Food and Drink

Bronagh Luke, Rob Lyttle and Chris Thompson

Rob Lyttle player tackles final weeks of Tearfund poverty appeal with SPAR

The perfect sausages and mash is with the sausages cooked in an onion gravy with a tin of cannellini beans added at the end

My go to dishes for this kind of icy weather are pies, sausage and mash

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has announced the return of its successful When You Know You Know campaign, set to reach over 81% of adults in Scotland when it launches on 6 January 2025

Campaign returns to highlight red meat as part of a healthy, balanced diet

Joanne Boyle, Elephant Rock Hotel

Portrush West Strand named the beach people would visit for a lifetime

Peter and Shane Divilly, owners of Galway-based Divilly Brothers meat suppliers, pictured with Peter Bough, ALDI Buying Director and siblings, Teagan and Moya Farrell as the company lands a new €4 million contract with the retailer.

Aldi extend contracts with Divilly Brothers in Oranmore

Eat more greens. It goes against the grain but there’s no disputing the benefits of eating them. Eating chard, kale and broccoli for example will provide you with food with the highest content of antioxidants, essential minerals and vitamins. Picture: www.LockStockPhotography.com

Rather than focusing on the negative, why not eat what makes us feel good?

There are only a few fishmongers left here and they do deserve our support. One of the things that they have is frozen local crab meat. (John Rafferty Photography)

Why not consider having fish this Christmas time? You won’t regret it

Stollen is a traditional German bread that’s been around for centuries but has become an intrinsic part of our Christmas eating. Picture: National World archives

Making Stollen is a labour of love but then the best things always are

Andrew Murdock, account manager, Finnebrogue, Linda Owens, Asda Downpatrick and Barbara Mullan, assistant NPD manager, Finnebrogue

Downpatrick’s Finnebrogue debuts 37 festive products in Asda stores across UK

Carryduff Christmas Market promises to be a truly festive event in the heart of the community. This much anticipated Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council event takes place on Wednesday 18th December from 4pm to 8pm in the new Carryduff Lidl store car park.

Experience the magic of Carryduff Christmas Market

Luke Dinsmore of Athletics NI at the launch of the 2024-2025 Flahavan’s Primary School Cross Country League at Portstewart Strand

Flahavan’s gives young athletes a boost in Athletics NI League

Farming Life news

Government injects £350 million into farming in boost to Britain’s food security

The government has confirmed it has injected more than £343 million into the rural economy in the first week of December, benefiting more than 31,000 farmers.

Darryl Armitage

Darryl Armitage

Chilled colleague, Alex, Asda Kilkeel

Asda colleagues wear ‘Happy to Chat’ badges to help tackle loneliness

Pictured (left to right); Laura Millar, associate director of human resources, Galgorm Collection, Dr Bláthnaid Carlin, medical doctor, Duality Healthcare; and Colin Johnston, managing director, Galgorm Collection

Hospitality in ‘good health’ with new £250,000 partnership investment

Air fryer deals: We've found huge savings on Ninja, Breville and Tower Gareth Butterfield

Gareth Butterfield

Farming Life news

UK bolsters protection from dangerous animal diseases with £200m new funding

Farming Life news

British pork producers to bring home the bacon with end of China ban

With the Christmas Day lunch itself, I’ve ordered a turkey crown ( no one likes the leg meat), the ham and I’ll pick up the vegetables from the farm shop where there are no queues or screaming toddlers. Picture: Farming Life archives

A good gammon is my very favourite part of a traditional Christmas dinner

Northern Ireland snacks industry enjoys ‘wicked’ evening with Butterkist

Kicking off this year’s Christmas festivities, the Annual Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses took place this week, with Cheesemakers from across the UK donating some of their finest products to the veterans of the Royal Hospital Chelsea

Merry Cheesemas: Cheese ceremony kicks off festive season
A whopping 730lbs – just over 330 kilograms – of British cheese has been donated this year to the Chelsea Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, as part of the annual tradition of giving from the dairy sector to British veterans, dating back to 1692.
Darryl Armitage

Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream. Picture: The Yorkshire Post Magazine/Tony Johnson

Today sees the start of the Christmas period, there is still time to get ready

NIFCC CEO/company secretary Valerie McCann with chairman George Mullan (ABP) and finance manager Pearl Campbell pictured at the 2024 Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification AGM in Lisburn. Picture: Columba O'Hare

NIFCC is helping Northern Ireland industry maintain its competitive edge

Pictured (left to right) are Ivan Ryan, regional managing director, Lidl Northern Ireland, and Robert Ryan, chief executive officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland

