Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2014 Finalists Announced

Following a huge wave of entries and 8 days of tough judging, the shortlisted products for the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have been announced today. The 180 shortlisted food and drink products in 50 categories are now in with a chance to win one of the prestigious awards in a ceremony hosted by TV Chef and author Catherine Fulvio on 11th September in the Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin.

This year for the first time a panel of judges from Musgrave Retail Partners chose finalists for the Small Producer of the Year Award – designed to celebrate artisanal foods and drink in Ireland and sponsored by SuperValu. The winner will be offered a prestigious listing in SuperValu stores.

Small Producer of the Year Award (Listing in SuperValu) Finalists are:

 
· Chicken Liver Paté with Garlic & Brandy - On The Pig's Back c/o La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd
· Scotts Irish Cider - Big Hand Brewing Company Ltd
· Sweet BBQ Pulled Pork - Jack & Keith Molloy Bros. Ltd


Organiser, Helen Lyons, is thrilled with the success of the awards so far and said the judging was a “fantastic 8 days which brought together some of the very best food and drink on sale in Ireland and many of the Nation’s top foodies”.

The Irish Quality Food Awards set out to recognise excellence in product development for food and drink producers, retailers and catering companies in Ireland (North & South) with Q Awards being awarded across 50 different categories. The Overall Gold Q is awarded to the one product that stands out among all the other entries and is chosen from the winners of the main categories, representing the very best of the best.

Bruce Langlands, Director of Food & Beverage at Harrods and Co-chair of the IQFA Judging Panel

"The judging process encapsulates all elements of the product, from its ingredients, its cooking or serving suggestions and equally important, its packaging." said Bruce Langlands, Director of Food & Beverage at Harrods and Co-chair of the IQFA Judging Panel. "Unlike awards which judge products “blind” so that you cannot see the packaging, we do the exact opposite. We demand that our judges know as much as possible about the food and drink that they are sampling so they can respond as a consumer would – with their eyes first, and then with their nose and their mouth."

The awards are open to all retailers, food producers, wholesalers and food service operators across Northern and Southern Ireland. They are a unique collaboration between Food and Hospitality Ireland and the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards (now in its 33rd year) and sponsored by top UK packaging manufacturer, Benson Group as well as Invest Northern Ireland and MLS Labelling & Printing Systems.

All excess food from the judging was given to The Capuchin Centre for Homeless People, which provides warm food each day and more than 1800 food hampers a week to vulnerable people in Dublin and FareShare.

The Full List of Shortlisted Q-Award Finalists are:

Bagged Snacks
Judges' choice winner

Biscuits – Savoury and Sweet
Broderick's 6 Assorted and Indulgent Mini-Bites - Ina's Kitchen Desserts
My Family Favourites Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Wafer - Dunnes Stores / CKS
Simply Better All Butter White Chocolate and Raspberry Cookies - Dunnes Stores / Regale Biscuit Co.
Simply Better Irish Wholemeal Crackers - Dunnes Stores / Regale Biscuit Co.


Bread - Small Breads and Rolls
Black Olive Roll - Tesco / Panelto Foods
Italian Style White Baguette - Lidl / Panelto Foods
Multigrain Tuscan Roll - Lidl / Panelto Foods


Bread - Large Loaves
Fruit Loaf - Tesco / Irwin's Bakery
Low GI Multiseed Cob - Lidl / Mannings Bakery
Multiseed Vienna - Lidl / Aryzta


Bread - Morning Goods
Finest Muesli Bread - Tesco / Arytza
Genesis Crafty Blueberry Pancakes – Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty Mini Sultana Scones – Genesis Crafty


Bread - Speciality Breads
Cinnamon & Raisin Soda Bread - Lidl / WD Irwins & Sons
Four Cheese Loaf - Cuisine de France
Stout Bread - Lidl / WD Irwins & Sons


Bread - Wheaten and Soda Breads
Aldi Specially Selected Rustic Wheaten - Aldi / Stapletons Bakery
Genesis Crafty Toaster Wheaten - Genesis Crafty
Simply Better Buttermilk Soda Bread - Dunnes Stores / Neville's Bakery
Wheaten Soda Bannoch - Musgrave Retail Partners / McErlains Bakery


