The elite of Northern Ireland restaurants have signed up to the first ever restaurant week aimed at celebrating Lough Neagh Eel because eels are tasty.

Lough Neagh Eels have been awarded for their heritage, tradition and authenticity and the inaugural ‘Eel-Eat’ week which runs from Saturday 25 June will culminate in the third annual River to Lough Festival on Saturday 2 July.

Organisers have been overwhelmed by the interest in the event and would welcome any restaurants yet to get involved to sign up and join this unique celebration.

Launching the event, which was attended by newly appointed Minister for Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Michelle McIlveen MLA, Conor Corr of Lough Neagh Partnership, said:  “What better way to celebrate our unique product than to dedicate a unique celebration to it.  We’re tying in our inaugural Eel-Eat restaurant week with the Tourism NI Year of Food and Drink and believe it will be a firm economic driver for the local economy.”

Restaurants are being urged to sign up to Eel-Eat by Friday 10 June.  Those already participating are:  Deanes Eipic and Wee Love Fish, Belfast; The White River Hotel, Toome; Hastings Hotels – Culloden Estate and Spa, Europa Hotel, Slieve Donard Resort and Spa; The Tullylagan Hotel, Cookstown; Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown; Pier 59, Derry~Londonderry; Lime Tree, Limavady; Harrys Bar & Bistro, Cookstown; Café in the Park, Dungannon; Ardmore Restaurant and Beechill Country House Hotel, Derry; Londonderry Arms Hotel, Carnlough; Downshire Arms Hotel, Banbridge; Central Wine Bar, Ballycastle; Truffles Restaurant, Randalstown and The Moody Boar Restaurant, Armagh.

At the end of Eel-Eat on Saturday 2 July, foodies and families will be able to celebrate the delicacy at the River to Lough Festival.  Now in its third year, the family festival will be situated for the first time right in the heart of Antrim at Antrim Castle Gardens.  Festivities will run from 12noon until 5.00pm with a pop-up restaurant, cookery demonstrations and a craft and artisan food market.

To become a participating restaurant in Eel-Eat, email Eimear@discoverloughneagh.com by Friday 10 June.

Eel-eat is supported by Tourism NI, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, Food NI and The Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society.

www.twitter.com/eel_eat; #EelsAreTasty

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council launched their Somme Centenary programme at The Flax Gallery at the Museum at The Mill on Wednesday 1 June exactly one month before the anniversary of The Battle of the Somme.

To commemorate the centenary of The Battle of The Somme, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council have a programme of events running from July until November, ranging from exhibitions to theatre performances.

A community grant fund was available for local groups who wanted to organise their own commemorative events.  Thirteen local groups were awarded this funding and received their certificates at the launch. Local school children were also involved in a competition designing an image to be included in the commemorative booklet being produced to promote the programme. Templepatrick Primary School P7 pupil Christina Jenkins was the lucky winner and her drawing will feature in the centre pages of the booklet.

The centenary of the Battle of the Somme has significant resonance locally, given the huge numbers of men from all parts of Ireland who served in the British Army and the many lives that were lost.  Many men from what is now Antrim and Newtownabbey, volunteered themselves for the war effort and served with great distinction; both at the Battle of the Somme and elsewhere during World War One. It is right and proper that we should honour their sacrifice.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Thomas Hogg , commented “The Council programme aims to educate, inform and promote understanding of this historical event and the impact it had for the people of our Borough.  I invite all of our residents to engage with the inclusive programme of events and activities and remember the sacrifice made at the Battle of the Somme.”

For a full listing of events please visit the website www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Open House Festival Bangor has launched its much anticipated 2016 programme, and with 125 events taking place in more than 40 venues, the seaside town will be the go-to destination for the month of August.

This year’s programme of handpicked special events includes music, film, food & drink, theatre, literature, comedy and art, and introduces magic, mystery, dance and lectures to the lineup. The Festival’s trademark diverse list of venues and locations includes pubs and parks, clubs and cafes, boats and a ballroom, as well as a theatre, a courthouse, a church, an island and an auction room.

“Commemorating anniversaries, celebrating local talent and forging new creative partnerships are some of the themes of this year’s festival,” says Festival Director, Kieran Gilmore. “And as this is the Tourism NI Year of Food and Drink, showcasing fabulous local produce in many of the town’s great restaurants will be focal.”

