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West Cork companies represent in Paris
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Five Cork exporters attended the SIAL International Food Fair in Paris from October 4* hotel -Local food21st to 25th. This is the biggest business-tobusiness (B2B) trade event in the world this Picturesque gardensyear and Ireland was also represented by the Minister of State at the Department of Historic houseAgriculture Food and the Marine, Andrew Views of Michael Collins Doyle TD, along with the Chairman (Dan MacSweeney) and CEO (West Cork’s Tara birthplaceMcCarthy, pictured) of Bord Bia, who led a record 35 Irish food companies in total. The Cork companies in attendance included Dairy Concepts and Coolmore Foods, both from Bandon; Hassett’s Bakery and Virginia Health Fernhill House Hotel & GardensFoods, both from Carrigaline, and Folláin Foods from Ballyvourney SIAL took on increased importance this year given the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s future relationship with the EU. While Brexit impacts
www.fernhillhousehotel.com, 023 8833258on all food and drink sectors, exporters from the Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) category are particularly exposed and, not surprisingly ac-
count for 30% of the Irish companies at SIAL, with eight of them participating for the fi rst time.
Wildberry winners
The prestigious Irish Quality Food Awards, which reward and recognise the best food and drink products on sale in Ireland, has presented The Wildberry Bakery from Ballineen with the Dunnes Stores Simply Better Small Producer Award at a function held in the Clayton Hotel in Dublin on October 18th. Winning this prize means a listing in Dunnes Stores as part of the Simply Better range, initially in 50 stores. The winner will also get advice around packaging and other elements of the product to make it ready for sale in a retail environment and on a bigger scale. The Wildberry is an award-winning bakery, situated in the village of Ballineen, West Cork. It was set up by Susan Robbins Fehily and her husband Tom. Susan’s ethos is to create great fl avours and textures particularly in her Gluten Free Range.
Diarmuid Murphy, Simply Better at Dunne’s Stores, Susan and Tom Fehily, The Wildberry Bakery, Shona Walsh and Daragh Lawless from Simply Better at Dunne’s Stores.
Try some Pie
‘Pie’ is a new deli on the Glengarriff Road in Bantry which specialises in pies made using the best of West Cork produce. Working closely with local farmers, growers and other suppliers, the Pie team insists on the highest standards in terms of quality, safety, environment and animal welfare, right through from the sourcing of ingredients to the serving of their pies. They have everything from the classic traditional pie to the new and funky, savoury and sweet – including pork pies using Twomey’s meats and homemade hot crust pastry to their steak and gravy, chicken Balti and apple pies. They also sell Clonakilty Pudding Scotch eggs and wonderful Quiche Lorraine and Gubbeen Chorizo Chicken & Leek pies, using the best of local ingredients. Pie has recently received a wine licence so they can marry a tasty wine with a great pie. You can also get freshly ground coff ee produced by Stone Valley Coff ee Roasters and there is a sandwich deli using homecooked local meats alongside homemade salads. There is even a range of ‘Piescream’ desserts and sweet treats! Catering for all sorts of big and small events is another great service on off er. See www.piedeli.ie or call 027-50975 for more information.
Gin award
Lidl’s Distilled Irish Gin took a much soughtafter gold award at the The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards in Dublin recently as well. This award is of special interest to West Cork food and drink afi cionados as the tasty tipple is distilled in Skibbereen by West Cork Distillers. Beara Ocean Gin also got special mention in what is a highly-competitive category.
Guest chef