Cakes and Morning Goods
Apple & Blackberry Lattice Bar - Tesco / Golden Bake
Large Red Berry Scone - Lidl / Aryzta
Mini Carrot Cake Loaf - Tesco / Aryzta


Cereals
Aldi Organic Porridge - Aldi / Stafford Lynch
Kavanagh’s Luxury Fruit Porridge with Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Dusted Cranberries – Aldi / Stafford Lynch
Simply Better Irish Handmade Red Berry Granola - Dunnes Stores / The Foods of Athenry


Cheese
Irish Extra Mature Cheddar - Lidl / Dale Farm Dairies
Irish Vintage Cheddar - Lidl / Dale Farm Dairies
Simply Better Cashel Blue - Dunnes Stores / Traditional Cheese Company
Simply Better Cooleeney - Dunnes Stores / Traditional Cheese Company


Chocolate and Confectionery
Irish Chocolate Selection - Lidl / Lir Chocolates
Irish Cream Liqueur Chocolates - Lidl / Lir Chocolates
Yellowman Honeycomb Covered in Dark Chocolate - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd


Christmas Q - Christmas Cakes, Bakery and Desserts
Aldi Specially Selected 907g Irish Christmas Pudding - Aldi / Seerys Bakery
Aldi Specially Selected Chocolate Centred Christmas Pudding - Aldi / Seerys Bakery
Dunnes Stores 6 Deep Filled All Butter Mince Pies - Dunnes Stores / Sargeants Bakeries
Novelty Christmas Cake - Dunnes Stores / Sam's Cookies
SuperValu Pear & Cream Liqueur Chocolate Log - Musgrave Retail Partners / Sean Stafford's Bakery


Christmas Q - Christmas Chilled, Grocery Ambient, Meat, Fish & Savoury
Aldi Irish Cheese Board - Aldi / Horgans Deli
Fresh Three Bird Roast - Lidl / Hogan's Turkeys
Simply Better Cranberry Sauce - Dunnes Stores / Wexford Preserves
Simply Better Ham Glaze - Dunnes Stores / Wexford Preserves


Cold Beverages
Finest Orange Juice - Tesco / Keeling F Juices Ltd
Green Apple Beer (non-alcoholic) - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd
Simply Better Valencia Orange Juice - Dunnes Stores / Keeling F Juices Ltd


Dairy and Milk Products - Butters and Spreads
Connacht Gold Low Fat Butter - Aurivo Consumer Foods Ltd
Dairy Manor Irish Creamery Butter - Town of Monaghan Co-Op
Dairy Manor Unsalted Butter - Town of Monaghan Co-Op
Dairymaid Premium Spread – JDS Foods
Golden Cow Butter – Kerry Foods


Dairy and Milk Products - Yogurts
Aldi Specially Selected Handmade Farmhouse Raspberry Yogurt - Aldi / Killowen
Simply Better Handmade Blackberry & Apple Farmhouse Yogurt - Dunnes Stores / Green Valley Farms
Simply Better Handmade Lemon Curd Farmhouse Yogurt - Dunnes Stores / Green Valley Farms Ltd
SuperValu Signature Tastes Rhubarb Layer Yogurt - Musgrave Retail Partners / Killowen
SuperValu Signature Tastes Strawberry Yogurt - Musgrave Retail Partners / Irish Yogurts Ltd


Delicatessen – Antipasti
Carved Cajun Chicken Breast Slices - Lidl / Green Farm Foods
Dunnes Stores Italian Salami Milano - Dunnes Stores / Horgan's Delicatessen Supplies Ltd
Dunnes Stores Peppered Salami - Dunnes Stores / Horgan's Delicatessen Supplies Ltd
Pastrami Irish Beef - Tesco / O'Brien Fine Foods


