A CORK ice-cream producer has scooped the top prize in the Blas na hÉireann National Irish Food and Drink awards.
Silver Pail Dairy, a family-run business located in Fermoy, received the supreme champion prize for its Supreme Truffle Fudge Ice Cream, which was judged to be the year’s tastiest product at an awards ceremony in Dingle, Co Kerry, yesterday.
“We are delighted on behalf of our 60 fantastic staff to receive such an accolade for our hard work,” said Nikki Murphy of Silver Pail Ice Cream.
The award for best producer in a Gaeltacht area went to Tairgí Feirme An Daingean for its semi-hard cow’s cheese.
A total of 800 producers entered this year’s competition across 30 categories, covering cheese, chocolate, sausages, soup, pies and poultry products. This is the second year that the awards, which are made solely on the basis of taste, have taken place.
Chairman of Blas na hÉireann Artie Clifford said he was delighted with the response to this year’s awards.
“Once again we are proud to celebrate the outstanding foods and food producers from every corner of Ireland. At this time it is more important than ever to show support for local food producers and that is exactly what these home-grown awards highlight.”
The awards ceremony coincided with the opening of the Dingle Peninsula Food and Drink Festival, which began yesterday.
Festival highlights include a food trail that takes place in 50 venues in Dingle, wine tastings, chef demonstrations and an open- air market.