Top Tasting Food and Drink Products from Ireland Revealed for Great Taste 2023

Today, thousands of artisan food and drink producers from around the globe to discover if any of their products have achieved a distinguished 1-, 2- or 3-star from Great Taste - the world's largest food and drink accreditation which is based entirely on taste.

Across 89 judging days in Dorset and London, a group of in excess of 500 judges conducted comprehensive blind taste tests on 14,195 entries submitted from a staggering 109 different countries. Each producer will also receive invaluable feedback on their submissions from an array of food experts.

Irish products have won not one, but an impressive 526 awards. 389 x 1-stars, 120 x 2-stars and 17 x 3-stars have been scooped including the following:

Great Taste 3-star – Macroom Buffalo Ricotta from Macroom Buffalo Cheese Products (only 1.8% of entries received a 3-star – “extraordinarily tasty food & drink”)

Great Taste 2-star – Waldron Family Handmade Black Pudding from Waldron Meats (only 11% of entries received a 2-star – “above and beyond delicious”)

Great Taste 1-star – Bart's Blended Irish Whiskey by Lough Ree Distillery (only 28.8% of entries received a 1-star – “food & drink that delivers fantastic flavour”)

John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food comments: “A huge congratulations to the Irish producers who have been awarded Great Taste stars for 2023 with their outstanding food and drink.

“Every year, we welcome new and established producers making fantastic products around the world and this year has been no exception. The breadth and quality of food and drink has been outstanding, and we wish everyone who entered huge success and hope they find the feedback from our expert judging panel beneficial as they continue in their onward journey.”

What is Great Taste? 

Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind-tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process.

New for this year and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food offered 50 micro producers the chance to put one new product in front of its expert panel of Great Taste judges for free. The bursary was aimed at micro producers who have never entered Great Taste before or have a new product, which has never been entered before. The bursary panel, which consisted of Adrian Boswell, buyer at Selfridges, industry commentator and food entrepreneur Mallika Basu, and PR & marketing expert AJ Sharp, selected the 50 most eligible entries.

2023 saw 21 products entered through the bursary scheme win a Great Taste award including Karobi's Ghee from Karobi's (3-star), New Alt from Antur Brew Co. (3-star), Shoogle Junniperous Scottish Navy Strength Gin from Shoogle Spirits (2-star) and Traditional Napa Cabbage Kimchi from The Ferm (1-star).

Food & Drink Wales is the headline sponsor of Great Taste 2023. Great Taste Golden Fork trophy sponsors include: Andrew Ingredients, Bord Bia, Food & Drink Wales, Invest NI, Italian Trade Agency, Maltby & Greek, Mevalco, Partridges, Scotland Food and Drink, ShireFoods, and Speciality and Fine Food Fair. Great Taste is supported by Henderson Group, Horgans, and Peter Green Chilled.   

The Great Taste 2023 judging panel: “When I come across a product with the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo, I see it as a badge of honour and feel compelled to purchase it. Having knowledge of the effort required to attain such a rating and the exceptional flavour that accompanies it, I am confident the product will not disappoint.” said a regular of the Great Taste judging panel.

The distinguished judging panel consisting of over 500 food & drink experts, included chefs, critics, recipe developers, buyers, journalists, retailers, broadcasters, and reputable industry professionals. The Great Taste 2023 judging line-up included senior buyers and coordinators from Selfridges, Whole Foods Market, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Waitrose and Westmorland Family. 

MasterChef 2022 winner Eddie Scott, olive oil sommelier and author Irini Tzortzoglou, food writer and owner of Violet Cakes Claire Ptak, chef and co-founder of Island Social Club Marie Mitchell, chef turned farmer Julius Roberts, pastry chef and author Ravneet Gill, restaurateur and producer Amy Poon from Poon's, baker and author Kitty Tait - the youngest and newest judge to join this year. Finally, broadcasters and journalists Andy Clarke and Juliet Sear (ITV), Felicity Cloake (The Guardian), Xanthe Clay (Telegraph) and Joanna Blythman were involved this year, among many others. 

What next?