Delicatessen - Other Deli Counter Products

Aldi Specially Selected Torn Ham with Herb & Onion - Aldi / Country Style
Brady Family Glazed Ham on the Bone - O'Brien Fine Foods
Denny Deli Style 100% Natural Ingredients Crumbed Ham - Kerry Foods
Duck Liver Paté - On The Pig's Back c/o La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd
Wild about Nettle Pesto - Wild About
Wiltshire Cured Ham on the Bone - Musgrave Retail Partners / O' Brien Fine Foods


Desserts and Puddings
Lemon Cheesecake - Lidl / Prestige Foods
SuperValu Signature Tastes Apple Tarte Tatin, Caramel Sauce - Musgrave Retail Partners / Couverture
SuperValu Signature Tastes Panacotta - Musgrave Retail Partners / Prestige Foods
Tesco Luxury All Butter Apple Tart - Tesco / Mannings Bakery


Fish - Fresh Fish
Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed Marinade - Burren Smokehouse Ltd
Burren Hot Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Honey, Lemon & Dill - Burren Smokehouse Ltd
Glenarm Organic Smoked Salmon - Glenarm Organic Salmon
Simply Better Dublin Bay Prawn Cocktail - Dunnes Stores / Nolan Seafoods
Simply Better Honey and Dill Smoked Salmon - Dunnes Stores / Burren Smokehouse Ltd


Fish - Fresh Fish Dishes
Cajun Salmon Darnes – Tesco / Goodfish
Dublin Bay Prawn Cocktail - Lidl / William Carr & Sons
Fish For Two Salmon With Soy Sauce and Ginger - Musgrave Retail Partners / Dunn's of Dublin
Seafood Chowder - Lidl / Galmere


Food To Go
Chicken With Garam Masala Soup - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire
Classic Fruit Salad - Lidl / Fresh Cut Food Services
Tesco Open Salmon Sandwich on Soda Bread - Tesco / Freshways
Tesco Pearl Barley Salad with Basil Dressing - Tesco / Nature's Best


Free From - Chilled & Savoury
Aldi 'Has No' Baps (White) - Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
Aldi 'Has No' Delicious Soft White Bread - Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
Mallon's Gluten Free/Low Fat Leek & Pepper Sausages - Arthur Mallon Foods
Mallon's Gluten Free and Low Fat Sausages - Arthur Mallon Foods
Rudd's Gluten Free Sausages - O'Brien Fine Foods


Free From – Sweet
Aldi 'Has No' Muffins (Lemon) - Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
Cashew, Almond and Cinnamon Gluten Free Granola – Maria Lucia Bakes Ltd
Cranberry, Coconut and Chia Seed Gluten Free Granola – Maria Lucia Bakes Ltd


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry – Bacon
Irish Honeycure Back Bacon Rashers - Lidl / Honeyvale Foods
Irish Smoked Maple Cure Back Bacon Rashers - Lidl / Honeyvale Foods
Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Rashers - Dunnes Stores / Callan Bacon
SuperValu Thick Cut Rasher with 100% Natural Ingredients - Musgrave Retail Partners / Carty Ltd
SuperValu Signature Tastes Smoked Rack Of Bacon - Musgrave Retail Partners / Carty Ltd


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Beef Steaks
21 Day Matured European Angus Sirloin Steak - Blackberry Hill Farm
Aldi Specially Selected 28 Day Dry Aged Rib Eye - Aldi / ABP Cahir
Inisvale Irish Hereford Fillet Steaks - Linden Foods
Irish Hereford Striploin Steaks - Lidl / Linden Foods


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry – Poultry
Confit of Duck - Silver Hill Farm
Duck Breast with Garlic and Pepper - Lidl / Silver Hill Foods
Yummy Duck – Silver Hill Farm


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Sausages, Burgers and Meatballs
Irish Beef Sausage with Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper - Tesco / Hilton Foods
Moroccan Lamb Burger - Tesco / Hilton Foods
Simply Better 6 Superior Honey & Mustard Irish Pork Sausages - Dunnes Stores / Arthur Mallon Foods
Simply Better 6 Superior Spring Onion & Cracked Black Pepper Irish Pork Sausages - Dunnes Stores/Arthur Mallon Foods
The Co-Operative Chipotle Chilli Meatball Bake – Dunbia


