on to www.irishfoodawards.com to see the full list, but congratulations to all as the Cocoa Bean Company started off the victory proceedings in the first section, chocolate, by scooping bronze for their Apricot Amareto.
Irish Yoghurts had a clean sweep in the yoghurts section while Limerick producers took gold and silver in the cheese section as both Glenstal Foods and Old Irish Creamery thrilled the judges. Look to Nenagh as Superquinn – AIBP Nenagh sausages scooped silver in their category.
Not for the first time, but a trip to the Burren smokehouse will get you the best smoked salmon around. Aldi feature with their Angus fillet steak in the meats section, while our very own Collette Farrell takes bronze as her Natures Bounty Ruby Grapefruit Marmalade features in the preserves, conserve and marmalades section.
Head to the Milk Market on a Saturday and find Nora and Dave McCaffrey at the Sallymills stand and look for some of their silver medal winning Carrot loaf.
For the supreme champion at Blas Na hEireann, find your way to a SuperValu store and hunt down the Supreme Truffle Fudge Ice Cream, for that is said to be the best of all.
Some of the winners:
Chocolate, BRONZE Skelligs and Cocoa Bean co – Apricot Amareto
Yoghurts, GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE Irish Yoghurts at Aldi and Supervalu
Cheese, GOLD Glenstal Foods, Ltd – Aldi Irish vintage red cheddar; SILVER Old Irish Creamery – Oak smoked Cheddar
Sausages, SILVER Superquinn – AIBP Nenagh sausages , leek and pepper
Fish and Seafood, GOLD Burren Smokehouse – smoked Irish salmon
Functional and Health Foods, GOLD Minihans – Chocolate and Hazelnut Torte from Clare
Preserves, Conserves, Marmalade, BRONZE Nature’s Bounty – Ruby grapefruit marmalade
Cakes, SILVER SallyMills- Carrot loaf
Supreme champion: Silverpail – SuperValu Supreme truffle fudge ice cream