These Great Taste award-winners can now proudly display the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo as a badge of honour on their award-winning products. The logo states whether the product was awarded 1-, 2- or 3- stars and that it was awarded in 2023, so make sure to look out for them in your local stockist!

Past winners have stated that displaying a Great Taste sticker has increased sales by as much as 50%, as consumers from around the world are enthused to taste the best food and drink products available each year.

Great Taste Golden Fork ceremony 

The excitement of Great Taste 2023 doesn't stop here, for the highest scoring winners it's just the beginning. All 3-star winning products were tasted and judged again by the knowledgeable judging panel to crown the Golden Fork trophy winners and the 2023 Supreme Champion – the highest accolade of all.

The Golden Fork ceremony celebrates the best of the best from producers around the world, awarding them with a Golden Fork trophy. Further Golden Fork trophies are given for various categories, including the Guild of Fine Food Lifetime Achievement award, the Great Taste Startisan of the Year award and Nigel Barden's Heritage Award.

All will be announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Ceremony on Monday 11 September 2023 at the Battersea Arts Centre (trade event only).

For the full list of this year's winners and where to buy them, head to www.greattasteawards.co.uk from 2pm today where you will also find a wide range of the award-winning products available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets across the country.

Destination Cheese

Stunning scenery, history, culture and its diverse food offering are just some of the reasons behind Europe's popularity as a holiday destination. 

For example, in France alone, it's worth dedicating time to explore its many regions where you'll find some of the best cheeses in the whole world.

Normandy is home to four important cheeses - Camembert de Normandie - one of the crown jewels of French gastronomy, Neufchâtel PDO - a cheese often rendered  heart-shaped with a bright white, downy rind that browns as it matures, Pont-l'Evêque PDO, a soft-ripened, washed-rind cheese with a pronounced farmyard aroma and Livarot PDO, one of Normandy's oldest cheeses.

Beautiful and varied in landscape, Brittany offers wooded countryside, moors and river valleys shaped by the tides. Worth a try here is Saint-Paulin, defined by law as a semi-hard uncooked, pressed cheese made with cow's milk and originally produced by the Trappist monks of Saint-Paulin.

If you are travelling through the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, take a trip to Lyon (UNESCO World Heritage) which is France's culinary capital. As well as its many restaurants, you can also discover the region's cheeses which include Abondance PDO an earthy hard cheese with notes of hazelnuts and fruits, and Cantal PDO which, depending on its maturity, can range from softly textured with a buttery taste to almost crumbly with intense flavours. 

Beaufort PDO has fruity taste and creaminess that's highly prized and it's a very distinctive cheese without being too strong. 

Tomme de Savoie PGI is the oldest of all Savoie cheeses. With a straightforward taste and delicate, subtle flavorus that vary according to the level of maturity and the seasons. The younger a Tomme is, the milder its taste, with a hint of tang; the older it gets, the more typical, powerful and rustic its taste becomes.

For a region known for its wines, the Burgundy-Franche-Comté doesn't disappoint when it comes to gorgeous cheese. The triple cream cow's milk Brillat-Savarin can be enjoyed fresh and in maturity with the flavour and structural changes you'd expect from a fine wine.

Soumaintrain PGI is also creamy when young, but becoming more pronounced and aromatic as it ages. Chaource is a deliciously fine cheese which melts in the mouth, its flavours of cream and fresh mushrooms are enhanced by a little salt.

If you are going to try Comté PDO, one of France's foremost PDO cheeses, here is the place to do so.  A lesser-known but important cheese from the region is Bleu de Gex PDO or Bleu de Septmoncel. One of the milder of the salty blue cheeses, its beige and light brown rind is created by regular brushing, you can also identify from the engraving of Gex on the outer rind.

Côte restaurants announce return of the Prestige Menu for the summer - high quality dishes for a nice, set price

After church on Sunday I was talking with a friend who said that he and his wife were going to be dining at our nearest Côte restaurant to celebrate his birthday. And it looks as if it's coming together very nicely for them. How so?

