Delicious lists Northern Ireland food for awards
More than 20 products from 14 Northern Ireland companies have been shortlisted in the annual delicious. Produce Awards.
The awards are organised by delicious, the UK's leading consumer food magazine in association with Fisher & Paykel. They are dedicated to unearthing and celebrating the most exciting, innovative and talented small-scale artisan producers from the northern most tip of Shetland, right down to the Isles of Scilly and, in between, the Awards scour every corner of the UK.
The Northern Ireland entries include many of the region's most successful artisan food producers including Abernethy Butter, Broughgammon Farm, Neary Nogs Stoneground Chocolate and Krazibaker.
It recognises the country's farmers, fishermen, butchers and artisan food producers who "supply our markets and fill our cupboards with quality ingredients - and it is these that inspire us to cook the best food we can".
This year the competition has more entries that ever before, from which the short-list has been chosen after regional selection. Produce has been submitted from nine regions across the UK including Northern Ireland.
The awards of 2018, which closed for entry on 18 April, will put Britain's top producers centre-stage, with the winning products and producers starring in the glossy food magazine.
Overseen by Valentina Harris, regional judging panels including top chefs and food writers will judge nine categories in nine regional heats across the UK, looking for leaders in fishing, farming, animal rearing and beverages. Regional winners will be entered into the national final, to be judged by some of the top names in the food industry during October in London.
The Northern Ireland shortlist is:
Abernethy Butter, Dromora: Butter
Broughgammon Farm, Ballycastle: Goat Bacon
BlackFire Artisan Food, Belfast: Botanic Sauce, Bonfire Chipotle, BlackFire Artisan Food: Hot House Sauce, BlackFire Artisan Food: Redhead Sauce and BlackFire Artisan Food: Samson Sauce
Cavanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd, Newtownbutler: Free Range Eggs
Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Co, Bangor: Clandeboye Estate Greek Style Yoghurt
Copeland Spirits, Saintfield: Rhuberry Gin
Dart Mountain Cheese, Dungiven: Sperrin Blue Cheese
Granny Shaw's Fudge Factory, Antrim: Fudge
Krazibaker, Dromore: Potato apple and Krazibaker: Potato with Dexter mince carrot and onion
Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society, Toomebridge: Lough Neagh Pollan and Smoked Lough Neagh Eel
Mash Direct Ltd: Mash Direct Beer Battered Chips and Red Cabbage and Beetroot
Neary Nogs Stoneground Chocolate: 72% Dominican Republic Chocolate Bar
Rooney Fish, Kilkeel: Pacific Oysters and
The Irish Black Butter Company: Irish Black Butter.