Welcome to this week’s edition of GRATE! If you follow me on Social, you will know I spent last week in Dingle at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards, celebrating and rewarding the very best tasting Irish food and drink products, and the passionate, driven producers who make it.
It was a pure privilege to witness and support the incredible talent, passion, and dedication that make the Blas na hÉireann community so special. Now in its 17th year, I'm deeply grateful to be part of this community, serving as a judge, mentor, speaker, network connector and friend.
With over 3,000 entries across 170 categories, you can be sure there was lots of innovative products & packaging in the mix. The showcase itself, curated by Cara Murphy, Roots to Market gave buyers, journalists and visitors an opportunity to see and sample the finalists.
So this week, I'm shining a spotlight on the 10 standout products from the Awards. (It was tough to choose just 10, so i'll feature more in the coming weeks). I hope they will inspire your next move!
Here's a handy guide to all the 2024 WINNERS
RIVESCI's SMOKED CHILLI OIL - SUPREME CHAMPION
Rívesci’s Smoked Chilli Oil has just been crowned Supreme Champion at the 2024 Blas na hÉireann Awards. Founded by Shannon Forrest and Michelin-trained chef Declan Malone in Co. Tipperary, Rívesci started as a food truck and pivoted into full-time condiment production during the pandemic. Their passion for sustainability and using locally sourced ingredients shines in every jar of their handcrafted, small-batch creations. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Shannon finally found the words after the shock—this win means the world to them. I can’t wait to see how this recognition takes their business to new heights!
PS Check out their Cashew Chilli Crush Condiment; trust me, it’s next level!
SOOP'ER CONVENIENT SOOP!
Introducing Galmere Foods’ new Soop in a Cup—a value-added convenience solution for busy consumers. With a lineup of delicious flavors that can be microwaved and enjoyed on the go, this innovative product brings gourmet soup to your fingertips. Developed by the talented Galmere Foods team and unveiled at Blas, I was thrilled to be involved early on in the market research and to contribute to the brand’s design direction. The result is a standout product (it drew a lot of attention at the show) that perfectly combines convenience and premium taste, catering to the needs of today’s on-the-go consumer.
KILLADOON - REAL MILK!
Killadoon Milk had an exceptional debut at Blas, winning Gold for their Whole Milk, along with Best in County and Best Start-Up! With their innovative vending machine distribution model, they encourage customers to purchase and reuse glass bottles, minimising single-use plastic and supporting environmentally conscious purchasing. Founders, Martin & Vanessa take huge pride in being a single-source dairy, meaning that every drop of Killadoon Milk comes exclusively from their jersey-cross herd. The natural creaminess and rich taste is just as I remember growing up - delicious!
VALENTIA ISLAND - IRELAND'S ONLY VERMOUTH
Valentia Island Vermouth won Gold in the fermented alcoholic drinks category for its Valentia Island Vermouth Ór. Valentia Island Vermouth picked up a number of awards, including Best Artisan producer. Anna and Orla Snook O'Carroll, based on the beautiful Irish, Valentia Island, are the wife and wife team proudly making Ireland's first and only vermouth. Made using twenty botanicals including gorse from the island, it's my "Go-To" drink on a Friday evening after a busy week, add some tonic and a slice of ornage for the perfect V&T!
OIR SEAMOSS TONICS
Oir Tonics are an incredible range of functional health tonics, crafted by Edel Breslin and a dedicated team of chefs and nutritionists in Co. Clare. They harness the power of Irish Sea Moss to enhance your gut health and strengthen your immune system. Avid readers of the newsletter will recall me featuring them previously. We just love these products in our house, the turmeric & ginger helps my inflammation, and my hubbie loves the original as it wakes him up in the morning (that and an ice bath!)
GRASS-FED BEEF FROM THE BURREN
The O’Rourke family has been farming their 500-acre land in the heart of the Burren, Co. Clare, for over 200 years, raising premium grass-fed Hereford and Angus cattle. Their free-range beef is some of the best I've ever tasted, with exceptional flavor and texture, thanks to 21-day dry aging and the unique flora of the Burren’s lush yet rugged landscape, which is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark. Bronagh and Cathal O’Rourke continue the family tradition, offering Burren Premium Beef, guided walks, and stays in this beautiful region.
ORGANIC IRISH SEAMOSS JUICE
SÚ Organic Irish Sea Moss Juice is a concentrated Seaweed Juice, made with freshly harvested seaweed from Donegal and combined with different types of fruits, berries, herbs, spices. "Sú" is an Irish word for "Juice". It is a dark red/blue slightly jelly drink, suitable for adults and children. It contains 50% seaweed chondrus crispus juice and has a sweet berry taste with a hint of anis. Drink as a shot everyday or dilute in water (cold or hot). The product is deliciously energising, rejuvenating and detoxifying.
FRESH LOVAGE OIL
It was fantastic to see some more innovation in the oil category, albeit in the fridge - Fresh Lovage Oil is one of top chef, Paul Clarke (owner of En Place Foods) library of innovative products Lovage's flavor profile is reminiscent of celery but with a bolder, more complex taste. It's a versatile oil that can transform a simple soup into a gourmet experience. En Place Foods is applying molecular gastronomy techniques to the production of a portfolio of highly innovative products for chefs, caterers and mixologists.
PURPLE POTATO SALAD
Ballymakenny Farm are renowned in the culinary world, listed on the menus of some of Ireland's top restaurants, for their Irish Heritage and Specialty Potatoes. Run by husband and wife team, Maria and David Flynn, they continue to innovate and pivot their business, and their latest edition, purple potato salad in a jar is just that. They are a great example of a producer using the show to gain feedback and tweak the product & packaging to ensure it gets maximum impact on shelf
Comments