Because Côte restaurants have announced the return of the Prestige set menu featuring high quality French dishes at affordable prices.

The exciting menu showcases exquisite food specially selected as a luxurious treat but at a delicious set menu price.

The Menu Prestige was designed by Côte executive chef Steve Allen who previously worked alongside Gordon Ramsay at his Michelin starred restaurants including London’s iconic Claridges and Petrus.

The triumphant return of the popular menu is all about great value evening meals featuring classic Côte a la carte dishes plus a selection curated exclusively by Steve.

The Menu Prestige will be available Monday to Friday from 7pm and available throughout the summer from the end of July at a selection of Côte restaurants across the country.

The set price menu will be trialled throughout the summer and if it proves to be a hit with diners it will be considered as a permanent fixture. The menu ranges from £18.95 for two courses and £22.95 for three courses (prices may vary).

The Menu Prestige will be available at Chester, Manchester, Liverpool, Cirencester, Winchester, Dorchester, St Martin’s Lane and Covent Garden Côte restaurants. 

Guests will be able to choose from starters including Calamari, French Onion Soup, Chicken Liver Parfait, Moules Normande and Salade Rachel.  Main course include Sea Bass Rouge, Confit Pork Belly, Squash Taboulé, Poulet Grillé and 8oz Sirloin steak (£3.50 surcharge). The delicious desserts include Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart, Almond Financier, Cheese Board and ice cream/sorbet.

A Côte spokesperson said: “In France almost every restaurant offers a set menu prix fixe and we wanted to showcase our fine French cuisine at affordable prices. At Côte we believe in life’s little luxuries and the Prestige menu was loved so much by our guests that we decided to print it back for the summer. Great food at affordable prices.”

​https://www.cote.co.uk.

Morrisons launches new support package for British farmers to cover rising costs of growing crops

What with rising energy prices, increased fertiliser costs and other price rises, our farmers have certainly being feeling the pinch lately. 

As a result, Morrisons has taken the decision to launch a new support package for British farmers to cover the costs of growing crops.

In fact, Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket to launch a support package that underwrites 100% of the costs associated with growing crops.

The retailer, which has over 1,200 branches throughout England, Scotland and Wales, has invested £2 million in a year-long trial and potato and carrot farmers are the first to benefit under the scheme.

The trial will help British farmers mitigate the cost and weather pressures coming from the peaks and troughs of the seasons, including field rent and fertiliser costs and gives farmers greater financial security with Morrisons shouldering all the risks.

Crops are currently being grown on three potato farms and one carrot farm with the first produce from these farms due to hit the shelves before year's end and into 2024. If successful, Morrisons hopes to roll out this scheme to more farms later next year. 

Morrisons already supports farmers by buying whole crops and picking out any fruit or veg that's perfectly fine to eat but has a quirky shape or a surprising size for its Naturally Wonky range.

Launched back in 2015, Morrisons Naturally Wonky fruit and veg helps reduce food waste in the field and offers affordable produce to its customers. It also provides farmers an alternative route to market. The range includes 24 wonky varieties, and 27,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were sold this way last year alone.

Gareth Cosford, who is Morrisons' Senior Buying Manager for Root Vegetables said: “As British farming’s biggest direct customer we understand the impact higher costs are continuing to have on Britain's farmers. As a result, our trial scheme allows us to take all the risks that are associated with growing the crop away from our farmers and continue to grow the best quality British produce our customers know, love and have come to expect.” 

Participating farms so far include Naish Farms Ltd. which grow potatoes for Morrisons.

Andrew Nash, who is a Director at Naish Farms Ltd. said: “Morrisons already buy our whole crop of potatoes from us, taking the top-quality and also the misshapen or the oversized ones and making them available to customers as part of their naturally wonky range. This not only maximises our return, it also offers the best value to their customers.

“In farming there are ups and downs throughout the seasons. For us we are seeing greater weather challenges which could impact our crops and by being part of this new Morrisons trial, they’re underwriting our growing costs to cushion us from the associated risks and provide supply security so  we can focus on growing the very best potatoes for their customers.”

