Foodies produce the goods at Blas na hÉireann
WICKLOW food producers were laden down with medals as they excelled at the tenth Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards.
In addition to the medal winners, Rigney’s Farm Foods were deemed the Best in Wicklow while Rhoda Cocoa was crowned the Best in Farmers’ Market.
Among the gold medal winners was Gino’s Gelato’s Pistachio Ice Cream, Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese’s Gold Beechwood Smoked Cheddar and Daisy Cottage’s Chocolate Raspberry Tart.
Silver medals were awarded to Rhoda Cocoa’s Single Origin Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa with Spices Morello Cherries and Pistachio Nuts and Miena’s Handmade Nougat with Almond & Mixed Berries while both National Organics’ Just Free Gluten Free Porridge Oats and the Firehouse Bakery’s Cranberry & Walnut Sourdough were presented with bronze medals.
A number of Co Wicklow producers brought home multiple medals.
Bray’s Butler’s Pantry won a gold medal for its Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup and a bronze medal for its Fish Pie with Leeks, Dillisk and Tarragon Mash.
The Happy Pear’s Sweet Beet Hummus and Lovely Basil Pesto were awarded gold medals while the company’s Happy Hummus and Sweet Potato, Coconut and Ginger Soup brought home bronze medals.
The biggest Co Wicklow winner was Sam’s Cookies in Bray, which won no less that six medals. Two products from the Dunnes Simply Better range (Handmade All Butter Irish Raspberry Bakewell Slices and Hand Decorated Irish All Butter Christmas Cake) were awarded gold alongside Sam’s Luxury Tea Brack. The brand’s SuperValu Luxury Easter Cupcakes took home a silver medal while bronze medals were awarded to its Dunnes Simply Better Handmade Belgian Chocolate Brownie Layer Cake and its SuperValu Chocolate Biscuit Cake Pudding.
The Blas na hEireann awards are the largest blind-tasted food awards in Ireland and recognise and celebrate the very best Irish food and drink. This year more than 400 finalist producers competed in 130 categories.