Highlights include a 40^th anniversary concert by The Damned, a 70^th birthday tribute to former ACDC front man Bon Scott, and a nod to the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with an open air performance of A Midsummers Night’s Dream. Singer Niamh Perry returns to Bangor for a homecoming concert – her first local appearance since her success in the BBC’s hit show, I’d Do Anything.

Other local acts include mentalist, David Meade; jazz singer, Dana Masters; and indie-folk band, Ports. They’ll share the limelight with American bands Iron & Wine and Spirit Family Reunion, and familiar faces like Suggs, Tom Robinson, Alexi Sayle and Ian Rankin. There are picnics in parks, gardens and islands, gourmet food tours, whiskey tastings and seafood with sea shanties. There are mad-cap lectures, magic tricks, and even a spot of ghost hunting, plus pub theatre, book clubs and dance classes. As well as the regular Walled Garden film screenings, there’ll be films with wine tasting, with disco dancing and even with a clothes swap. And the Open House Festival Choir, a stand out success at last year’s Festival, returns for its fourth consecutive season, with several performances throughout the month.

“This year’s programme is really eclectic and we’re hugely proud of it,” says Kieran, “especially as almost half of the events are free. Many partners from across the local arts and business communities have helped to develop it, embracing the idea of Bangor as a creative town. But Open House Festival isn’t just for locals – it’s for folk throughout the country and beyond who love live music, enjoy eating out, are game for a laugh, want to be surprised, and crave the feel-good satisfaction that handpicked arts and culture can deliver.”

Maria McAlister, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: “It’s great to see Open House back again with another terrific programme of exciting events for the 2016 festival.  From music to comedy, food, film and theatre, there’s something for everyone, including many free events, offering more and more ways for local audiences to experience high quality arts events right on their doorstep.”

Eddie Rowan, Events Manager for Tourism NI said: “Tourism NI is pleased to once again support Open House Festival Bangor.  With such a variety of entertainment on offer, and celebrating Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink, visitors to Bangor will be greeted with a fantastic atmosphere within the town.”

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Alan Graham, commented that: “Ards and North Down Borough Council is delighted to be supporting the festival for the fourth year running. As the festival grows it continues to bring an eclectic mix of both local and international artists. It is a true success story and, through its inclusive programme of culture and arts, plays a key role in helping to invigorate Bangor by increasing cultural tourism and by engaging and celebrating local businesses.”

Open House Festival Bangor 2016 is supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Tourism NI and NI Year of Food and Drink. The County Down Spectator is the official media partner for the festival.

For more information, go to www.openhousefestival.com.

Northern Ireland has a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for the perfect short break and Tourism NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

• Spring Break, Barnwell Farm Cottages (Elm Cottage), Co. Down. From £18pps.  Located off a quiet country road in the heart of the Ards Peninsula, the four-star Barnwell Farm Cottages is the ideal place for a relaxing break in unspoilt countryside. Close to Mount Stewart House and Gardens, spring is a wonderful time to visit these world-renowned gardens.  Offer includes overnight accommodation and complimentary ticket to Mount Stewart.  Available until 30 June.  To book call (028) 427 88488.

• Dine & Stay, Finn Lough, Co. Fermanagh. From £82.50pppn. Set in the grounds of a 75-acre peninsula resort, five-star Finn Lough is an idyllic spot to unwind and let your cares slip away on a relaxing lakeside break. Offer includes overnight accommodation in a luxury suite, a three-course evening meal using ingredients from the resort’s garden and local producers and a cooked breakfast the next morning.  Available until 30 June. To book call (028) 683 80360.

• Champagne Sundays, Benedicts of Belfast, Co. Antrim. From £75 per room. Situated a short walk from the city centre, Benedicts is a four-star hotel ideal for those looking for a short break in Belfast. Buy a bottle of Champagne any Sunday and stay in a deluxe double room enjoying a full Irish breakfast the following morning absolutely free! Available until July 2016.  To book call (028) 90 591999.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (June 13- June 19).

• The Belfast Opera, Carlisle Memorial Church, Belfast, June 18 & 19. A mysterious man turns up in a Belfast call centre with a box and a story to tell, if only he was granted the time to tell it. Performed by an international cast and the people of Belfast, this is a story about Belfast’s past and its future. www.thebelfastopera.com.