Lidl NI procures more than £32m worth of goods and services from local suppliers

Award winning food and drink journalist, Julia Bryce

Young farmers impress in lamb for St Andrew’s Day competition

Bronagh Luke from SPAR NI and Conor O’Kane from Marie Curie launch festive volunteer appeal, SPAR an Hour, for 2024

Retailers bring festive magic for charity partners this Christmas

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has joined more than 25 other organisations from 14 different countries to launch a revolutionary new project to allow dairy calves to spend longer with their mothers

New project to improve the welfare of dairy calves and their mothers

Jason Ward and Karl Hearton with the Champion Beef Rib

LiveScot 2024: A showcase of excellence in Scotch beef and Scotch lamb

Cranberries are one of the gifts we can thank our transatlantic friends for. They’re readily available in the freezer section but in the recipe here I’m using dried cranberries soaked in local whiskey, or apple juice. Picture: Alexander Raths - stock.adobe.com

We should be more thankful to our farmers instead of penalising them

Professor Rudolf Krska attended the prestigious award ceremony in Copenhagen recently

Queen’s professor awarded world’s most prestigious food science prize

Farming Life news

Sales of antibiotics for animals at lowest level to date

Dr Karen Daly, Teagasc, with presenter Jonathan McCrea on tonight’s episode of 10 Things to Know About… Food Security.

Teagasc scientists to feature in tonight's 10 Things to Know About...on RTÉ One
Tonight’s episode of the television series 10 Things to Know About on RTÉ One will feature Teagasc scientists as the episode explore on food security.
Darryl Armitage

Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market returns on Friday 13th December from 3pm-9pm. Hosted by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, this charming market will take place along The Dark Walk, creating a magical atmosphere for evening shoppers. Visitors can expect a cosy night of festive shopping, with local businesses in the village also staying open late to join in on the festivities. Pictured at the launch of the Council’s Christmas Markets are: (l-r) Erin Mulholland and Andrew Mulholland, Pig Out, Alderman Amanda Grehan, Chair of Regeneration and Growth Committee, Caroyln Hamill of The Woofternoon Tea Company and Ruairi Burns, Hinch Distillery

Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market is set to delight visitors once again

Butternut squash is now a staple but there’s a whole big world of gourds out there that deserve to be used all year round and not just for one night. Picture: David Loftus

Some squash are still appearing in the shops which is very heartening

Áine Byrne, Norfish, Michael Gallagher, innovation manager, BIM, John Kenny, Atlantis, Frédéric Mens, Upcyclink and Richard Donnelly, development and innovation director, BIM

Irish seafood industry looks to increase value of co-products

John McCulloch, Sarah Millar, Claire Taylor and Matthew Smith at an exclusive preview screening of the global documentary World Without Cows in Edinburgh

Quality Meat Scotland and Alltech host preview World Without Cows documentary

With the Christmas party season fast approaching, Craigavon-based drinks distributor United Wines has launched details of its festive Designated Driver campaign to help Northern Ireland revellers enjoy the party season and get home safe. Starting from November 18, the initiative will see partygoers who volunteer themselves as a designated driver rewarded with a free Heineken®0.0 or Birra Moretti Zero when they make themselves known to bar staff by showing their car keys at participating venues. Launching the safe driving campaign are Gemma Herdman (left) and Maura Bradshaw of United Wines, with Willy Erwin of The Lansdowne on Antrim Road, Belfast.

United Wines launches designated driver campaign in Northern Ireland

Pudsey visits Towerview Primary School in Bangor

Asda colleagues in Northern Ireland Push for Pudsey for Children in Need

Dr Tom O’Dwyer, Dr David Meredith, Liam Herlihy, Teagasc chairman; European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc, Dr Órlaith NÍ Choncubhair, Stella Meehan, Editor of Agriland; Dr Raymond Kelly

Collaborating for Impact: Ireland and Europe working together on agri food

Value Added Event at Marshalls Farm Shop

Quality Meat Scotland sparks innovation in Scotland’s butchery sector

Galgorm Collection acquires Galgorm Castle Estate and Roe Park Resort as part of milestone £50m investment

Galgorm Collection acquires Galgorm Castle Estate and Roe Park Resort

A pudding should be warm, may or may not have a fruity element, and always be served with cream, custard, ice cream or all three

A pudding can be sweet or savoury it’s now a celebration of sweet side

We put a leading supermarket's Christmas mince pies to the test

Carolyn Boyd, industry development manager at Tourism NI, Ger O’Brien, Camperhire4U Ltd, Lorraine Bell, Irish Landmark Trust and Paul O’Callaghan, Innovate NI programme manager, Invest NI, pictured at the innovation roadshow at Killeavy Castle Estate in Newry

