New Northern Irish pesto for global awards
A new pesto developed with help from one of Ireland's leading
producers of rapeseed oil will be bidding for the forthcoming
Pesto of the Year championships in Genoa, Italy.
Representing Northern Ireland will be Lyn Thompson who works at
Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, the award winning artisan business
that's based on a family farm near Limavady in county Derry.
"I am thrilled and delighted to have won the competition consideringthe high level of contestants and chefs who were taking part.
I am really looking forward to going to Italy for the finals in
April next year," Lyn says.
"Lyn's pesto won on taste, texture and performance," added
competition organiser, Magne Haugseng. The Northern Ireland heat of the World Pesto Championships was held in Derry city.
"It came closest to the classic Italian ideal for mortar-based
pesto. It had the best combination of flavours from the seven ingredients: the two cheeses, the garlic, the pine nuts, the basil,
the oil and the salt.
"It is very easy to add too much salt as the cheeses are also quite salty, or to overdo the garlic, for example. Balancing the input of these independently minded flavours, Lyn managed to reach that magical mix, which lifted her pesto enough to stand out.
"It was not an easy task for the judges, as all the contestants really excelled."
Ten contestants gathered to make the classic Genoese sauce with oil,
cheese, basil, garlic, pine nuts and salt. No machines were allowed.
A pestle and mortar each and the ingredients were all provided.
The competition was open to everyone from chefs to home cooks.
The Northern Ireland heat of the World Pesto Championships was
sponsored by Food NI.
Michele Shirlow, Food NI chief executive, adds:
"This is the second time we've held a heat in Northern Ireland.
We're delighted that it was held in Derry-Londonderry, runner-up in the RAI's Foodie Town competition. We look forward to more events
like these during next year which has been designated the Year of
Food and Drink."
producers of rapeseed oil will be bidding for the forthcoming
Pesto of the Year championships in Genoa, Italy.
Representing Northern Ireland will be Lyn Thompson who works at
Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, the award winning artisan business
that's based on a family farm near Limavady in county Derry.
"I am thrilled and delighted to have won the competition consideringthe high level of contestants and chefs who were taking part.
I am really looking forward to going to Italy for the finals in
April next year," Lyn says.
"Lyn's pesto won on taste, texture and performance," added
competition organiser, Magne Haugseng. The Northern Ireland heat of the World Pesto Championships was held in Derry city.
"It came closest to the classic Italian ideal for mortar-based
pesto. It had the best combination of flavours from the seven ingredients: the two cheeses, the garlic, the pine nuts, the basil,
the oil and the salt.
"It is very easy to add too much salt as the cheeses are also quite salty, or to overdo the garlic, for example. Balancing the input of these independently minded flavours, Lyn managed to reach that magical mix, which lifted her pesto enough to stand out.
"It was not an easy task for the judges, as all the contestants really excelled."
Ten contestants gathered to make the classic Genoese sauce with oil,
cheese, basil, garlic, pine nuts and salt. No machines were allowed.
A pestle and mortar each and the ingredients were all provided.
The competition was open to everyone from chefs to home cooks.
The Northern Ireland heat of the World Pesto Championships was
sponsored by Food NI.
Michele Shirlow, Food NI chief executive, adds:
"This is the second time we've held a heat in Northern Ireland.
We're delighted that it was held in Derry-Londonderry, runner-up in the RAI's Foodie Town competition. We look forward to more events
like these during next year which has been designated the Year of
Food and Drink."