• Midsummer Concert, Mussenden Temple, Co. Londonderry, June 17 & 18. Organised by the North Coast Association enjoy an evening of music with Craig Ogden on guitar in the unique surroundings of Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple. Complimentary buffet supper included. Booking essential.

• Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend, Various Location, June 18 & 19. See, hear, touch and be part of Northern Ireland’s farming story as over twenty farms open their doors to the public to showcase NI’s farming industry. As part of the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016, there will be special tastings available on each farm!

• Colour Run, Share Discovery Village, Co. Fermanagh, June 17. Join the 35^th birthday celebrations of the Share Centre and take part in a 5km Colour Run/Walk involving lots of paint, colour and laughs. There will be a BBQ and refreshments at the end of the race as well as a bouncy castle and slip ‘n’ slide for the kids. Booking essential.

• Tickety Moo at the Suitor Craft Gallery, Co. Tyrone, until June 30. Celebrate Love Diary month in the NI Year of Food and Drink at the Suitor Craft Gallery Craft Shop where you’ll be able to visit the gallery and sample some of the delicious artisan ice-cream with flavours ranging from wild berries and cream to honeycomb and homemade apple pie.

• Piccolo Fondo, Craigavon City Park, Co. Armagh, June 18. Part of the NI Cycling Festival, the Piccolo Fondo offers families and new comers to cycling the chance to get on their bikes and discover the simple pleasures of cycling in a fun, safe and enjoyable environment.  The afternoon would not be complete with a BBQ, fun cycling activities and entrance into a free prize draw. Participants are encouraged to wear pink to celebrate the Gran Fondo Giro D’Italia Northern Ireland.

• Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries, The Space, SERC, Co. Down, June 13. Prepare to be amazed, dazzled and bewildered by this spectacular show where maths, theatre and digital technology collide to create a fun and interactive performance proving that understanding maths can be fun! Suitable for ages 8+.  Starts at 6:30pm.

• The Art of Jack Wilkinson, Ballymoney Town Hall, Co. Antrim, until June 16. Hosted by Ballymoney Town Hall this free exhibition celebrates one of Antrim’s best known and most admired artists.  The exhibition is a rare opportunity to see a selection of his work on public display and will also be a tribute to this much loved and fondly remembered local man.

• Night Ride & BBQ, Belfast, June 15. Part of the NI Festival of Cycling take part in an evening cycle travelling around Belfast’s city centre cycle network followed by a BBQ.  The Courtyard will be the meeting point 1A Lawrence Street, Belfast, BT7 1LE and will also the venue for the BBQ after the night ride. Starts at 9:30pm.

• Cairncastle Bluegrass Musical Evening, The Halfway House Hotel, Co. Antrim, June 17. Featuring artists such as Roni Stoneman and Harpers Hallow Bluegrass Band, music lovers will not want to miss this spectacular evening of banjo playing and singing taking place at The Halfway House Hotel.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Leapin’ Lizards! It’s back!! The Market Place Theatre Youth Musical for 2016 will be the world’s best-loved family musical, ‘Annie’.

All roles are now filled, with the exception of just one! If you or anyone you know would make the perfect billionaire good guy ‘Daddy Warbucks’, then this is your final chance. To arrange an audition email vincent.mccann@marketplacearmagh.com, prepare a song, and you could be treading the boards this summer.

All participants must be available throughout the period Monday 18th July to Saturday 23rd August 2016. Performances will take place from Tuesday 16th – Saturday 20th August 2016. Please note that there is a participation fee of £100.00 for successful candidates. A number of free places are available for families on state benefit.

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

Michelin Starred restaurateur Michael Deane dishes on Northern Ireland’s tasty produce

NORTHERN Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016 is a celebration of everything delicious about this place, the epic landscapes, traditions and people that make our food and drink. With a full year’s worth of foodie experiences, there is no better time for visitors to enjoy a true taste of Northern Ireland.

Michelin starred restaurateur, Michael Deane, and local food and drink producers came together recently to showcase where some of our most delicious food comes from – plot to plate!

