In a year like no other, Blas na hÉireann have just announced the award winners for 2021, with 18 winners from County Wexford, including the Blas na hÉireann Supreme Champion 2021, Wild About for their So Sloe Jelly.
Wexford Food Family members were very well represented with 14 producers winning awards for 33 products – 12 GOLD, 10 SILVER AND 10 BRONZE as well as best in Wexford, Best in Leinster and the Supreme Champion.
Wexford continues to outperform with the quality of food and drink we produce. Our members are dedicated to making the very best and it is wonderful to have their efforts recognised by the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards
With the annual pilgrimage to Dingle stalled, this year’s winners tuned in for a second year running from every corner of the country for a virtual celebration of the very best in Irish food.
The Blas na hEireann award is really special, because it’s a simple Gold, Silver, Bronze . . .. The Blas na hEireann team stand with the hundreds of tiny food producers all over the country, doing farmers markets, stocking local shops, creating a real movement, driving quality, sustainability and innovation in Irish food.
The team at Blas na hÉireann has been working tirelessly since March to ensure that Blas 2021 went ahead, sustaining their commitment to celebrating the very best in Irish food and drink. Chairperson Artie Clifford feels that now, more than ever, it is essential to shine a light and give that all important boost to the talented producers dotted around the island.
“These are the 14th annual Blas na hÉireann awards,” says Artie, “and despite the very challenging situation, I am delighted to report a record entry level from producers right across the island. This large increase in entries has raised the bar across all categories, allowing us to introduce new products and producers to the buyers and press with whom we work, which is really exciting. Congratulations to all the winners and to every producer who participated. It is always such a rewarding experience to see the wealth of exceptional foods being produced on the island of Ireland, and this has been the best year yet.”
Now in their 14th year, the Blas na hÉireann awards are the all-island food awards that recognise the very best Irish food and drink products, and the passionate people behind them. The biggest blind tasting of produce in the country, the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide.
Wexford Food Family Full List of Winners
Fancy Fungi Gourmet Mushrooms
Forest Mix Mushrooms – Cert of excellence Chefs Larder
Irish Country Meats
Dunnes Stores Garlic & Rosemary Irish Lamb Rack Chops – GOLD
Dunnes Stores Organic Irish Lamb Leg – BRONZE
Isle of Crackers
Cranberry Cracker – GOLD
Black Olive Cracker – SILVER
Killowen Farm
Tesco Finest Lemon Curd Yogurt – SILVER
Naturally Cordial
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Lemon & Lime Cordial/Naturally Cordial Lemon & Lime Cordial – GOLD
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Blackcurrant & Lime Cordial – SILVER
Lemon & Raspberry Cordial – BRONZE
O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Dry Cured Unsmoked Irish Bacon Lardons – GOLD
Dry Cured Streaky Rashers with Maple Syrup – SILVER
Dry Cured Smoked Streaky Rindless Rashers – BRONZE
Scúp Gelato
Strawberry Sorbet – SILVER
Stafford’s Bakery
Christmas Pudding – GOLD
Dunnes Stores Farmhouse Soda – GOLD
Dunnes Stores 5 Grain Vienna – GOLD
Rich Fruit Brack/Barmbrack – GOLD
Buttermilk Soda – SILVER
Signature Tastes Hot Cross Buns – BRONZE
Biscuit Cake – BRONZE
Hot Cross Buns – BRONZE
Sofrimar
Sofrimars Irish King Scallops with Traditional Garlic Butter – SILVER
Tasty Parlour
Double Chocolate Cake – SILVER
Coffee & Walnut Cake – BRONZE
Wexford Home Preserves
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Spiced Ploughman’s Plum Chutney – GOLD
Wexford Home Preserves Extra Special Irish Strawberry & Elderflower Conserve – GOLD
Wexford Home Preserves Irish Raspberry & Rosehip Conserve – SILVER
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Seville Marmalade – SILVER
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Mango Chutney – BRONZE
WILD About
So Sloe Jelly – GOLD
Rhubarb Syrup – BRONZE
Best in Wexford
Best in Leinster
Supreme Champion
Zaeire Artisan Chocolates
Zaeire Selection of Truffles, Honeycomb Salted Caramel & Hazelnut – BRONZE
Zanna Cookhouse
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Smoked Trout Pate – GOLD
We would also like to congratulate our fellow Co Wexford winners Bramble Cottage Kitchen, Nutorious Nutrition, Pettitts Suprevalu and Ryans Bakery
Click HERE for more information.
