The GIY (Grow It Yourself) Cookbook, Grow, Cook Eat, which was launched by Michael Kelly, author and founder of GIY, in October 2014, has been announced as a national winner in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The book now qualifies for the Gourmand Best in the World Competition. These awards are the Oscars of food awards and award cookbooks and wine publishing in all languages all over the world. The ceremony will be held in China in May of this year. Grow, Cook, Eat is a cookbook that gives readers a better understanding of food. It also features a month-by-month guide on growing and recipes from over 35 well-know chefs, cooks and growers. For further details on GIY, see GIYInternational.org

Award-winning butcher

Nolan’s of Kilcullen in Kildare won the prestigious title of Champion of Champions at the recently held rural Oscars in London.

They were the only Irish business that was invited to compete in the Countryside Alliance Champion of Champions competition.

The awards praise those who go the extra mile for their community and help to promote rural life. Over 35,000 businesses were nominated by the public for the prestigious award.

Nolan’s of Kilcullen is the only Irish food business to have received the honour of being UK and Ireland champion.

James and Emma Nolan represented Nolan’s of Kilcullen and Ireland at the glitzy awards ceremony which was held in the House of Lords, London.

The family business was established in 1886 and today employs 25 people. All their beef comes from heifers from the Nolan farm or local farmers and there is an approved traceability system that the Nolans stick to. The Nolans make their own homemade sausages and pudding fresh on site from recipes handed down from generation to generation.

In November 2014, they also won the award for the best festive product with their low-salt, home-baked ham at the European Fins Goustiers awards in France, as well as winning the award for the best traditional pork sausage at the Irish Pork Society competition in 2014.

As James says, their butcher shop has become “a place to meet, to buy your meat”.