Darina Allen: Food fayre is the star in Co Down

12th November 2024

Photo caption: Ards and North Down Borough Council recently welcomed members of the Irish Food Writers' Guild including [L-R] Oisín Davis, Ciara McQuillan, Cathal McBride, Katia Valadeay, Darina Allen, Paula McIntyre (Chair of The Irish Food Writers’ Guild) and Dee Laffan

Article Copyright: Irish Examiner, by Darina Allen, full article 'Darina Allen: Locally-caught prawns and sloe whiskey — food fare is the star in Co Down'  [Published 9 November 2024]

Darina Allen, an Irish chef, food writer, TV personality and founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, and a member's of the Irish Food Writers' Guild was recently invited, alongside colleagues in the Guild, to a whistlestop tour of the North Down and the Ards Peninsula by Ards and North Down Borough Council, showcasing all that #TasteAND has to offer.

Darina takes readers on a sample of the journey she had whilst here: "We started with a bus trip plus a picnic through the rolling countryside from Dublin to Comber, lunch was at No.14 at the Georgian House where chef James Mulholland and Pippa Groom, his pastry chef, cooked many of their favourite dishes proudly showcasing local produce.
I just remembered that the brilliant local deli, Indie Füde was around the corner, so I whizzed over there in search of one of my favourite Northern Ireland products, smoked eel from Lough Neagh. 

Then on through Newtownards to Carlos Henrique Capparelli of Capperelli Cooks, who is producing a range of artisan pastas from ethically sourced ingredients and heritage grains."

The group went on to the next stop in the tantalising itinerary, to Ballyboley Dexters Farm near Greyabbey to meet the Alexander family and their herd of Dexter and Highland cattle, where throughout the year visitors can enjoy afternoon tea or sloe whiskey in the field overlooking the stunning Strangford Lough, an official Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty. 

"Northern tourism is all about experiences, so groups can have cake with the cows, or tea with the native Irish bees - their enthusiasm was infectious", Darina said of the trip.

The article continued, "From there, it was on the Copeland Distillery in Donaghadee which produces award winning Irish gin, blended Irish whiskey, rum, vodka and a coffee liqueur.

There’s such a lot happening on the food and drink scene in Northern Ireland nowadays, but particularly in this area of the Ards Peninsula and North Down. 

Our overnight stay was in the lovely Clandeboye Lodge, where all my friends, bless their appetites, tucked into dinner while I drank fizzy water with a few drops of Angostura bitters to aid digestion, while listening to a cacophony of appreciative sounds around me."

The following day the group were escorted to their first stop the following morning was to meet the many producers from the Ards Peninsula and North Down at Taste AND at Clandeboye, held in the Courtyard and Great Hall at Clandeboye Estate which hosted providers and their fayre, such as Counterculture Real Bread, Bró Coffee, Ballyboley Dexters beef, Clandeboye Estate's award winning yoghurt, honey, Stonebridge Cottage Farm rare breed pork and more - which Darina noted, are "fed on whey from Mike’s Fancy Cheese and spent grains from local craft breweries and distilleries... any wonder it tastes so good?"

The group moved on to nearby The Walled Garden, Helen’s Bay, where Darina described owner Lorraine Small’s enthusiasm as infectious, for the ongoing restoration project of the garden which normally opens to the public for ticketed experiences only.

"While she is clearing the beautiful space of bindweed and scutch grass, people flock for arts and craft making workshops and new food and drink experiences."

"Then onto another distillery, and it wasn’t even noon. 

This time a return visit to Echlinville Distillery in Kircubbin, the first new distillery in Northern Ireland for 125 years and it seems is going from strength to strength." 

Read the full article

And, read more about the Irish Food Writers Guild's recent trip - 'Irish Food Writers’ Guild Enjoys Showcase of Ards and North Down’s Rich Culinary Offerings'

Explore our Food and Drink Trails and Tours, our foodie events, and our ream of award-winning maker and providers in our Food and Drink section.