McKinney’s specialty sugars

We’re giving away a McKinney’s baking hamper – and just in time for Easter!

Whether you’re a rolling-pin rookie or a whizz with a whisk you’ll still be able to able to bake up a storm and treat your friends and family to some tasty home-made goodies, thanks to McKinney’s specialty sugars!

The hamper is packed with all the essentials for your hot cross buns, carrot cakes and bunny-shaped biscuits this Easter – everything from pastry cutters and baking trays to the full range of McKinney’s sugars.

How to enter

There are two ways to enter the competition for the baking hamper:

• By following the instructions in our Members’ Section; or
• By following us on Twitter and then retweeting our message about the competition

We’ll announce the lucky winner at 1pm on Friday 29 March 2013.

Good luck!

Win a baking hamper from McKinney’s specialty sugars

Other information

You can follow all of the latest updates from McKinney’s on Facebook: facebook.com/mckinneyssugar.

Easter bunny buns from McKinney’s

The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards 2013

It’s your chance to vote for your favourite local restaurants and products in the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards 2013.

Now in their 12th year, the awards aim to celebrate the strength of and growth in the food sector in Northern Ireland – and you can decide who’ll win the accolades and recognition at the awards ceremony in The Ramada Hotel in Belfast on 15th of March.

There are two categories for you to deliberate over: The People’s Choice Award (the shortlist for which includes household names like Fairtrade Breakfast Suki Tea, Maddens Mellow Armagh Cider and Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil) and the Food NI Taste of Ulster Restaurant of the Year Award (where you can choose from over 20 restaurants including The Yellow Door Deli in Portadown and The Brewer’s House in Donaghmore).

Visit www.nigoodfood.com to have your voice heard – voting ends at 5pm on Friday 8 March.

Mikes Fancy Cheese

Picture it: you’re at a restaurant with a group of friends, you ask for the cheeseboard and casually mention that you actually own one of the cheeses.. Well, that’s exactly what could happen!

Mike Thomson is looking for people to invest and get his startup company, Mike’s Fancy Cheese, off the ground – in return for which you’ll own a share of the business and the profits.

Although there’ll be other cheeses, Mike will be concentrating on raw milk blue cheese initially. It’s exciting in that very few people in the world make it and the range of flavours the cheese displays is vast. The whole process of making this type of cheese is much slower but the final product really is worth it.

Mike’s background

It all started at Arcadia, the delicatessen on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, where owners Mark and Laura placed Mike on the road to fromage-fame by encouraging him to go for the Advanced Diploma in Dairying at the School of Artisan Food.

After the course Mike went to work for Sparkenhoe Farm to manage the dairy and overlook the making of 3 raw milk cheeses, developing his own cheese called Battlefield Blue and winning several medals at the British Cheese Awards and the International Cheese Awards.

Now he’s back in Northern Ireland to start his own cheese-making business!

Shelves full of Mike’s maturing cheese

How you can own part of Mike’s Fancy Cheese

You’ve probably heard about “crowdfunding” before – basically, a website advertises the amount of money needed to start the company up and allows lots of people (or a few big fish) pledge money towards the total, in return for which they get equity in the company.

With Mike’s Fancy Cheese, every pledge of £80 gives the donor 0.04% of the company, with corresponding dividends. You can find all of the details at SEEDRS.com

For larger investments there’s also the chance for tax relief through the SEIS scheme.

Mike hard at work – selling his raw milk blue cheese

More information

You can find out more about Mike’s Fancy Cheese at:

• The MFCheese website: www.mfcheese.com
• On Twitter: @fancycheeseco
• By email: info@mfcheese.com

St. George’s Bar & Grill, Belfast

A cosy booth, a candle-lit meal for two and a bottle of wine – that’s exactly what you could be treating your Someone Special to in St George’s Bar & Grill this Valentine’s Day!

Nestled in the eaves of St. George’s Market and right in the heart of Belfast city centre, the Bar & Grill serves locally-sourced traditional food in one of Belfast’s oldest and most historic locations.

How to enter

To be in with a chance of winning this romantic three-course meal for two prepared by Head Chef Ray Malcolmson, complete with a bottle of wine, just follow us on Twitter and retweet our message about the competition.