Interestingly, Morrisons is British farming’s biggest direct supermarket customer and works directly with over 2,700 farmers and growers all year round to ensure customers can purchase products of the highest quality. 

This week Morrisons is continuing to support the industry by sponsoring Farm 24, farming's biggest event which highlights the pride of the nation’s food producers. For more information, please visit: https://www.morrisons-farming.com/backing-british/farm24

Some shoppers believe that the Morisons Naturally Wonky fruits and vegetables actually taste better, as they remind them of the "real" fruit and vegetables their parents and grandparents used to be able to buy before the authorities decided that all fruits and vegetables should have uniform size, weight and appearance.

What do you think? Wonky or not? 

B. Dylan Hollis Makes Vintage Pies | Baking Yesteryear (Penguin Random House video)

That's Food and Drink loves apple pies. Our parrot also helps us to consume some of the apples used to create apple pies.

But what if we were to tell you that there are some apple pie recipes that don't, actually, contain any real apples?

In this tutorial video baking expert, cookbook author and Tiktok and YouTube star, Bermudan B. Dylan. Thomas will show readers of That's Food and Drink how to make two such pies via the magic of the Penguin Random House YouTube channel:-

 

Thank you B. Dylan Hollis and Penguin Random House for sharing this on YouTube.

(I'm going to be ordering my copy of Baking Yesteryear later this week.)

Videos on That's Food and Drink

That's Food and Drink is looking at the possibility of introducing video content to our food and drink blog over the next several weeks/months.

Some of the videos will be produced here at That's Food and Drink, but we will not be averse to sharing videos produced by other people. 

In fact you will probably have noticed that we have used a few YouTuber videos which featured items that we happened to be especially interested in. 

We have included videos from Tasting History and also a QVC interview with B. Dylan Hollis author of the book "Baking Yesteryear" amongst other video content. 

Which reminds me, I will have to order my copy of "Baking Yesteryear" very soon, before they are all sold out! 

So, please watch out for more videos on That's Food and Drink, both home produced and otherwise!

If there are any types of videos that you would like to see on That's Food and Drink, please let us know.

Ideal Beer gifts! Salcombe Brewery Co. Beer Hampers

A Salcombe Brewery Co. Hamper is the absolutely perfect gift for any beer lover. 

It's a box that's (carefully) crammed full of beer, snacks, glasses, beer mats and there's even a special dedicated bar towel, too!

It's got absolutely everything you need to create your very pub experience in the comfort of your own home, or garden room, or conservatory!

There's a fantastic range of options to choose from, including a gluten-free hamper, a Heritage Hamper and Discovery Hamper. All hampers are available for national delivery from https://salcombebrewery.com. And don't forget to ask about their full range of gifts and accessories. 

Which? responds to Labour’s call for budget lines to be available in smaller supermarkets

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Food Policy said: “Many households across the UK are really struggling to put food on the table during the worst cost of living crisis in our living memory. 

"Yet it's true that most of the supermarket giants are failing to stock a range of budget lines that will support healthy choices in their small branches, despite the huge difference this would make to people who have to rely on them for food buying."

She went on to say: “We believe that our supermarkets have a responsibility to step up and ensure everyone has easy access to a sufficient range of healthy, affordable budget items at a store near them. 

"They also need to act on the Competition and Market Authority’s concerns and provide transparent and easily comparable pricing to help people work out which products offer the best value.”

(Image courtesy THAM YUAN YUAN from Pixabay)

Food inflation starting to slow down? Here's what Which? Has to say

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Food Policy, said: “While it’s good to see inflation slowing, food prices are still rising quickly for millions of people struggling to keep food on the table, making it all the more important for supermarkets to do all they can to help people grappling with the cost of living.

“The CMA recently agreed with Which? that grocery pricing can be unclear, so supermarkets must act immediately to make it easier for shoppers to compare prices, while the government must fulfill its promise to close the loopholes that are making it too easy for supermarkets to confuse shoppers.

“Supermarkets must also take action to help people who rely on more expensive convenience stores by ensuring they stock a range of budget products that support a healthy diet, as Which? research has found these items are rarely, if ever, on sale in smaller branches.”

