Glastry Farm Ice Cream wins Good Food Award
Glastry Farm Ice Cream, the Northern Irish farm-based producer of luxury ice cream, has won a major award in the Good Food Ireland (GFI) Experience Awards 2013.
The ice cream business, based on a dairy farm at Kircubbin, county Down, was the Northern Ireland award winner in a category that celebrates authentic produce that consumers are increasingly seeking. The company has also won recognition for quality and innovation from bodies such as the UK Guild of Fine Food in the Great Taste Awards for products such as its Kilbeggan Ice Cream.
The GFI award for producers is designed to assure consumers that they have found something exceptionally good. Products in the category, sponsored by Bord Bia, the Republic of Ireland's food marketing body, are distinguished by "exemplary flavour and taste".
The competition, organised by the Good Food Ireland organisation, featured 17 categories covering all aspects of the hospitality and food sectors in the Republic and Northern Ireland. They were created by GFI founder Margaret Jeffares to redefine "good food experience in Ireland as being of the highest quality, authentic, responsible and rewarding". Assessments were carried out by a panel of independent experts and the winners announced at a gala event in Dublin on 19thNovember.
New Forge House, near Moira in county Down was named Culinary Haven of the Year in the prestigious awards.
Glastry Farm Ice Cream is produced by Will Taylor and family on land the family has been farming since 1856. Good Food Ireland said: "They now have a pedigree herd of dairy cattle which produces all the milk and cream for their wonderful products. This production is a real family affair, with the parents at the helm of production, a son looking after the dairy herd and a daughter minding the accounts. That's why the ice-cream has that special 'cared for' taste, which only comes from personal commitment and dedication to the end."
Other Northern Ireland artisan companies shortlisted were:
Abernethy Butter, Dromara, county Down, which Good Food Ireland described as "real butter made from real cream, churned then rolled and packed by hand. That's Abernethy Butter.Will and Alison Abernethy have got it exactly right. Their home and butter production kitchen in the beautiful Lagan Valley region looks over rolling pastures and the peak of Slieve Croob, source of the River Lagan. A heavenly spot to produce a heavenly butter the old fashioned way".
Armagh Cider Company, Armagh, county Armagh. Good Food Ireland said: "Locally produced cider has made a big comeback in recent years. Nowhere more fitting for that to happen than Armagh, the Orchard County. At Ballinteggert House just outside Portadown, the Troughton family are the fourth generation to grow apples. Orchards have been established here since 1898. Philip and Helen Troughton own the company. But it was Philip's father who planted the seeds of success in terms of cider, with a long held dream to make the stuff on the farm."
DJ'S Ciders and Juices, Lisburn, county Antrim. Good Food Ireland said: "In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were instructed by God not to eat the juicy apples hanging from the Tree of Knowledge. The Forbidden Fruit. The wicked Serpent persuaded Eve to take a bite. The fall of Mankind. Banishment from the Garden forever. So began the human race, with all it's shortcomings. This legendary biblical tale inspired Tempted? Craft Ciders from DJ's. "
Ditty's Home Bakery, Castledawson, county Derry. Good Food Ireland said: "Robert Ditty is famous up and down the land for his beautiful oat cakes. But it doesn't end there, this man is a genius baker who has been in the industry many a long year. He's a second-generation artisan baker and his skills and experience knocks others into a cocked hat! Here at the bakery and coffee shop in Magarefelt, the sister premises to the original in Castledawson, all that talent and creativity is showcased in proper style. Home baking, superb breakfasts and lunches, tea."
Harnett's Oils, Portadown, county Armagh. Good Food Ireland said: "GM free seeds for oil have been grown on the Waring Estate farm in Northern Ireland since 1656, when Jane Harnett's family mansion house home was built by one of her father's ancestors. Over more recent decades, her father has become a significant producer of rapeseed oil for the supermarket sector. In 2005, working with expert guidance from Loughry College, Jane developed her own label Harnett's oils from rapeseed and hemp seed, also grown on the farm."