We’ll announce the lucky winner at 1pm on Wednesday 13 February, 2013.

Good luck!

One of the cosy booths in St. George’s Bar & Grill

High-beamed ceilings and photos from Belfast’s bygone days

Terms and Conditions

No cash alternative. Over 18’s only. The prize includes two three course meals and a bottle of house wine. The prize must be redeemed by 30th February 2013

More Information

St George’s Bar & Grill
East Bridge St,
Belfast
BT1 4FG
T: 9024 0014
W: www.stgeorgesbargrill.com
E: info@stgeorgesbargrill.com

You can also find St. George’s Bar & Grill on Google Maps.

St. George’s Bar & Grill, Belfast

Naked Wines

Struggling with which wines to get in for Christmas?

Well Naked Wines are here to help! They’re hosting a big Christmas wine-tasting in Belfast’s Merchant Hotel on Friday 16 November, from 6pm to 9pm.

Visiting Northern Ireland for the very first time, the Naked Wines team are bringing some of their best winemakers with them, along with over 100 wines from all over the world for you to try before you stock up for Christmas.

Their wine-tastings aren’t like any others we’ve been to – enjoying the wine and the night out is very much the order of the day.

Tickets are £20 a person but Naked Wines will refund your ticket if you order a case of wine on the night – and that’s on top of the discounts site members already receive!

The details

• What: Naked Wines Christmas wine-tasting
• Where: The Merchant Hotel, Skipper Street, Belfast
• When: Friday 16 November 2012, 6pm-9pm
• How much: £20
• How to buy tickets: Call 01603 281 800 or visit www.nakedwines.com/belfast

Win a pair of tickets

Just keep your eyes open for our tweet about the wine-tasting, follow the instructions, and you could be joining us at The Merchant on November 16th!

We also have a voucher for £25 off of your first order with Naked Wines.

Who are NW?

You might remember us talking about Naked Wines way back in 2009 – we’ve been customers from when the company started, and we genuinely like what they’re doing: finding talented, undiscovered winemakers around the world and to set them up in business.

Founded in 2008, they’re now the UK’s fastest growing online wine retailer with over 100,000 members.

These members (or “Naked Angels”.. yes.. very suspect) invest £2m a month between them towards future orders – and it’s this money which funds the independent winemakers, for which members get exclusive wines at good prices in return.

What’s not to love about that!

The Merchant Hotel, 16 Skipper Street, Belfast

More information

You can find about more about Naked Wines at:
T: +44 (0)1603 281 800
W: www.nakedwines.com
E: francesca.underhill@nakedwines.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nakedwines
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nakedwines.

Gordon Ramsay 3 Star Chef

Love him or hate him there’s few who would question his ability: Gordon Ramsay has been at the very top of his profession, his name synonymous with the search for culinary perfection and the very best in fine dining.

We were lucky enough to visit his flagship restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Hospital Road, back in 2010. It’s this restaurant which symbolises his talent more than any other: back in 1998 it became his first wholly-owned restaurant; it was here that he worked for and won 3 Michelin stars, the highest accolade in the cheffing world; and whatever else has happened to his business empire, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is still at the pinnacle, the longest-running restaurant in London to hold 3 Michelin stars.

His book Gordon Ramsay 3 Star Chef is a homage to the dishes, the philosophy and the experiences that have earned him those awards and made him a household name.

• Title: Gordon Ramsay Three Star Chef
• Author: Gordon Ramsay
• Pages: 256
• Format: Hardback
• Publisher: Quadrille Publishing Ltd
• ISBN: 978-1849491907
• Cost: RRP. £20 Hardback – now £13.90 on Amazon
• Where to get it: From www.amazon.co.uk

What’s in the book

The book is divided into two parts: The 3-Star Experience and The Recipes.

The first part shows 50 classic Gordon Ramsay dishes as served in his restaurants, his thoughts on running an elite kitchen and plenty of impossibly pretty photographs of the food from from Quentin Bacon, held together with a running narrative.

The Recipes section is just that, the step-by-step recipes for Gordon’s signature recipes and the techniques needed to perfect your presentation.

There are a whole host of incredible dishes in here, including Lobster Ravioli, Tartare of Beef Fillet with Caviar and Marinated Peppers, Carmelised Pear Tatin with Gorgonzola Ice-cream, and Bitter Chocolate Mousse with Coffee Granite and Light Ginger Cream.

