Northern Irish innovators showcased in Great Taste 'little book of stars'

Northern Irish artisan food companies are showcased in the new book of Great Taste 2013-14, truly delicious culinary journey through the world of fine food producers. It's the essential guide to great food and drink.

Northern Ireland companies gained three to awards in this year's UK Great Taste Awards - Ambient Product of the Year, Deli/Farm Shop Signature Dish and Northern Ireland Regional Golden Fork. In addition, Northern Ireland had nine products listed in the Top 50 Foods.

Ambient Product of the Year was won by En Place Foods, Cookstown, county Tyrone;

Deli/Farm Shop Signature Dish was won by Yellow Door Deli of Portadown, county Armagh; and

Northern Ireland Regional Golden Fork went to Hannan Meats, Moira, county Down.

The Great Taste Book 2013 is a cornucopia of food that is truly WOW. It takes the reader through fields of rich pasture to Himalayan salt chambers at Hannan Meats, from olive groves to the yeasty atmosphere of an artisan bakery.

For chefs, cooks, buyers, retailers, food writers, home economists, journalists and food critics - a copy of Great Taste 2013-14 is an invaluable aid to discovering and sourcing the very best ingredients from the most dedicated and talented producers. Each page tells the story of products that have charmed Great Taste judges.

250,000 copies are available through consumer food shows, including BBC Good Food Show Winter and more than 50 events throughout 2014 including RHS Hampton Court and Tatton Park, Spirit of Summer, Spirit of Christmas and the BBC Good Food Shows.

"Great Taste reveals the most outstanding, the most delicious, food and drink each year and the Great Taste book gathers together the stories behind these award winners - it could be described as a who's who of top food producers. For anyone who wants to find the very best food and drink available from dedicated producers, the Great Taste book is an easy little guide to have to hand with all the important contacts a buyer could need," says John Farrand, managing director of The Guild of Fine Food, organiser of Great Taste.

Great Taste is all about taste. It is not about packaging or smart design. Judges are simply presented with food or drink to taste and they provide valuable feedback to thousands of producers each year. For a producer to win a Great Taste 1-star award is a great achievement, to win 2-stars means that many judges have been bowled over by the product, and to win a 3-star Great Taste award is comparable to a chef winning a Michelin star. It simply is seen in the world of fine food as a hallmark of taste, quality and excellence.

Since 1994, Great Taste has been organised by The Guild of Fine Food and over the last 19 years over 80,000 products have been blind tasted by judges including top restaurateurs, chefs, food critics, fine food retailers, buyers and cookery writers