Posts in: 'Local Food Heroes'
Tell us about your local food heroes
Posted: 07 September '09 by Niall
Fruit and Vegetables
During our all-too-short holiday in Portugal we saw how much fresh fruit, vegetables and fish was easily available and used daily. Well, if other countries can do it, why not us!? We’ve decided to champion some of the local producers that we’ve come across in here Northern Ireland.
It never ceases to amaze us how much outstanding produce is out there – high quality meat, fruit, vegetables,and much, much more – which should be receiving far more praise and publicity that it currently does.
But, try as we might, Chilli and Chocolate can only cover so much ground.. So why not tell us about your favourite producers or, if you are a producer, tell us all about you and your goods – just use the comment area below and we’ll try and visit you as soon as possible.
Categories: Local Food Heroes
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Discover the world of olive oil at St. George’s Market
Posted: 05 August '09 by Niall
Find out more at biostore.ie
I remember the first time we realised that the world of olive oil was more complex and enjoyable than the litre bottles of oil from your local supermarket. At Locanda Locatelli in London our waiter had a menu of oils, all with different flavours and aromas – it was a revelation! We raved about the various olive oils for days afterwards but, returning to Belfast, I didn’t think that we’d get the chance to continue our exploration any further. Well, it has been a while – but help is here at last.
A recent trip to St. George’s Market in Belfast unearthed a real gem. BioStore have a range of olive oils from the regions around the Mediterranean – Sicilian, Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern. The differences in the flavours are truly amazing, and you’re fully encouraged to sample the different oils. Having tried them all I can safely say that we prefer the Foggia (fruity, but with a real pepper-y kick) and the Sicilian (a nutty oil with some lemon and herbal undertones). Once decanted into your bottle, the oil develops a thick layer of sediment – a sure sign that the oil is of the best possible quality – extra virgin from the first few pressings of the olives.
But what makes the whole experience of buying your oil in this way even better is the stall-owners enthusiasm for his product, and the fact that Ronan clearly enjoys talking to people. To be fair, it’s completely reciprocal – you do tend to day-dream as he describes trekking across the Med, unearthing small co-ops of local farmers and buying their olive oil – and the strange and startling sights along the way!
At £10 a litre (less if you’re returning the bottles) the price really is competitive, being less than we’ve found elsewhere – and the oil is simply delicious. The flavours can be pronounced or subtle, depending on the oil that you’re tasting – but it’s always good. We’ve used the oil for drizzling over foccaccia and ciabatta as appetisers at several parties, and it never fails to impress.
The process of tasting olive oil has as many peculiarities and rituals associated with it as has wine – in the next few weeks we’ll do a step-by-step guide through Ronan’s whole stock with tasting notes and a guide to sampling and savouring your olive oil.
So call down to St. George’s Market some Saturday and, as your explore what the market has to offer, set aside 10 or 20 minutes and to speak to Ronan and try his olive oil.. you won’t regret it!
The website is still under construction, but you should visit: www.biostore.ie
Categories: Local Food Heroes > Northern Ireland > United Kingdom