Final thoughts

I’m unsure where you’ll put Gordon Ramsay Three Star Chef, either in the kitchen or on the coffee table.

That’s not to take anything away from the book – the recipes are clear, the instructions for presentation are a very useful addition, and there are plenty of photographs to keep you right.

Be aware that the recipes are complicated and will take a considerable amount of time (and skill) to prepare – one look at those photographs will leave you in no doubt that they are 3-star recipes and are a serious undertaking!

So I don’t think this is a cookbook – not an everyday one, at least.

It’s inspirational, it’s aspirational, it’s a look into the mind-set which drove Gordon to attain those 3 Michelin stars and what it takes to keep them. Some of the sound-bites might come across as a little cheesy but, all in all, the passion, the attention to detail and the hunger for perfection is tangible.

A very interesting read, a book to fire your creativity in the kitchen, and a cookbook for when you really want to impress.

Other information

You can find out more about Gordon Ramsay Three Star Chef at: Quadrille Publishing.

Hillsborough International Oyster Festival 2012

September is here – and that means it’s time for The Hillsborough International Oyster Festival 2012!

Now in its 20th year, the festival is running from the 6th to 9th of September, bringing visitors from all over the world to the picturesque village of Hillsborough, Co. Down to toast the tasty bivalves and enjoy the entertainment – and this year should be no exception.

The events

There’s a lot going on during the festival, from the Masters Golf Tournament to the Titanic Gala Ball, but Saturday the 8th of September is undoubtedly the highlight of the festival for most people, when the whole village is closed to traffic and the streets fill with stalls, music and, most importantly, oysters!

First up is the Gourmet Food Market, from 11am on Saturday 8th September in the Festival Marquee. You’ll be able to sample and buy the very best of local produce from upwards of 50 different artisan food and drink suppliers. There’ll also be live cooking demonstrations throughout the day from a whole host of top local chefs, including: Brian McCann (Shu Restaurant), Niall McKenna (James Street South), Danny Millar (The Parson’s Nose) and Andy Rae (Mourne Seafood Bar).

You’ll also be able to cheer on the current world record-holder, Colin Shirlow from Dromore, in the World Oyster Eating Championship at 3pm – and this year there’s even a speed-eating competition before Colin defends his title!

The day is rounded off with the Festival BBQ at 6:30pm in the marquee, followed by Flash Harry in concert from 8pm.

The only question is: how will you eat yours?

Oysters with Lemon and Tabasco

More information

You can find more information about the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival at: hillsboroughoysterfestival.com.

The BBQ and concert is a ticket-only event – check out the event page on the Hillsborough Oyster Festival website for more information.

You’ll find the Oyster Festival on Main Street, Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland.

You can also find Hillsborough Village on Google Maps.

Belfast Restaurant Week 2012

The first ever Belfast Restaurant Week is taking place from the 6th-13th of October!

Organised by Belfast City Council, the event is designed to celebrate the best of Belfast food by serving up specially-themed signature dishes from our best chefs and money-off deals at some of the city’s most loved eateries.

With over 70 Belfast city-centre restaurants and food outlets already signed up, Belfast Restaurant Week is being supported by many of the city’s most talented chefs including Michael Deane, Nick Price, Niall McKenna, Paul Rankin and Brian McCann.

Although the details are still to be released, the week-long festival will include food tours, new dining experiences, ‘pop-up’ restaurants, suppliers’ markets and more.

Restaurants can still register their interest in taking part until August 31 2012 – visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastrestaurantweek or www.gotobelfast.com for more information.

L-R Chefs John Paul Leake (The Great Room Restaurant, Merchant Hotel), James Ferris (Cloth Ear), David Scott (Shu) and Michael Deane (Deanes Restaurants)

L-R Chefs Nick Price (Nick's Warehouse), Michael Webber (Berts Jazz Bar) and Jonnie Boyd (CoCo)

Many thanks to Belfast City Council for the photography.

The Hilden Brewing Company

The Summer wouldn’t be complete without The Hilden Beer & Music Festival!

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend (from the 24th-26th of August) you’ll be able to enjoy over 30 beers and ciders and more than 20 musical acts, covering everything from rock to blues to traditional music, at Ireland’s longest established open-air festival.

