A chilli and herb crusted Porchetta from Hannan Meats in Moira has been recognised among the UK’s top food and drink pieces.
It beat off an Aghinlig Orchard ice cider from Applejames and a ghost chilli & black lime ketchup from Blackfire Food to win the ‘Golden Fork’ at a glittering awards ceremony in London, when the very best of the global food and drink world celebrated at the grand finale of the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste awards scheme.
Peter Hannon’s Porchetta was one of 16 Golden Fork winners, representing the stand-out products from nearly 14,000 to enter this year’s Great Taste awards.
The judges described it as “absolutely delicious . . . the spice levels were great and it was beautifully balanced. The crackling was consistent and the dry ageing meant there was a really unctuousness to the flavour”.
Great Taste is recognised across the globe as a stamp of excellence. Sought out by both food lovers and retailers, it is the world’s most trusted food & drink accreditation scheme and values taste above all else.
Each year a panel of 500 industry experts meticulously judge a maximum of 14,000 products over 90 days to unveil the tastiest food from across the globe.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, said: “It’s important to understand that Great Taste is merely the process that identifies 1-, 2- and 3-star winners and, in doing so, encourages makers to improve.
“Now at its climax, in announcing the Golden Forks, we are celebrating the very best producers, those who take care to ensure their products hit the markers of trusted raw ingredients, simple production methods, and food & drink that has personality, but ultimately, that tastes great.
“We’re particularly chuffed to be doing our thing for international trade and relations by welcoming entries from 115 countries this year. Our winners are making outstanding food & drink.”
Hannan Meats was established in 1991 by Peter Hannan, who was born into a farming family and grew up on a beef and sheep farm in Co. Kildare, where he began slaughtering and selling his own meat at the tender age of 11.
By the time he had turned 14, he was already becoming an experienced meat farmer, and aged 22 he was running abattoirs in America.
Hannan Meats, which works with 120 farmers across Ireland who are all tried and trusted professionals producing the highest quality meat, has won countless top awards down the years.