Our locations and landscapes are the foundations of our food and drink heritage. Our lush landscape of scenic lakes and loughs, rich green fields and Atlantic and Irish Sea waters have all contributed to our vast local produce and this rich heritage has become a much loved commodity by the people of NI including chefs, bar tenders and hoteliers.

Tourism NI’s Communication & Destination PR Officer, Rachel Quigg, said: “Plenty of our home-grown creations are classics – think Armagh’s Bramley Apples, Comber’s Early Potatoes and Lough Neagh’s Eels.  And with soda, potato and veda bread under our belts (often literally) we’re well accustomed to using our loaf. Our Glenarm Shorthorn Beef is considered the best in the world and Bushmills Whiskey is an icon. 

“We’re experiencing a spectacular renaissance of artisan food and drink companies in Northern Ireland and it’s earning us a tasty reputation. Hercules Brewery from Belfast has scooped a Gold Medal for its Yardsman Lager at the 54th Monde Selection International Quality Awards and is loved by many a Michelin starred restaurant,” added Rachel.

Michelin starred restaurateur, Michael Deane, said he adores Northern Ireland and its food and drink culture:  “Northern Ireland’s produce is exceptional and I cannot speak highly enough about it.  As restaurateurs it is thrilling to know that we have world class food and drink available to us on our doorstep which we use to great effect in Eipic, and our other restaurants.

“Our produce has come on leaps and bounds since my early days as a chef.  There used to be limited supply and a lack of confidence on how to best nurture and cook our produce but that has changed dramatically. We are now so enthusiastic about using locally sourced produce as it is top class!

“These days we make a point of visiting the farms, fields and breweries of our producers as we want to know the provenance of our food and drink so we can pass it onto our customers, who are as eager to hear about it as we are,” concluded Michael.

Michael Deane and his team at all seven of his restaurants source produce from many quality suppliers including Carnbrooke Meats, David Love Cameron’s vegetables and Hercules Brewery’s lager.

Carnbrooke Meats is born out of quality, passion and experience. They source traditional breeds directly from small farmers to supply to their customers. Carnbrooke have a purpose built dry-aging chamber on site so all of their beef is aged as required by the individual customer.

Hercules Brewing Company is made out of great local craftsmanship. Their produce is a unique offering in the local craft beer market, Yardsman lager’s brewing process includes filtering locally sourced raw materials including Irish lager malt, home grown yeast and Belfast water through Irish linen and allowing the lager to mature for a six week period.

David Love Cameron is a gardener and former postman from Whiteabbey whose late-blooming love for horticulture has seen him revive an almost lost heritage. David is a man who has literally gone back to his roots to recapture the best from Northern Ireland’s culinary past and provide top rated vegetables to chefs at home and abroad.

Deanes EIPIC Michelin Starred Head Chef, Danni Barry, has created the Mourne Lamb, Comber potatoes & Walled Garden leaves dish using the aforementioned produce so budding cooks should give it a go at home!

Mourne Lamb, Comber potatoes & Walled Garden leaves

INGREDIENTS:

1 x 300 – 400g rack of lamb

200ml Chicken stock

1 carrot

1 celery

1 onion

4 tomatoes

1 sprig rosemary

100ml red wine

4 New Season potatoes

1 large bunch of wild garlic

1 bunch of chard leaves or kale

60g Abernethy butter

METHOD:

Remove the lamb loin from the bones (a butcher can do this for you).

Roast the bones in a hot oven 200˚C for 15 mins.

In a saucepan cook the carrot, celery and onion until golden brown add the tomatoes and cook until soft.

Add the red wine, boil and simmer for 5 mins.  Pour in the chicken stock and add the roasted bones.

Cook for 20 mins, pass through a sieve and reduce to a sauce consistency.

Sprinkle the lamb with sea salt and some chopped rosemary and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 mins.

Scrub the skin of the new potatoes and boil in salted water for 12 mins.

When cooked slice lengthways and colour the exposed side in a hot pan with some rapeseed oil, once it’s a deep golden colour add the butter and allow to foam.  Place in the oven for 5 – 6 mins.

In a hot pan colour the loin of lamb on all sides and place in an oven at 180˚C for 6 – 8 mins.

Allow to rest for 2 mins and carve.

Wilt the greens in some butter and serve with the potatoes and lamb.

