The Great British Food Awards celebrate the finest artisanal produce as well as the hard-working people behind the scenes – and not one, but two local food producers were recently recognised in the 2022 celebrations!
Burren Balsamics and Craic Foods rubbed shoulders with the best of the best in their categories before the esteemed judges – Michelin Star chefs Raymond Blanc, Michael Roux Jr and Shaun Rankin – made their final decisions!
Burren Balsamics from Richhill won the ‘Vinegars, Dressings and Oils’ Category with their stunning Irish Heritage Apple Infused White Balsamic product. They were also highly commended for their Balsamic and Honey Piccalilli in the ‘Pickles Category’!
Meanwhile, Craic Foods from Craigavon picked up the ‘Regional Winners for Northern Ireland’ award as well as being highly commended in the ‘Condiments and Spreads’ Category for their Kitchen 3 Chilli Furikake.
Burren Balsamics was founded in 2014 and has since gone from strength to strength. Susie Hamilton Stubber and her Development chef Bob McDonald source the vinegars in Italy and infuse them in Richhill with local, natural ingredients. They also produce cocktail kits, chutneys, sauces, balsamic seasoning and supply a wide range of shops, including Harrods!
Culinary explorer and Chef, Paul Clarke set up Craic Foods in 2017. When working as a chef in a busy restaurant and struggling to find staff, he saw a gap in the market, which he then filled! Paul set up Craic Foods to develop top quality products to help other chefs save time in preparing quality food before service. Craic Foods have also successfully branched out to retail as well as supplying many top chefs around the country.
“These two incredible businesses thoroughly deserve these fantastic awards and they both show exactly what passion and hard work can achieve,” commented the Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Councillor Paul Greenfield.
“To be highlighted in these prestigious awards, by chefs who are the best in the business…I’m not sure things get better than that! Huge congratulations to both Burren Balsamics and Craic Foods for these accolades and for further helping to cement our place as the Food Heartland of Northern Ireland.”
The Borough’s reputation as the Food Heartland of Northern Ireland has been reinforced in recent months by a host of accolades brought home by some of our top-quality food and drink producers. Our rich heritage of food and drink production is being consistently noticed on a national stage, as seen by the success at events such as the Great British Food Awards.