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Pork, Lamb and Other Joints
Butchers Select Lamb Rack French Trim - Musgrave Wholesale Partners / Kepak
Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Bacon Loin Joint with Acacia Honey & Mustard Glaze - Dunnes Stores / Oliver Carty
Stuffed Irish Lamb Leg - Lidl / Irish Country Meats
SuperValu Piri Piri Marinade Pork Steak - Musgrave Retail Partners / Oliver Carty
SuperValu Smokey BBQ Marinade Pork Steak - Musgrave Retail Partners / Oliver Carty


Fresh Produce – Fruit
Classic Fruit Salad - Lidl / Fresh Cut Food Services
SuperValu Fruit Salad Mix - Musgrave Retail Partners / Freshcut Foods
SuperValu Kids Range Apple and Pear Pouch - Musgrave Retail Partners / Keelings Retail
SuperValu Signature Tastes Supersweet Nectarine Tray - Musgrave Retail Partners / Donnelly Fruit and Veg


Fresh Produce – Salad
Finest Irish Piccolo Cherry Tomatoes - Tesco / Jim O'Rourke
SuperValu Signature Tastes Seasonal Leaf and Walnut Salad - Musgrave Retail Partners / Wonderfoods


Fresh Produce – Vegetables
Easy Cook 7 Minute Baby New Potatoes – Keogh’s
SuperValu Signature Tastes Butternut Squash Stirfry with Edamame Beans & Coriander - Musgrave Retail Partners / Wonderfoods


Frozen Food – Savoury
Aldi Specially Selected Irish Beef Quarter Pounders with Cheddar Cheese and Red Onion - Aldi / Kepak Foods
Aldi Specially Selected Irish Beef Quarter Pounders with Cheddar Cheese and Sweet Chilli - Aldi / Kepak Foods
Dunnes Mega Burger - Dunnes Stores / Kepak Foods


Frozen Food – Sweet
Raspberry & White Chocolate Gelato - Quinn's Gelato Limited
Roll It Sweet All Butter Shortcrust Pastry - Roll It Pastry
Tesco Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream 1 pint - Tesco / Lakelands


Grocery Ambient – Savoury
Honeyed Fig, Rhubarb & Chilli Savoury Jam - Irish Bee Sensations
Kari Tropical – Spice Devils
Musgrave Excellence Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Musgrave Wholesale Partners / Pan Euro Foods
Simply Better Luxury Irish Country Relish - Dunnes Stores / Folláin
SuperValu Signature Tastes Roasted Red Pepper Relish - Musgrave Retail Partners / Folláin


Grocery Ambient – Sweet
Aldi Organic Honey - Aldi / Healys Honey
Blackcurrant and Rum Jam - Lidl / Abbey Farm Foods
Deluxe Acacia Honey with Cut Comb - Lidl / Mileeven Fine Foods
Simply Better Three Fruit Marmalade - Dunnes Stores / Wexford Home Preserves
SuperValu Signature Tastes Raspberry Conserve - Musgrave Retail Partners / Folláin


Hot Beverages
Cinnamon Hot Toddy (non-Alcoholic) - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd
Homestead Original Blend Tea - Homestead Brands / Stonehouse Marketing Ltd
McGrath's Reserve Blend Tea - Aldi / Robert Roberts
My Family Favourites Gold Blend 80s Teabags - Dunnes Stores / Barry's Tea
SuperValu Gold Blend Teabags - Musgrave Retail Partners / Barber Daly
SuperValu Signature Tastes Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans – Musgrave Retail Partners / United Coffee

Pizzas
My Family Favourites 3 Pepperoni Pizzas - Dunnes Stores / Green Isle Foods
Pizzado - Choice Pizza Ltd
Tesco Bistro Italiano Chargrilled Peppers, Goats Cheese & Spinach Pesto Pizza - Tesco / Green Isle Foods

Ready Meals
Aldi Tasty Chicken Tikka Masala - Aldi / Kohinoor Ltd T/A Emaan Worldcuisine
Bombay Chicken Curry - Bombay Pantry
SuperValu Signature Tastes Lamb Tagine - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire
SuperValu Signature Tastes Smoked Haddock Fillet in a Mornay Sauce - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire


