Burren Balsamics Best Artisan At Irish Food Awards
Food NI’s Burren Balsamics has won the Best Artisan Product prize at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards in Dingle, Co. Kerry.
Founded in 2014 in Richill Co. Armagh, Burren Balsamics set out to produce a range of fruit infused black balsamic vinegars. The initial range was so well-received that they developed a selection of white balsamic infusions and now have over 15 balsamic vinegars on offer. This is the second time Burren Balsamics have won the Best Artisan Product at Blas na hÉireann, having won in 2017 for their Blackberry & Thyme vinegar, this year they reclaim the crown with their Raspberry Infused Balsamic Vinegar.
“We are thrilled to win Best Artisan Product for the second time here at Blas na hÉireann in Dingle,” said Susie Hamilton-Stubber from Burren Balsamics. “Having the Blas stamp of approval has been fantastic for our business and it’s just brilliant to leave with an award given the stiff competition. We always love making the trip to Blas, it’s a great way to meet up with like-minded people, network and taste the best of the best of Irish produce.”
Often dubbed the Oscars of Irish food, Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards, are the largest food awards on the island, open to all 32 counties.
The other Food NI winners from Armagh are Armagh Cider Company who got a Silver for their Armagh Craft Sweet Cider, , Holmes Bakery who won Gold for their Butter Shortbread and Meadow Farm who won Bronze for their Smoked Duck Fillet.
The winners from Fermanagh are Cavanagh Free Range Eggs who won Gold and Erin Grove Preserves (Bronze for Mango Chutney with Chilli and Lime).
The bronze, silver and gold winners from Antrim across a range of different categories are SeaSugar Handmade Confectionery (Bronze for Rhubarb and Vanilla Pulled Sugar Sweets), Johnson Brothers, Wee ChoCo, Tom and Ollie (Silver for Basil, Chilli and Garlic Hummus), Glens of Antrim Potatoes who won a Gold for their Simply Better Dunnes Stores Clogherhead Sea Salt and White Wine Vinegar Crisps, Golden Popcorn were awarded Silver for their Salty Sea Epic and Tempted Cider who got a Silver for their Medium Dry and a Bronze for their Sweet Cider. With Glens of Antrim winning Best in County and SeaSugar Handmade Confectionery Best in Farmers Market.
The winners from Tyrone are Ispini Charcuterie with a Silver for their Fennel Salami and Bronze for Chorizo and Natural Umber. Natural Umber won Gold for their Cider Vinegar and Best in Tyrone and Ispini Charcuterie winning Best in Farmer’s Market for Tyrone.
In Derry-Londonderrry Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil took Gold for Lemon and Bronze for Rosemary and Garlic with Broighter Gold winning Best in County and Morelli Ice Cream who won Silver for their Luxury Strawberry Frozen Yoghurt and Bronze for their Luxury Mango Sorbet.
The winners from Down are Mourne Dew Distillery who won a Gold for their Pooka No 1 Poitin, Lecale Harvest with Gold for Pork Belly, Harnett’s who won Gold for their Iveagh Rapeseed Oil, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt (Bronze for Greek Style Yoghurt), Rooney Fish who took a Silver for their Millbay Oysters (this was Supreme Champion last year), Willowbrook Foods (Silver for Garlic Potato Cubes), The Cookie Jar (Bronze for Bake Your Own Scone Mix), Deli Muru (Silver for Sugar and Spice Snaps and Bronze for Brinjal Pickle) Deli Muru also won Best in Farmers Market for County Down.
Chef’s Larder awards were given to En Place Foods for their Pine Oil and Lovage Oil as well as Hannan Meats’ Guanciale and Chilli and Fennel Italian Style Sausage Meat. Kettyle Meats took one for their Beef Marrow Melt.
Speaking after the announcements, Chairperson of Blas na hEireann Artie Clifford said “This is our 12th year of the Blas na hÉireann awards, and our aim continues to be to assist Irish producers to tell their stories by marking them out as special, and worth exploring,” continues Artie. “Winning a Blas award has been shown to work for our previous winners in bringing them to the attention of food-lovers both at home and abroad and we are looking forward to yet another exceptional year for our winners of Blas na hÉireann 2019.
