Find out why ‘foodies’ from all over the world love Northern Ireland
Our fantastic food and drink products have played a central role in elevating Northern Ireland to become a ‘bucket-list’ destination for international food enthusiasts.
In 2018/19, Northern Ireland was named the World’s Best Food Destination and it is easy to see why. Our chefs and producers have been busy bringing our vibrant food story to life, both on our plates and in our glasses. From Michelin rated restaurants to some of the most exciting artisanal food and drink products, great quality is always on the menu.
At a time when it is more important than ever to support local businesses, Discover Northern Ireland has compiled a list of food and drink products to tempt your taste buds. If you are planning a meal using local produce, then use #MyGiantAdventure to share pictures of your dishes and show your support for the local artisans.
County Down
• Enjoy Bara Bakehouse’s fresh breads or the Peninsula Kelp Company’s delicious Dulse Crackers, perfect with some award-winning, hand churned Abernethy Butter or Mike Thomson’s Young Buck blue cheese. For those wishing to embrace a giant spirit of County Down, Copeland Distillery has just launched a series of rums produced at their unique distillery and visitor centre in Donaghadee. Smugglers Reserve and Copeland Overproof Rum are available for purchase across Northern Ireland. For a sweet treat, visit award-winning luxury chocolate makers, NearyNógs, who boast a wonderful product range from chocolate bars and truffles to comforting drinking chocolate. They also collaborated with Fortnum & Mason to produce the first ‘farm to shore’ Sailboat Chocolate, which is 99% emission-free.
County Armagh
• No visit to the Orchard County is complete without a taste of the local ciders and apple juice. Enjoy the fresh taste of Long Meadow’s sparkling apple cider or Armagh Cider Company’s AJ Apple Juice. The perfect companion for the autumn nights. For those seeking to impress in the kitchen, why not try Craic Foods of Craigavon’s very own Black Garlic and Porcini Sea Salt? It was recently awarded the Golden Fork at this year’s Great Taste Awards and was described by the judges as ‘an umami flavour bomb’. Take your cheese board to the next level with Ballylisk’s Triple Rose Cheese, produced on the Wright family farm in Portadown. Also, check out the innovative Larder Boxes at Burren Balsamics to receive some delicious seasonings straight through your letterbox.
County Antrim
• Pop by the award-winning farm shop at Broughgammon Farm to stock up on the finest selection of meat boxes, Irish cheeses and delicious vegetables, grown right on the family farm. For artisanal food lovers, use the Causeway Taste Finder at www.tastecauseway.com to source the best food and drink products from this area. For foodie lovers who want to create the perfect picnic, be sure to visit Belfast’s Sawers, which is an Aladdin’s cave of some of the best food products in Northern Ireland and beyond.
County Londonderry
• Beer and cheese are perfectly paired, and you can’t go wrong with a selection of craft beers from Northbound Brewery or Walled City Brewery and the delicious range of Dart Mountain Cheeses. Or to create mouth-watering meals, Carol’s Stock Market serves up amazing hand-crafted small batch natural stocks. Visit www.legenderryfood.com to access a range of local food and drink suppliers, sure to excite your taste buds.
County Fermanagh
• Erin Grove’s artisan jams, chutneys and preserves are bursting with flavour. Lovely for pairing with local cheeses or enjoying with Joe the Baker of Enniskillen’s organic sourdough bread. Don’t forget the Boatyard Distillery located on the shores of Lough Erne, offering an array of grain to glass spirits and a delicious Bean to Bar Double Gin Chocolate. Also, no visit to Enniskillen is complete without a visit to O’Doherty’s Butchers –home of the award–winning Fermanagh Black Bacon.
County Tyrone
• Perfect for a picnic or with crackers or bread, Ispini Charcuterie offers a delicious range of locally produced artisan cured meats and salami. Cloughbane Farm shop based in Pomeroy serves up traditional pies and comforting products from their farmhouse kitchen using recipes handed down through generations. In addition, if you’re looking for an extra treat, end the day with a scoop of Quinn’s Gelato, the authentic Italian ice-cream makers who use only the best ingredients.
For further inspiration on Northern Ireland’s fantastic ‘foodie’ offerings, visit www.discovernorthernireland.com. Follow Discover Northern Ireland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