Tourism NI hosts innovation workshop in at Killeavy Castle Estate, Newry

Chair of the judging panel Joris Minne and NI Food to Go Association CEO Michael Henderson

Banbridge food to go businesses announced as finalists for NI Food to Go Awards

Bronagh Luke from SPAR NI is pictured with Chef Stephen Jeffers from Forestside Cookery School and Chris Thompson, Tearfund’s director in Northern Ireland. This year’s partnership appeal will aim to raise £700,000 to help break the cycle of poverty around the world

Tearfund and SPAR NI festive appeal will help break the cycle of poverty

One of my most cherished stews is a traditional Irish one. For me it’s the potato that really makes the dish – creamy and full of the flavours from the lamb or beef it’s cooked with

Beef stew is our go to but there is a big world of stews to be discovered

THICK AS THIEVES: The 40 Thieves ‘gang’, aka Caoimhin Pearson (left), Padraig McGuckin and Paula McGeagh, are looking forward to welcoming customers to Cookstown’s newest bar The 40 Thieves Tavern which officially opens its doors to the public this Saturday night (November 2). Named after one of New York’s earliest known criminal gangs, The 40 Thieves on William Street is an Irish-American style pub that promises to give customers ‘a taste of the Big Apple in the 19th century’. Doors open at 7pm on Saturday night with lots of surprises lined up including live music, dancers and actors to bring the 40 Thieves story to life – and a free drink on arrival for the first 50 customers!

Life begins at 40 Thieves

We tend to have sausage rolls as a snack now but I love them as a centrepiece main course. Picture: Una O’Dwyer

It is the perfect time to embrace a national treasure, the humble sausage

Former owner, Patrick Hughes, is pictured with the team at SPAR Silverwood which has recently been acquired by Henderson Retail

Henderson Retail acquires successful Lurgan store

Oakleaf Group Director Nicky Wright and Joe Jackson of Oakleaf Contracts are making sure that everything is on schedule as work nears completion on Cookstown’s newest bar, The 40 Thieves Tavern on William Street. The Irish-American style pub, located on the site of what was once The Central Inn in the heart of the town, promises to give patrons ‘a taste of the 19th century Big Apple’ when it opens its doors to the public on Saturday November 2nd. Eight new serviced apartments, above and to the rear of the new bar will also be released for rental on Saturday November 9th. This is the first phase of a ‘town centre living’ initiative, with another 15 apartments currently being built on the site

Work nearing completion on Cookstown’s newest bar as opening date revealed

Gin itself has enjoyed a resurgence in the past few years with many now being produced in Northern Ireland. Picture: Yorkshire Post archives

I have many fond memories of Rita and Audrey in Corrie drinking gin and tonics

As Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) prepares for SIAL Paris - the world’s leading food and beverage trade fair - results from the QMS annual export survey reveal a remarkable rise in the total value of Scotland’s red meat and offal sold outside the UK to £137 million in the year from August 2023 to July 2024

Survey shows rise in value of Scotland’s red meat and offal exports

Phyllis and Reggie Wright, Andrew Wright, Wayne Liggett, Mandy McReynolds, Helen Wright-Liggett and Heather McAdam

Wright’s reflect on 15 years as SPAR store with shopper appreciation day

Michael Henderson, CEO of NI Food to Go Association; Mel McNally, Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist; Kiera Campbell, Chair of NI Food to Go Association and Ana Wilkinson, CEO of Friends of the Cancer Centre

Food to Go Association pledges to raise £25k for new charity partner

American academic and animal behaviour expert, Dr Temple Grandin

Queen’s is set to host Dr Temple Grandin as university as part of celebrations

Whatever the health benefits are or aren’t coffee is a great tasting drink and also enhances many dishes. Picture: Marta P. (Milacroft) - stock.adobe.com

Theories about coffee consumption would leave you feeling a little dizzy

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is set to showcase Scotland’s red meat sector at SIAL Paris 2024, one of the world’s premier food and beverage trade shows, taking place from 19 -23 October

Quality Meat Scotland to showcase Scotch red meat sector at SIAL Paris 2024

A simple way of preparing parsnips is to give them a good scrub, cut them in half lengthwise and drizzle with oil, a sprinkling of salt and a twig or two of thyme. Picture: iStock

Parsnips need a bit of frost before harvesting, so we need cold nights

Pictured at Saturday's Royal Hillsborough Farmers Market are, (l-r) Terry McCartan, Hinch Distillery; Ken Baird, Pot Hill Apiary; Helen Wright, Cohen & Co; Tori MCaughey, Tori’s Coffee Bakes & Cakes and Gavin McShane, Little Popcorn Shop

Another successful year of Royal Hillsborough Farmers Markets come to a close