The 2014 Great Taste Award winners were announced this week and Irish food has again proven it being excellent quality product by claiming more of the prestigious Gold stars than ever before!
 
Over 400 judges including leading retail buyers, chefs and food writers were involved in the seven-week judging process that involved over 10,000 individual products from the UK and Republic of Ireland.
 
This year’s awards also included the first-ever judging session to be held in Belfast. I was delighted to be asked to be one of the judges and I spent a very interesting three days in Belfast working with some wonderful people who are simply and totally passionate about food.

What the stars mean:

Three Stars – Sensational food and drink that has to be tasted
Two Stars – Faultless food and drink
One Star – Close to perfect
 
This year six Irish Food Producers claimed the ultimate 3-Gold Stars:

James Whelan Butchers for Beef Dripping, Donegal Rapeseed Company Ltd for Cold pressed Virgin Rapeseed Oil, The Cloudberry Bakery for Sea salted caramel Squares, Bell Lane for DragonFly Espresso, Nobó Ltd. for Nobó Fresh Lemon Ice Cream  and Irish Atlantic Salt Ltd for Irish Atlantic Sea Salt with Dill Pollen.
 
Ten producers from Northern Ireland also claimed 3-Gold Stars for their food products. They are:
Baronscourt Estate, Ewing Seafoods, Flossie’s Fudge, Greenmount Meats, K&G McAtamney, Hannan Meats, Maud’s Ice Cream, Quail’s Fine Foods, Suki Teahouse, Thompson’s Family Teas
 
The awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Foods and all products to rate 3-Stars will now go forward to the Final Stage of the awards on 8th September in London, when the Supreme Champion Award will be announced. The full list of all winners can be seen at www.IrishFoodGuide.ie.