Northern Irish chorizo named product to watch in 2017

Northern Ireland's Corndale Charcuterie has been named Ireland's Top Charcuterie in an all island public vote.

Corndale, a farm-based business in Limavady, county Derry specialising in free-range chorizo and salami, came out on top in a social media vote organised by the Irish Food Guide. It was named among the Top 10 Irish Products to Watch in 2017.

Corndale Farm was established in Limavady in 2012 by Alastair Crown, a part-time pork farmer, with the aim to produce top-quality pork from his herd of rare-breed, free-range pigs. Crown developed its own recipe for a unique smoky, savoury chorizo with a gentle background heat.

Irish Food Guide, produced by chef, food ambassador and food blogger Zack Gallagher, invited social media followers to choose their top products in 10 categories including charcuterie. Corndale was the only product from Northern Ireland in the list.

Mr Crown, commenting on the listing, says: "Wow! Being listed as the best charcuterie is a huge endorsement of the chorizo I launched at the beginning of 2016. I am surprised that it is known throughout Ireland. It will encourage me as I seek to develop sales in both Northern Ireland and the Republic."

Having trained as a chef and cooked everywhere from London to on board fishing boats, Zach started his Irish Food Guide blog in 2008, promoting all that is good in Irish food; producers, restaurants, events and festivals.

From the start he saw it as a food tourism platform, a space to "share other people's stories and connect everything". His @IrishFoodGuide Twitter account is approaching 33,000 followers. He has become synonymous with Donegal and with Irish food.

Zack has an absolute belief in Ireland's food tourism potential and has spent much time thinking about how we can best promote it. As a result, he has recently launched a new and ambitious project, Irish Food Tours, which will serve as an intermediary between food producer and tour operators building tailored food tourism itineraries. It will also provide support to producers which will enable them to take advantage of the valuable revenue stream that food tourism can provide.

Picture: Alastair Crown of Corndale Farm Charcuterie in Limavady, county Down.