What you need to know

• What: The Hilden Beer & Music Festival 2012
• Where: Hilden Brewery, Grand Street, Hilden, Lisburn BT274TY
• When: Friday 24th August 2012 to Sunday 26th August 2012, from 12:00am
• How much: Friday £6, Saturday £12 (free before 4pm), Family Funday Sunday £6 (under 12s are free), Weekend Ticket £22
• Get the tickets: Contact 02892 663863 for phone bookings or call in at the Brewery
• Tasting Notes: Read the tasting notes for the Hilden Beer Festival here
• More information: Visit www.taproomhilden.com

The courtyard at Hilden Beer and Music Festival

The details

As well as Hilden’s own Belfast Blonde, Cathedral Quarter, Twisted Hop and Headless Dog, you’ll also be able to try brews like Hopmonster (a strong hoppy ale from Osset Brewery), Brigantia (a golden ale from Allgates Brewery) or Metalman’s Chameleon Ginger (a light ale with a hint of ginger). Mac and Tempted will also be flying the flag for Armagh cider.

Non-liquid sustenance is also covered, with the Hilden kitchen serving a variety of tasty treats and Leggygowan Farm selling Adam Kelly’s cheeses at their stall.

Last – but by no means least – the musicians appearing at the festival include: The Lee Hedley Band, The Dead Presidents, Sons of Caliber, and Craobh Rua – with more acts to be announced.

It’s bound to be another sell-out event, so get your tickets early!

The Hilden Beer and Music Festival 2012

Find the Hilden Brewery

Hilden Brewery
Grand Street,
Hilden,
Lisburn BT27 4TY
T: 02892660800
W: www.hildenbrewery.co.uk

You can also find Hilden Brewery on Google Maps.

Ards Brewing Company

It really wasn’t so long ago that the discerning beer-drinker in Northern Ireland had no choice but to import expensive brews over the internet or hunt down one of the few specialist off-licences that stock weird and wonderful beers. Although we’re not exactly flush with micro-breweries these days, there are more local breweries popping up and they’re producing some excellent beers.

Ballyblack Stout from The Ards Brewing Company is one of this new breed. I tried this robust stout at The Belfast Beer and Cider Festival 2011 way back in October and loved it – but finding it after the festival proved to be pretty difficult.

By chance I went into Bittles Bar on Church Lane in Belfast for a quick pint after work, but it was a real stroke of luck – there’s a treasure-trove of the harder-to-find local beers in there, and Ballyblack Stout was among them!

Ballyblack Stout from Ards Brewing Company

About the beer

• Beer: Ballyblack Stout
• Format: Bottle Conditioned
• Alcohol: 5.0%
• Brewery: Ards Brewing Company
• Style: Stout
• Where to buy it: Bittles Bar on Church Lane in Belfast

The stout has a dark-brown body with a lively, white head. As soon as I poured my glass of beer, strong roast coffee and dark chocolate aromas were immediately noticeable, and this was reflected in the taste, initially at least.

There’s a bit of a surprise ingredients list – seaweed finings. They’re usually added to to clear the beer of cloudiness – but that’s not so much of an issue with dark beer or stout. While finings shouldn’t add any flavour to the beer, I think there’s a discernible salty flavour somewhere in the background of the Ballyblack Stout. In that post about the Belfast Beer Festival I’d mentioned that I thought I could taste blue cheese in the long finish, and tasting the stout for a second time confirmed it. Whether this is down to the combination of the chocolate notes in the beer and the vegetal flavours of seaweed, I don’t know – but I like it.

Final thoughts

Tasting the Ballyblack Stout again confirmed what I thought the first time – I love this beer!

It has the big in-your-face flavours that I love in this style of beer, but it’s own unique character too. The black coffee and dark chocolate flavours are pretty common elements in these stouts – it’s a combination that works well together – but it’s the savoury, “blue cheese” notes in the finish which distinguish this offering from Ards Brewing Company.. Delicious!

Bittles Bar, Church Lane in Belfast

Other information

You can find Bittles at:

Bittles Bar
70 Upper Church Lane,
Belfast,
County Antrim
BT1 4QL
You can also find Bittles Bar on Google Maps.