Northern Irish roast beef for Queen’s birthday
Roast Northern Irish beef featured in a Best of British sandwich selection in the special hamper produced by Marks and Spencer for the historic Patron’s Lunch held in The Mall in London’s St James’s Park to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.
The roast beef was included with with horseradish mayonnaise and baby watercress on soft white bread in the unique hamper.
The hampers were provided for the UK’s largest ever street party to celebrate the Queen’s patronage of over 600 charities and organisations on the occasion of her 90th birthday, an event attended by over 10,000 guests.
The invited guests enjoyed a hamper-style lunch at tables positioned along the full length of The Mall. The Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family to celebrate the historic occasion.
The hamper contained food and drink representing all parts of the United Kingdom.
Sandra Ziles, head of M&S product development, said: “The Patron’s Lunch Hamper was created by our food experts who put all their passion and creative know-how into devising a very special menu for the celebration.
“We’ve worked closely with our farmers and producers to ensure we showcase the very best of British produce at The Patron’s Lunch.”
Beef production is Northern Ireland’s biggest agri-food sector and includes many of the region’s biggest and most successful companies including Linden Foods in Dungannon, county Fermanagh and Kettyle Foods in Lisnaskea, county Fermanagh, a specialist in dry-aged beef, part of Fane Valley Co-operative and a leading supplier to Marks and Spencer, as well as Dunbia, the region’s biggest beef, lamb and pork processor, and Foyle Food Group. Linden and Kettyle are both suppliers to M&S.
Another Northern Ireland company, Dale Farm, was also chosen by The Highland Chocolatier to supply unsalted butter for a bespoke selection of truffles for the Queen’s birthday celebrations.
