Three in running for Northern Ireland Great Taste Golden Fork

Three companies have been shortlisted for the prestigious Northern Ireland Golden Fork in this year’s Great Taste Awards.

The contenders – all three-star winners in this year’s awards organised by the UK Guild of Fine Food are: Baronscourt Estate, Omagh, Co Tyrone for its Wild Sika Venison; Craic Foods, Craigavon for  Black Garlic and Porcini Sea Salt;  and  Little Bakehouse NI, Dromore for Abernethy Butter Lemon Curd.

Following a record-breaking 12,777 entries judged over 14 weeks, Great Taste named this year’s Golden Fork nominees, with the big winners set to be announced during a virtual ceremony on Thursday 22 October.

Taking place across the Guild of Fine Food’s social media channels and website from 10am – 6pm, this online event will allow more people than ever to share in the drama and excitement of Great Taste’s grand finale, as the world’s most trusted food and drink awards shines a spotlight on the best of the best. This category is sponsored by business development agency Invest Northern Ireland.

Coming later in the year than usual, after the lockdown interrupted judging just one week into the schedule, the Golden Fork trophy announcements will provide a vital boost for the industry during the all-important run-up to Christmas. Following many weeks of remote judging, followed by socially distanced judging in London and Dorset, the virtual Golden Fork event will be the final instalment in a Great Taste calendar that has been reinvented at every stage, in order to stimulate much-needed consumer support for independent retail and hospitality over the challenging months ahead. 

A host of Great Taste supporters and judges will reveal the winners, with a line-up including food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay, baker and author, Martha Collison, wine writer and presenter, Jane Parkinson, food and drink broadcaster, Nigel Barden, and James Golding, Chef Director of THE PIG hotel group. 

Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. A record breaking 12,777 different products were entered in 2020. Entries were sent in from 106 different countries, including Estonia, Greece, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the USA and Vietnam. A total of 3,818 entries won three stars, 1,294 were awarded two stars and 205, including five from Northern Ireland, were awards the coveted three stars.