Sauces and Salad Dressings
Creamy Peppercorn Sauce - Lidl / Spice'o'Life
SuperValu Squeezy Light Mayonnaise - Musgrave Retail Partners / Blenders
Vine Tomato & Jalapeno Pasta Sauce - The Scullery


Seasonal Occasions
Aldi Chocolate Box (Mother's Day) – Aldi
Aldi Roisins Honeycomb Easter Egg – Aldi
Iced Easter Madeira Cake - Dunnes Stores / Sam's Cookies


Side Dishes
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Cranberry, Apricot & Clementine Stuffing - Dunnes Stores / Mr Crumb
Mini Stuffed Mushrooms with Garlic & Cream Cheese - Lidl / Unimush Ireland
SuperValu Signature Tastes Braised Red Cabbage - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire


Soups
Cream of Tomato Soup - Lidl / Princes
Fresh & Chunky Minestrone Soup - Newgrange Fine Foods
Just Food HiLo Super Greens Soup - Just Food
Sri Lankan Chicken Soup - Lidl / Ballymaguire Foods


Value Q
Daily Basics Jaffa Cakes - Musgrave Retail Partners / Bisquiva GmbH & Co. KG
My Family Favourites Irish Fruit Loaf - Dunnes Stores / Neville's Bakery
My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam - Dunnes Stores / Histon Sweet Spreads

SuperValu Small Producer of the Year Award - Shortlisted to Win a Listing with SuperValu:
Chicken Liver Paté with Garlic & Brandy - On The Pig's Back c/o La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd
Scotts Irish Cider - Big Hand Brewing Company Ltd
Sweet BBQ Pulled Pork - Jack & Keith Molloy Bros. Ltd


Cider
Dan Kelly's Cider – Dan Kelly’s Cider
Fresh & Zesty Cider - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd
Tempted? Special Reserve Irish Craft Cider - dj's juice and cider
Tempted? Summer Sweet Irish Craft Cider - dj's juice and cider


Lagers & Ales
Aldi "O'Shea’s" Traditional Irish Pale Ale - Aldi / Carlow Brewing Co.
Independent Pale - Independent Brewing Company of Ireland
Independent Stout - Independent Brewing Company of Ireland


Sparkling Wine
Crémant d'Alsace Brut AOC - Lidl / S.C.V.B
Prosecco DOC Frizzante - Lidl / La Marca Vini E Spumanti


Spirits - Liqueurs and Speciality Spirits
Coole Swan – Coole Swan
Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur 17% - Lidl / Terra Ltd


Spirits – Whiskies
Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey - Aldi / Castle Brands Inc
Dundalgan Irish Whiskey - Lidl / Terra Ltd


Wine
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc Winemaker's Selection - Lidl / Lidl International GmbH
Pinot Grigio Rosé – Lidl / Lidl International GmbH
St. Emilion Gran Cru AOC, 2011 - Lidl / Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion


Note: The organisers chose to merge some categories due to the number of entrants, and remove several categories where the judges felt that a shortlist just could not be selected.

The Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2014 Finals will be held in the Mansion House, Dublin on Thursday 11th September. There are several Ticket Packages available - Click HERE to Book a Table.

To find out more about the second Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, visit: www.irishqualityfoodawards.com or follow them on Twitter @IrishQFAs

Zack

Take a Walk on the Wild Side in the Boyne Valley with Newgrange Gold

As a member of the Boyne Valley Food series, premium seed oil producer Newgrange Gold, will be hosting their first Farm Walk on the banks of the Boyne on Saturday 19th July at 10.00am.

You will be guided by taste this summer with a feast from the Boyne Valley’s best food producers as you wander through 9,000 years of history. As part of a series of over 30 up-coming events Newgrange Gold will host a walking tour on their farm. Taking in magnificent views of the Boyne, the ancient burial tomb at Knowth and the lush flat plain that makes the Boyne Valley and Newgrange Gold oil so special.

