Bell launches Year of Food and Drink in Big Apple

They may be more used to bagels, but New Yorkers are being encouraged to try some wheaten, soda or potato bread instead. The call came from the Northern Ireland Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell this week-end as he launched the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016 in the city. Jonathan Bell said: "In Northern Ireland, we are often guilty of taking what we've got for granted, but that is most certainly not the case when it comes to our excellent food and drink offering. "It's not unusual to go into a restaurant and ask what the special is. We know that by their very nature, our fresh ingredients make Northern Ireland food more than a bit special. Now is the time to let the world know just how good it really is and launching the NI Year of Food and Drink in 'the Big Apple' is an important part of raising our international profile. "We want to win the hearts of tourists. We want them to fall in lovewith Northern Ireland and we know that our food and drink can play akey role in making that happen. "Unlike Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist‎, we unashamedly want our diners toask for more. And how could anyone who has sampled our glorious foodnot be tempted to come back for seconds? Having sampled something off the Northern Ireland menu, I believe visitors will want more - to see more, to do more and, ultimately, to spend more. "I have no doubt as we move through this very special year of food and drink, it will continue to deliver real results for tourism in Northern Ireland." Pic Caption: Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell and Tourism Ireland'sNiall Gibbons are pictured with Northern Ireland chefs Stephen Toman,(OX, Belfast)and Ian Orr, (Brown's Restaurant, Londonderry and Ardtara Country House, Upperlands) who were at the New York launch of NI Year of Food and Drink 2016 to showcase Northern Ireland cuisine.