After drawing unprecedented crowds for last year’s edition, the atmosphere at this year’s Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses will be turned up a notch with the addition of a Food Festival, offering the best of local delicacies and drinks in a stunning castle location.
In an innovative move, organisers of the Northern Ireland Open Challenge have introduced a food festival for the potential 35,000 fans to showcase some of the very best food and drink Northern Ireland has to offer, as the strapline suggests: “Combining World Class Golf with Northern Ireland’s World Class Food.
The Food Festival offer home-grown, locally-made and locally sourced produce in a stunning location, set in the grounds of Jacobean Castle within the Galgorm Estate, making for the perfect place to visit for golf fans and foodies alike during tournament week.
There is something for all the family; from locally brewed beer, champagne tents to face-painting and bouncy castles.
“It’s a great idea and a chance for local suppliers from across the province to showcase their produce,” explains Joanne McCoubrey from Mourne Seafood, who organised the festival alongside the team at Galgorm. “There is a full range of local products from oils and vinegars to chutneys, breads, jam, chocolates, vegetables, local bacon and more.”
As people walk to the castle they will see the food exhibitors and their full range of produce, which can be bought on the day to take home. The second aspect takes visitors through into the walled gardens of the castle where yet more great food and drink is on offer.
Visitors will be able to buy tokens to use at the food and drink-to-go areas. The bar area consists of a number of individual stalls with vendors selling their own beers, wines or ciders produced here in Northern Ireland.
As a creative concept there are plenty of interactive activities going on through the day. The plan in the mornings is to have the big BBQs fired up and ready for food demos which will be co-ordinated by the likes of Stephen Jeffers from the Belfast Cookery School and Andy Rea of Mourne Seafood.
The fun doesn’t stop there for live music is scheduled with Irish and Hawaiian themes to play during the afternoon and into the evenings. And as an occasion for all the family to enjoy, face painters will be on hand alongside the bouncy castle in the Kids Fun Area.
The big kids can still keep an eye on the golf with the big screens at the Food Festival or stroll across to the Super Cars exhibition adjacent to the castle, which is a must for any petrol-headcar enthusiasts.
“It really is a great idea in a truly stunning location,” enthused Michele Shirlow from Food NI. “Northern Ireland has changed so much in recent years, there has been a real renaissance among local producers and suppliers.
“There is such a high standard of food produced here, as evidenced by the recent Great Taste Awards where over 100 Gold Stars were awarded to local producers. It’s like the Oscars of the food industry.”
And Galgorm Castle has it’s very own culinary expertise with the Eagle Bar and Grill Restaurant at the clubhouse, which is headed up by Chris Bell, former Northern Ireland Chef of the Year.
“Our ethos is quality food in a casual environment at reasonable prices and we make that accessible to everyone. We source local produce from Northern Ireland and use only local suppliers where possible,” said Bell, who lives locally in Broughshane with his family.
“We should be very proud of what we produce here in Northern Ireland and we want to showcase top quality, home grown produce.”
Whichever way you look at it, Galgorm and the Food Festival is serving up a winning recipe this week.
