Irish brown bread: it’s one of those foods that, no matter how far you travel, tastes of home. One of my best friends lives in Glasgow, and has done so for the past seven years, and although it’s less than an hour’s flight, when she was back last weekend, one of the first things she made me do was walk to the local bakery with her to get a loaf of soda bread.
“I have my mother’s recipe, the only thing is buttermilk is really expensive compared to at home, and sometimes you just want the convenience of a good soda loaf.”
Her story is familiar. So many of us have that brown-bread recipe passed down from our parents and our grandparents before us. And look, we all think that ours is the best.
Now the National Brown Bread Baking Competition is looking for entries for 2018, so it could be your time to prove your point.
The fourth year that it is taking place in its current form, it is once again sponsored by Aldi in association with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and the National Ploughing Association (NPA) – so no doubt we can expect more tight competition at this year’s event.
There is a call to get even more people outside the ICA to enter.
Certainly the competition gets plenty of attention within the groups across the country, but there are lots more loaves out there to sample. So this year, as well as the ICA heats to qualify for the competition, you can drop your brown bread into the following stores:
• Aldi Ireland Head Office, Newbridge Road, Naas, Co Kildare, on 22 May 2018.• Aldi Regional Office, Limerick Road, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on 22 May 2018.• Aldi’s store in Oranmore, Co Galway, on 29 May 2018. People who are interested in entering through the above Aldi venues are asked to email brownbread@aldi.ie to register.
ICA members can participate in the competition through local guilds, with heats taking place nationwide and regional finals taking place at An Grianán, ICA Adult Education Centre on 31 July. The three finalists selected from the Aldi bread drops, along with the five finalists selected through the ICA will compete at the National Finals at the 2018 National Ploughing Championships.
Baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some money from their dough. The winner will get a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in Aldi. The runners-up receive Aldi vouchers ranging from €1,000 to €2,000.
Last year, Sligo native Mary Conway emerged victorious. She says: “I was thrilled to have won last year. I was up against some of the best. The competition was great fun, and I met some wonderful people along the way. It is so exciting for me seeing my bread, ‘Mary’s Soda Bread’, on the shelves of Aldi stores nationwide.” CL
Boyne Valley Foods
When it comes to local food businesses coming together, there has been a real united front in recent years, with food festivals now in every part of Ireland and branded regions giving more strength to the individual. The northeast has come on board now with the recent relaunch of Boyne Valley foods.
This new brand identity, along with the appointment of dedicated food development officer Tara Smith and the establishment of a regional food network, are all instrumental in aligning the region’s food and drinks initiatives, including the popular Boyne Valley Food Series.
It’s certainly a jam-packed schedule in the coming months, with everything from food festivals and weekend farm retreats, to street feasts and food safaris. There are currently over 45 lead events to experience, which will celebrate the land, the heritage, the people and the produce of the region.
In May alone there are nine food-filled events to enjoy, including orchard walks, fish festivals and the aforementioned food safaris. To get planning your food-focused weekends, check out boynevalleyflavours.ie.
Yet another gin bar
Let’s be honest, if you are a gin lover, you are just spoilt for choice these days. There seems to be a new gin launching every second week and those big round fishbowl glasses are weighing down tables in the pubs and restaurants of Ireland. Just last weekend saw the opening of Ireland’s largest gin parlour at the Hyde Bar & Gin Parlour in Galway.
Get this, they over 500 gins on their menu, with friends collecting bottles from across the world over the last 12 months. They’ve also worked with Celtic Whiskey Store in sourcing some favourites.
The menu is sub-divided by country and their signature house pour is Bombay Saphire served with Fever Tree Premium Tonic. To be honest, we’re a bit disappointed that their signature pour isn’t an Irish gin, given the quality that is now being produced – but perhaps when they see the demand, they’ll change their mind.
Irish brown bread: it’s one of those foods that, no matter how far you travel, tastes of home. One of my best friends lives in Glasgow, and has done so for the past seven years, and although it’s less than an hour’s flight, when she was back last weekend, one of the first things she made me do was walk to the local bakery with her to get a loaf of soda bread.
“I have my mother’s recipe, the only thing is buttermilk is really expensive compared to at home, and sometimes you just want the convenience of a good soda loaf.”
Her story is familiar. So many of us have that brown-bread recipe passed down from our parents and our grandparents before us. And look, we all think that ours is the best.
Now the National Brown Bread Baking Competition is looking for entries for 2018, so it could be your time to prove your point.
The fourth year that it is taking place in its current form, it is once again sponsored by Aldi in association with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and the National Ploughing Association (NPA) – so no doubt we can expect more tight competition at this year’s event.
There is a call to get even more people outside the ICA to enter.
Certainly the competition gets plenty of attention within the groups across the country, but there are lots more loaves out there to sample. So this year, as well as the ICA heats to qualify for the competition, you can drop your brown bread into the following stores:
• Aldi Ireland Head Office, Newbridge Road, Naas, Co Kildare, on 22 May 2018.• Aldi Regional Office, Limerick Road, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on 22 May 2018.• Aldi’s store in Oranmore, Co Galway, on 29 May 2018. People who are interested in entering through the above Aldi venues are asked to email brownbread@aldi.ie to register.
ICA members can participate in the competition through local guilds, with heats taking place nationwide and regional finals taking place at An Grianán, ICA Adult Education Centre on 31 July. The three finalists selected from the Aldi bread drops, along with the five finalists selected through the ICA will compete at the National Finals at the 2018 National Ploughing Championships.
Baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some money from their dough. The winner will get a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in Aldi. The runners-up receive Aldi vouchers ranging from €1,000 to €2,000.
Last year, Sligo native Mary Conway emerged victorious. She says: “I was thrilled to have won last year. I was up against some of the best. The competition was great fun, and I met some wonderful people along the way. It is so exciting for me seeing my bread, ‘Mary’s Soda Bread’, on the shelves of Aldi stores nationwide.” CL
Boyne Valley Foods
When it comes to local food businesses coming together, there has been a real united front in recent years, with food festivals now in every part of Ireland and branded regions giving more strength to the individual. The northeast has come on board now with the recent relaunch of Boyne Valley foods.
This new brand identity, along with the appointment of dedicated food development officer Tara Smith and the establishment of a regional food network, are all instrumental in aligning the region’s food and drinks initiatives, including the popular Boyne Valley Food Series.
It’s certainly a jam-packed schedule in the coming months, with everything from food festivals and weekend farm retreats, to street feasts and food safaris. There are currently over 45 lead events to experience, which will celebrate the land, the heritage, the people and the produce of the region.
In May alone there are nine food-filled events to enjoy, including orchard walks, fish festivals and the aforementioned food safaris. To get planning your food-focused weekends, check out boynevalleyflavours.ie.
Yet another gin bar
Let’s be honest, if you are a gin lover, you are just spoilt for choice these days. There seems to be a new gin launching every second week and those big round fishbowl glasses are weighing down tables in the pubs and restaurants of Ireland. Just last weekend saw the opening of Ireland’s largest gin parlour at the Hyde Bar & Gin Parlour in Galway.
Get this, they over 500 gins on their menu, with friends collecting bottles from across the world over the last 12 months. They’ve also worked with Celtic Whiskey Store in sourcing some favourites.
The menu is sub-divided by country and their signature house pour is Bombay Saphire served with Fever Tree Premium Tonic. To be honest, we’re a bit disappointed that their signature pour isn’t an Irish gin, given the quality that is now being produced – but perhaps when they see the demand, they’ll change their mind.
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