Wexford food producers taste success

FOOD producers from across the county had a taste of success at this year’s Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards with big wins for many local companies.

Irish Country Meats took home the title of ‘Best in Wexford’ at the contest in Dingle. They also won a gold medal in the Prepared Lamb category for their French Rack of Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic Crumb and a bronze medal in the same category for their Aldi Specially Selected Premium Lamb Rack in an Oven Cook Bag. Their Merguez Lamb Sausage picked up a gold award in the Sausages (Other) category.

Atlantis Seafoods were the proud recipients of the coveted ‘Seafood Innovation Award’ sponsored by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). They received the award for their Kilmore Quay haddock goujons and will now benefit from €4,000 worth of services from BIM’s Seafood Development Centre.

‘We have worked closely with BIM in their Seafood Development Centre in Clonakilty in recent years and the expertise and assistance from their team has been instrumental in the success of our new Kilmore Quay range,’ said Managing Director of Atlantis Seafoods John Kenny.

They also struck gold with their goujons in the Prepared Seafood category and the Gluten Free Ingredients category.

Wexford based artisan baker Carmel Moran scooped a gold award in the Breakfast Cereals category for her Oat Couture Granola.

‘I’m looking at the shiny gold labels here and still pinching myself!’ she said.

Killowen Farm celebrated a win when they took home a bronze medal for their Greek Style Natural Yoghurt in the Dairy (Plain Yoghurt) category. They also proved they were cream of the crop in the cream category by winning a gold for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Whiskey Cream.

Gorey company Wild About won the Best in Farmers Market award for Wexford. Their Raspberry Chilli Chutney also impressed judges and won them a gold medal in the Chutney category.

Wexford also did particularly well in the bread categories. In the Craft Bakers Yeast section, Staffords Bakeries picked up bronze for their Traditional Vienna, while they also won a silver award in the Traditional Irish Barm ( Yeast) Brack category for their brack and bronze for their Aldi brack. In the Sweet Dough Goods section, Staffords picked up another silver for their Hot Cross Buns. Meanwhile, Pettitt’s Supervalu Wexford won silver in the Craft Bakers Sourdough section for their natural sourdough.