Soaring food prices having a detrimental impact on mental health, Which? reveals

Soaring food prices are having a detrimental impact on the mental health of shoppers and families across the UK, new research from Which? suggests.

The increasing prices of everyday groceries has worsened the mental health of one in four (25%) people, according to a new survey from the consumer champion Which? also finds rising food costs are causing a negative impact on sleep, diet and overall physical health.

When coming to mental health, some groups were more impacted than others. Three in 10 (30%) women told Which? their mental health had worsened as a result of soaring food prices.

A third of people aged 35 to 54, those most likely to be parents of young families, revealed food costs had a negative impact on their mental health. They were more likely to be negatively affected than those aged 18-35 (27%) and over 55 (18%). One person told Which?: “It’s a black cloud that never goes away” another said; “I’m living day to day”.

The alarming findings come as the price of the weekly shop is set to replace energy bills as the main worry for most households according to Which?’s most recent Consumer Insight tracker- and as MPs prepare to grill supermarket bosses over allegations of profiteering during the cost of living crisis.

The Which? survey also learned a quarter of people (23%) said rising food prices had hindered their ability to eat a healthy diet. One person told Which?: “I dread going to the shops. I worry about money as food is so expensive and stress that there's not enough food in the house for the kids to eat and that I cannot afford healthy foods.” Another said: “I’ve cut down on fresh food, I cook less and eat much worse.”

One in five (22%) people had lost sleep over food costs and another one in five said their physical health had also deteriorated. One person Which? spoke to said they go “days without eating” another said; “I've become vitamin deficient, I’m not healthy or sleeping well and am suffering from depression.”

With food inflation still worryingly and stubbornly high, Which? is concerned consumers’ mental and physical health will continue to suffer without urgent action to alleviate the financial burden. Recent Which? research found everyday family meals like pasta bake, fish fingers and chips and spaghetti bolognese have increased by up to 27 per cent in price over the last year, with some essential ingredients doubling during this time.

Elena, a mum of two from Merseyside, told Which? her mental health has suffered because the price of baby formula increased. Elena told Which?: “My baby has reflux and yet we can’t afford to buy the anti-reflux baby milk. It’s gone up from £11.50 in 2021 to £14. If your body doesn’t produce milk it isn’t a choice, you just shouldn’t have to pay a premium for something which is a necessity. Thinking about it brings me to tears. 

“I didn’t have babies until I was in a financially stable situation. We should be doing well but instead, we're looking at an uncertain future. We worked very hard for what we have and I feel so angry we and other families aren't being looked after. We feel our best interests just aren't being looked after. That all builds and builds up and I feel like a pressure cooker waiting to explode.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was right last week to put the focus on supermarkets in looking to help millions of people who are struggling with the soaring cost of their weekly shopping. MPs on the Business and Trade Select Committee must seize the opportunity to challenge supermarkets to do more to help when they question grocery bosses in Parliament.

While the whole food supply chain affects prices, Which? firmly believes supermarkets could be doing more by ensuring smaller convenience stores stock a range of essential budget lines that support a healthy diet, especially in areas where they are most needed.

Supermarkets also need to commit to clearer unit pricing, especially on promotions and loyalty card offers, so that people can easily work out which products offer the best value. 

Given the urgency of this cost of living crisis, the government must act now and work with supermarkets to secure these changes that could make a real difference to millions of people struggling to put food on the table.

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Food Policy, said: “Which? research shows how the sustained stress and worry caused by rising food prices is now having a detrimental impact on people’s mental and physical health. Women and young parents are among the worst affected and some people struggling to feed their children are asking themselves how much more of this they can take.

“Now's the time to act. The government must urgently get supermarkets to commit to stocking essential budget ranges in all their stores, particularly in areas where people are most in need, as well as make pricing much clearer so shoppers can compare prices and find the best value products.”

https://www.which.co.uk

That's Food and Drink has carried a story on Foodbanks which can provide help to those who are having problems with food buying https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2023/06/food-industry-is-helping-those-in-need.html