You will be guided by Jack and John Rogers and learn about archaeological finds at the sight and some of the significant history of Crewbawn during the 6th-8th Century. You will be brought on a guided tour of the northern bank of the River Boyne following a track down to the riverbank you will explore the old Boyne Navigation System that operated between Drogheda and Navan. There will be special mention of some of the local history, for instance the drainage schemes created in the 17th and 18th century at Gilltown House on the south side of the river.

You will explore the recently revealed souterrain at Crewbawn and hear the story of the Ancient Passage tomb at Newgrange & Knowth before gathering back at the house to explore the raw ingredients of Newgrange Gold oils; examining the seed, followed by a visit to the production facility and a demonstration of the pressing process, you will be brought on the journey from seed to soil to serving.

Cooking Demo by Marketing Guru, Foodie, Journalist & Blogger, Caroline Byrne

Next up as part of your culinary adventure you will be treated to a cookery demonstration by Caroline Byrne – foodie, journalist, blogger and Dublin editor of the McKenna Guides. Caroline studied ancient History and Archaeology before entering the world of Food. She will explore some of the more unique foods of the Boyne Valley which will be available to purchase from the pop-up shop on site for the day.

A truly magical place where history plays a large part, there is no doubt the soil and method of tillage in the fields across the Boyne Valley from Newgrange have given distinction to the taste and flavour of these wonderful culinary oils.

The Farm Walk costs €30 per person and includes a light lunch and refreshments. A 10% Discount for bookings of 6 or more is available.

For more information on Newgrange Gold Farm Walk call 041 982 4273 or visit www.newgrangegold.ie

The Best Homemade Jam in Ireland 2014 Competition

Entries are now being taken for a competition to search for the Best Homemade Pot of Jam in Ireland on August the 2nd as part of the Gorey Market House Festival in County Wexford.

Acclaimed food writer and TV personality Biddy White Lennon will be judging entries across 3 categories: 

Best Strawberry Jam

Best Raspberry Jam

Best Unusual Combination Jam

Biddy White Lennon, who has written many books about Irish Cooking, is Judging

There are prizes for each of these categories as well as a Jackpot prize for the jam voted ‘Best in Show’ which is sponsored by Greens Berry Farm. Other prize categories are best ‘Junior’ (16 years and under), best ‘Man-Made’ jam, sponsored by Morri & Kell & most artistic label, sponsored by The Gas Lamp Gallery. One prize will be awarded in each of these categories.

The Rules for the competition are as follows:
• All Jam must be home-made by the entrant
• Jam should be sealed using either a lid or cellophane and waxed disc
• Jam should be unlabelled – a label will be applied on entry and a duplicate issued to entrant
• Entries must be according to the categories given
• Individuals can have as many entries as they wish

Entries will be taken from Saturday the 26th of July at the following locations:

Gorey Market House Craft & Design Centre, Main Street, 

Gorey Gorey Civic Centre (Mon-Friday only).

Entries will be accepted up until 10.00am on August 2nd the day of the competition.

Judging will take part at Gorey Farmers Market, Esmonde St. on August 2nd and the winners will be announced at 2.00pm. Cost of a single entry is €2 or €5 per three entries.

For more information or to contact  Market House Craft & Design Centre, Gorey see https://www.facebook.com/goreymarkethousefestival 

Zack

Win Ed Sheeran Concert Tickets with EWS Butchers

Eddie Walsh & Sons Butchers (EWS) was established on the 24th June 1962 by Eddie Walsh in the village of Ballintra, Co. Donegal Ireland and has now been family owned for 3 generations. They have two shops, the main butchers shop in Donegal Town and the original shop still operating in Ballintra.

They supply top quality award winning meats that are produced locally on their own farm and they specialise in rearing Aubrac Cattle, regarded as one of the best suited beef cattle to the hilly land of the west and northwest of Ireland and Donegal.

Eddie Walsh & Sons EWS Butcher shop in Donegal Town

EWS recently won the Best Burger in Ireland at the Craft Butchers of Ireland BBQ Competition and the family butchers also came away with the title of All Ireland BBQ Meats Champion at the event!

