Northern Irish beef showcased at Selfridges

Bacon and beef from Northern Ireland will be showcased by celebrity chef Mark Hix at a high-profile dinner at Selfridges in London next month.

Hix has chosen guanciale and salt-aged beef from Hannan Meats in Moira, County Down as the key ingredients in a meal from British ingredients at the highly regarded restaurant in the Oxford Street store. Hix, among the most respected and innovative UK chefs, operates the main restaurant in Selfridges.

Peter Hannan, managing director of Hannan Meats, will also give a short talk to diners about his unique approach to bacon and beef production.

He's won a string of major awards for his bacon and beef from prestigious bodies such as the UK Great Taste Awards and is one of only two Supreme Champions in Northern Ireland in the food event.

Hannan Meats gained the Regional Fork for Northern Ireland in last year's Great Taste Awards and beef supplied to Yellow Door Deli in Portadown was also chosen as the UK Farmshop and Deli Signature Dish in 2013.

Hix says: "At Hix, we're passionate about where all our ingredients come from, and our relationship with suppliers is of utmost importance to us. We're so proud of the produce they bring to us that we decided to showcase the best of British at this event in Selfridges."

Peter Hannan adds: "It's marvellous to see our beef and guanciale by Mark Hix at such a prestigious venue in London city. It's another tremendous opportunity to showcase the quality of our salt-aged beef in particular to such an important marketketplace."

The main course at the dinner will be 'Mighty Marbled' Chateaubriand steak from Hannan Meats using meat from Glenarm Estate in County Antrim. Guanciale, a pig's cheek, will be among starters. Guanciale was the UK Supreme Champion in the UK Great taste Awards in 2012.

Ingredients from other suppliers used in the dinner include a traditional Irish soda bread with smoked salmon and chicken.

Hix operates around seven high-end restaurants in London including the award winning Transhed in Shoreditch and two Hixter branded eateries. The Tramshed and Hixter restaurants specialise in mighty marbled steals. Tramshed has been rated among the best steak restaurants in London.