Ramen noodles developed by new Northern Irish food business

Japanese ramen noodle soup has been launched in Northern Ireland by a new artisan business headed by a top chef who trained with Gordon Ramsey, Gary Rhodes and Nathan Outlaw in Britain.

Brian Donnelly, who has also worked with respected Northern Ireland chefs Paul Rankin and Niall McKenna, set up Bia Rebel (Bia is the Irish for food) in Belfast last year to develop the traditional Japanese dish using the best of local ingredients from artisan producers.

Donnelly has been taste testing the internationally recognised dish at food events in Belfast especially the award winning St George's Market. He has plans to retail the ramen noodle dishes in the near future.

"I decided to set up Bia Rebel to showcase the outstanding quality of ingredients from Northern Ireland farms by recreating such a distinctive international dish as ramen noodle soup. I love Japanese cuisine and reckoned I could give this a new twist by using exclusively artisan ingredients from Northern Ireland. We have many great ingredients in Northern Ireland that can be used to create wonderfully tasty dishes.

"Our farm produce is also very versatile and can be used to create superb dishes and products.

"It took me more than a year to research and create my own distinctive version of the traditional noodle soup. The rye and buckwheat flour for the noodles, which are handcrafted, is sourced from millers in Belfast.

"I also source pork, chicken, free-range eggs and fresh vegetables from Northern Ireland farms. I harvest my own seaweed and use Oolong tea from Suki Tea in Belfast. I also plan to develop a beef soup and have lined up another farm supplier," he adds.

He began taste testing the soup a few weeks ago at St George's Market in Belfast and has been encouraged by very positive feedback from discerning shoppers who flock to the historic food venue every weekend. "I wasn't sure how shoppers in Belfast would react to such a traditional Japanese soup. The response has been tremendous.

"People have been keen to try something so different. They enjoy the soup on the stand and many have been taking it home in tubs. Tastes in Northern Ireland have become cosmopolitan. I've also had praise from Japanese and Chinese tourists who've visited the market," he adds.

For further information visit: https://www.biarebel.com/

Pic Caption: Brian Donnelly of Bia Rebel taste testing the new Northern Irish ramen noodle soup.