For more information on Year of Food & Drink 2016 visit www.discovernorthernireland.com/yearoffoodanddrink2016.  You can keep up to date with what’s happening on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #EnjoyNI16.

~ Tourism Ireland’s latest ‘Door of Thrones’ is in Gracehill House, near the iconic Dark Hedges ~

7 June 2016 – Episode seven of season six of Game of Thrones® aired last night (Monday, 6 June) and Tourism Ireland unveiled its latest ‘Door of Thrones’ – in Gracehill House near Ballymoney, just metres from perhaps the most iconic filming location in HBO’s fantasy drama, the Dark Hedges, known to fans as the Kingsroad.

The material used to make Tourism Ireland’s ‘Doors of Thrones’ is literally a part of Game of Thrones® history – it comes from two of the 200-year old trees at the Dark Hedges, which were destroyed during Storm Gertrude this winter. With the help of some artistic carpentry, the wood is being used to create a a series of ten carved doors, each one telling the story of an episode from season six. At the end of each episode, the location of the latest door is revealed by Tourism Ireland to Game of Thrones® fans around the world. The doors can be admired in pubs, restaurants and other venues across Northern Ireland. It’s all part of Tourism Ireland’s 2016 Game of Thrones® campaign – which is being rolled out around the world until the end of June (when season six ends), showcasing Northern Ireland to millions of GoT fans worldwide.

Given that Gracehill house is the home of the royal descendant who planted the Dark Hedges trees over 200 years ago, it is particularly fitting then that this week’s door is now hanging there. Echoing scenes from last night’s episode, it features striking designs and depicts three-eyed ravens.

Tourism Ireland has also unveiled its seventh – limited edition – Game of Thrones® stamp, another element of its campaign, produced in conjunction with the Royal Mail.

Creating the doors…

Northern Ireland’s favourite pizzeria, Little Wing has launched an exciting new mobile game.

The popular home grown pizzeria group partnered with University of Ulster design students, tasking them with creating the design concept for their first ever mobile game, ‘Wingin’ It’, which is now available to download free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

University of Ulster BDes (Hons) Interaction Design students, Inga Hampton and Andy Whann jumped at the chance to get involved in the exciting project and stepped up to the plate with innovative concepts for the game. The students’ ideas were then brought to life by local developer, Chris Coleman.

‘Wingin’ It’ challenges players to make pizzas from the Little Wing menu; gamers must catch toppings on a winged pizza base as they fall from the sky whilst avoiding hitting any pesky clouds.

Players from as young as four years old will find themselves quickly immersed in the addictive game, becoming more and more determined to beat their high scores. And with the ‘Winging It’ high scores to be displayed on leader boards in each of Little Wing’s six restaurants, the pressure is on for pizza lovers to hone their skills.

The game is the next stage in a series of ongoing investments in Little Wing’s digital offering, following the launch of its new website www.littlewingpizzeria.com earlier this year.

Players can download the game on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, so whether you are in one of the six Little Wing restaurants, or the comfort of your own home, you can grab a ‘pizza the action’.

Commenting on the launch, Luke Wolsey, Managing Director, Little Wing Pizzeria said:

“Little Wing Pizzeria has six successful branches in Northern Ireland and we are always looking for opportunities to grow and develop our offering. The decision to get involved with the University of Ulster was easy and we were thrilled to see the quality of the ideas that students submitted.

“Inga and Andy really impressed us with their designs, as they captured the family fun ethos of Little Wing perfectly. We hope that working with Little Wing will help them to develop and build their experience for future.

“I am confident the new game will add an extra element of fun for our customers, young and old, and I look forward to seeing the high scores rolling in.”

Commenting on her involvement with the concept of the Little Wing game, Inga Hampton said: “Getting the opportunity to be involved with the concept and design of a brand new game for Little Wing was very exciting. We are thrilled to have been given this opportunity and to see our ideas become a reality.”

Andy Whann added: “Having this experience has been great to help us build up our skills for the work place in future and will make a great addition to our CVs. We can’t wait to download the game for ourselves and see what high scores we can get.”

The new Little Wing ‘Wingin’ It’ game is available now for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.  For further information visit www.littlewingpizzeria.com, or follow Little Wing on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (LittleWingPizzeria).