Dubai Chefs Cook Northern Ireland's Finest Food and Drink
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell today joinedfive chefs from top Dubai hotels as they took part in a
'larder challenge' with Northern Ireland chefs at Belfast MET
Culinary College.
The event, organised by Invest Northern Ireland, was part of a
programme to showcase Northern Ireland's unique food and drink
heritage and the pure, natural, quality of our produce.
Over 40 local companies submitted products which the chefs used to
create a Year of Food & Drink Tasting Buffet. The producers of these ingredients then had the opportunity to meet the chefs who used their produce and also network with buyers from key retail and
foodservice outlets in the Middle East. The 'larder' was stocked
with products including salmon, cote de boeuf, striploin, lamb,
cheeses, chutneys and jams.
Jonathan Bell said: "This larder challenge and networking showcase
is an exciting opportunity for influential chefs and buyers in Dubaito sample the quality of our local products for themselves.
"The Northern Ireland food and drink industry is making a big effortto showcase the pure, natural, quality of local food and drink.
Invest NI and Tourism NI have thrown their collective weight behind the initiative and have arranged one to one meetings with buyers andsite visits to producers. This direct contact will help build on theinternational reputation of the local products already exported to the Middle East and support our producers to leverage new sales."
Commenting on the experience, Ben Tobitt, Head Chef Jumeriah
Restaurant Group, said: "It has been inspiring to meet the
passionate producers of Northern Ireland's award winning food and
drink and to get hands on with some of the finest ingredients."
Harry Robinson, Belfast Met Curriculum Area Manager, School of
Creative and Services Industries, said: "Belfast Met are delighted
to host events such as the Larder Challenge in partnership with
Invest NI and DETI. This event has provided our students with a
fantastic opportunity to experience and participate in an event thatfeatures such a high calibre of professional chefs, and see
first-hand how they work and interact in a culinary environment.
"The year of Food and Drink is an exciting time for our College as
more high profile events will be coming to the College throughout
the year, which will offer our students with more opportunities to
practice their culinary and creative skills in a live environment."
'larder challenge' with Northern Ireland chefs at Belfast MET
Culinary College.
The event, organised by Invest Northern Ireland, was part of a
programme to showcase Northern Ireland's unique food and drink
heritage and the pure, natural, quality of our produce.
Over 40 local companies submitted products which the chefs used to
create a Year of Food & Drink Tasting Buffet. The producers of these ingredients then had the opportunity to meet the chefs who used their produce and also network with buyers from key retail and
foodservice outlets in the Middle East. The 'larder' was stocked
with products including salmon, cote de boeuf, striploin, lamb,
cheeses, chutneys and jams.
Jonathan Bell said: "This larder challenge and networking showcase
is an exciting opportunity for influential chefs and buyers in Dubaito sample the quality of our local products for themselves.
"The Northern Ireland food and drink industry is making a big effortto showcase the pure, natural, quality of local food and drink.
Invest NI and Tourism NI have thrown their collective weight behind the initiative and have arranged one to one meetings with buyers andsite visits to producers. This direct contact will help build on theinternational reputation of the local products already exported to the Middle East and support our producers to leverage new sales."
Commenting on the experience, Ben Tobitt, Head Chef Jumeriah
Restaurant Group, said: "It has been inspiring to meet the
passionate producers of Northern Ireland's award winning food and
drink and to get hands on with some of the finest ingredients."
Harry Robinson, Belfast Met Curriculum Area Manager, School of
Creative and Services Industries, said: "Belfast Met are delighted
to host events such as the Larder Challenge in partnership with
Invest NI and DETI. This event has provided our students with a
fantastic opportunity to experience and participate in an event thatfeatures such a high calibre of professional chefs, and see
first-hand how they work and interact in a culinary environment.
"The year of Food and Drink is an exciting time for our College as
more high profile events will be coming to the College throughout
the year, which will offer our students with more opportunities to
practice their culinary and creative skills in a live environment."