Blas awards help sell Irish food to the world

The Blas na hÉireann Awards, which were adjudicated and presented during the Dingle Food Festival, have grown to become the most important meeting point in the country for food producers and buyers seeking the cream of Irish produce.

Blas na hÉireann attracted 400 entries when it was first held in Dingle nine years ago. This year there were over 2,500 entries from producers nationwide, all vying for the coveted awards which are a prized marketing tool and a stamp of approval that can be a ticket - nationally and internationally - to success in the highly competitive food industry.

The awards presentations are now regarded as a key networking event and, over the weekend, representatives from Selfridges, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, among others, were in Dingle to strike deals that will see the best of Irish food and drink appearing on the shelves of the best UK department stores.

A central aim of the competition is to highlight the best of Irish food and drink. In this Blas na hÉireann has succeeded brilliantly with research showing that Blas accreditation has the highest recognition amongst Irish consumers who regard it as a guarantee of quality.

The awards winners are decided by ‘blind tasting’ – in other words the judges know what they’re tasting, but not who made it. This system and the judging criteria - which include appearance, texture, aroma, and sense of quality - was developed by Blas na hEireann and the Food Sciences Department of UCC, and is now recognised as an international industry standard.

Preliminary judging took place at UCC, baking was judged at the Baking Academy of Ireland in Dublin and on Thursday over 500 finalists were put to the test in the Skellig Hotel by a large gathering of chefs, restaurateurs, academics, journalists, authors, food champions, caterers and enthusiastic home cooks. There was no seat at the many tables though for retailers with a vested interest or any producers who have entered the competition. It might seem like a dream job, but try telling that to those charged with sampling salt… tasty and all though it might have been!

This year’s awards included gold, silver and bronze in over 100 different food and drink categories; then there were awards for the best products sold at country markets in almost every county in the country; awards for the most innovative product, best new product, best start up product… It’s a long list and it kept Awards Chairperson Artie Clifford on his feet from morning to night announcing the winners in the Phoenix Cinema on Saturday.

The Supreme Champion title was won this year by Stonewell Rós Cider in Cork. You’ll have to Google irish food awards for the full list, but the Kerry Blas na hÉireann winners, and their prize products, were as follows:

Gold: Quinlan’s Fish, Cahersiveen, Superior Smoked Salmon; Daly’s Seafood, Cahersiveen, Sliced Smoked Salmon; Larkin’s Bakery, Milltown, White Pan Loaf; O’Donnell’s Bakery, Killorglin, Brown Sliced Bread.

Silver: Larkin’s Bakery’s in Milltown won silver for both their Brown Pan Loaf and Spelt Tea Brack; Bake it Easy!, Loughfouder, Choco Berry; Harty’s, Tralee, Mint Jelly.

Bronze: Ashe’s, Annascaul, Gluten Free Pork Sausage; Quinlan’s Fish, Organic Smoked Salmon Cured with Atlantic Sea Salt Infused with Dill Pollen; Larkin’s Bakery, Cranberry Soda Bread; O’Sullivan’s Bakery, Killorglin, Wholewheat Bread Rolls; Lorge Chocolatier, Cashew Nuts Praline; Dingle Distillery, Dingle Distilled Vodka; Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne, Riasc Red ale.

The Best in County award for Kerry went to Quinlan’s Fish and the Best in Farmer’s Market award went to Pauline’s Pantry.

Photos by Don Mac Monagle Fintan Quinlan of Quinlan’s Fish who won gold and bronze medals as well as the title of Best Producer in Kerry Award, with Birgitta Curtin, and Shane Ryan of Blenders at the Blas na hEireann presentations in the Phoenix Cinema on Saturday. LEFT:...