You can Win a Friday Night Concert Ticket to Ed Sherrin in the Oddessy Arena!

The Walsh family butchers are taking part in the new Homegrown Food Festival, to be held on 12th & 13th July, in the Aura Arena in Letterkenny. To celebrate this they are going to raffle 2 Tickets for the Ed Sherran Concert at the Odyssey Arena on October 9th and they will be holding the draw for the tickets at the Homegrown Food Festival in Letterkenny this Sunday 13th July.

To Enter the Draw 
simply go to the Walsh's EWS Butchers Stand at the Letterkenny Homegrown Food Festival and fill in an entry form OR Click the Like Button & Comment below to Like Eddie Walsh & Sons Craft Butchers (EWS) on Facebook:


CLICK LIKE & LEAVE A COMMENT to ENTER 


(You must leave a comment to be entered for the draw)

Remember the Draw will take place at the Homegrown Food Festival on Sunday evening,13th July.

The Small Print: If Ed Sheeran pulls out or the show is cancelled, the draw will be void and no correspondence will be entered into. No other prize is on offer nor will be offered in place of the tickets. The tickets are for two people only for Ed Sheeran at the Odyssey Arena on  October 9th 2014.

Best of Luck!
Zack

Irish Food Bloggers Recipe Competition to Win a Trip to Chile, with Cono Sur Wine

Cono Sur, Ireland’s premium Chilean wine brand, is launching a search to find the ultimate dish to match their Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir. The entrant with the most votes in Ireland will travel with a friend, compliments of Cono Sur, to compete in the Grand Finale held in Paris in November.

You will compete with finalists from Finland, Sweden & UK to win the overall prize of a trip for two to Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery in the heart of stunning Chile!

From Monday 23rd June to Monday 11th August, Irish Food Bloggers all across the country can Log On to www.conosur.ie/blog (Food Bloggers from Northern Ireland go to www.conosur.com) and upload an Original Recipe that you feel pairs best with either the Cono Sur Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc or Single Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Voting is then open to the public from 18th August to 22nd September, when Cono Sur will select the top three recipes with the most votes from each country to go on to Round Two as semi-finalists.

For Round Two, renowned chef Christopher Carpentier will prepare each semi-finalist´s dish and select one finalist from each participating country. Winners will be announced and officially notified on 9th October.

For the Third and final round, the four international finalists will be sent to Paris for 14th-15th November to participate in the Grand Finale. Each finalist will prepare their dish for a panel of judges, including Cono Sur´s General Manager and Chief Winemaker, Adolfo Hurtado, as well as chef Christopher Carpentier.

Chef Christopher Carpentier from Santiago in Chile

The overall winner will be chosen and announced on the night, winning a fantastic trip for two to Chile.

TIMELINE:
June 23rd: Competition Opens
August 11th: End Date for submissions
August 18th: Public Voting Opens
September 22nd: Voting Closes
October 1st: Chef Christopher Carpentier begins cooking the top 3 entries from each country and chooses the best in conjunction with Cono Sur
October 9th: Finalists are notified and publicly Announced
November 14th: Grand Final in Paris

So... Irish Food Bloggers  Log On to www.conosur.ie/blog with your recipe Today!

The Cono Sur Single Vineyard range of wines was born from the idea of embodying the ideal vineyard site for each grape variety by optimizing the altitude, soil and climate conditions of the vineyard where it is grown, making each wine completely unique.

From voluptuous reds to fresh and aromatic whites, this range pays homage to Chile's diverse appellations. Each label contains a distinct block number, block name and valley in order to reflect the personality and uniqueness of the terroir where each was born.

Cono Sur Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are available exclusively in the on-trade and specialist off-licences such as O’Briens Wines, nationwide; Mitchell & Sons, Dublin; Redmonds of Ranelagh, Dublin; Sweeney's of Glasnevin, Dublin; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Dublin; Bradley's of Cork; O’Driscoll's of Cork

Cono Sur is exclusively distributed by Findlater Wine & Spirit Group You can Follow Findlater on Twitter

Zack

(not paid for by the way - just a good competition!)