Food Writers’ Guild honours quality
Five Irish producers scooped standards of excellence at The Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards 2010, hosted by SallyAnne and Derry Clarke of L’Ecrivain
Print16 March 2010
The Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards 2010 acknowledged five, indigenous companies as among the finest food producers in Ireland. The select group of winners achieved standards of excellence that contribute to Ireland’s international reputation for fine food and produce.
The awards were presented by one of the pioneers in aiding the development of Irish food producers and the promotion of good food in Ireland, Myrtle Allen to: Moonshine Dairy Farm (Westmeath) for its gently pasteurised Moonshine Organic Milk; Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese (Kilkenny) for the company’s distinctive Farmhouse Sheeps Cheese; Kettyle Irish Foods (Fermanagh) for the excellent eating quality of its Fermanagh Free Range Chickens and The Guild Environmental Award was presented to Omega Beef Direct (Tipperary), for using farming and production methods that are a model of sustainability.
The Guild’s seldom awarded Lifetime Achievement Award was made to Nicky McLoughlin of Nicky’s Plaice (Dublin) who, for half a century, has been the lynchpin of an exceptional fishmongers on Howth Pier.
The awards were presented at a special lunch, hosted by SallyAnne and Derry Clarke of Michelin star restaurant, L’Ecrivain. Food connoisseur Myrtle Allan was there to hand out the honours.
Now in its 16th year, the annual Irish Food Writers’ Guild (IFWG) Food Awards promotes and rewards the highest quality of produce, craftsmanship and dedication to Irish food. This is only the second year that an environmental award has been made; introduced last year in recognition of the growing importance of sustainability across the food and retail sectors.
The Guild’s new Chairperson, Orla Broderick said; “These awards are not about luck or chance and the industry cannot lobby on behalf of food producers. These awards are about one thing only, achieving consistent standards of real quality and excellence and as a Guild, we are very proud of the high standards we have helped to set. The strict judging process ensures that only exceptional producers are recognised, each year.
“We are not confined by company size; set categories; turnover or established relationships. No food producer can enter for an award and indeed, no company ever knows that it is being considered for an award until the judging is complete and contact is made. Our criteria is strict but straightforward – the products, traditional or innovative, must be produced in Ireland and the main ingredients must be home produced. We are really thrilled with the calibre of this year’s winners and hope the accolade will contribute somewhat to their long-term success.”
Ms Broderick paid tribute to Bord Bia for its continued support of the awards.
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