Favourite sandwich

10 reasons why we love sarnies

This week is British Sandwich Week (8 to 14 May) and we in the UK absolutely love sarnies. We spent £7.85bn on them last year and www.lovesarnies.com has compiled the 10 biggest reasons why we all love the ultimate food to go – the sandwich.

1. Convenience – It is the easiest thing in the world to buy for lunch. Independent shops, cafés, and supermarkets – everyone, it seems, sells sandwiches.

2. Content – Whatever you want to eat, whatever style of cuisine, flavours, meat/veggie, and diary/vegan – you name it there’s a sandwich to suit.

3. Portion size – the classic wedge sandwich pack is ideal for a busy lunch, a sub or baguette great for larger appetites – there’s always one to suit you.

4. Fibre – Bread has fibre, vegetables, too and it all helps our digestive health. Better digestion means better absorption of all the other nutrients, too.

5. Nutrients – while we’re on the topic, are packed in with salad ingredients etc. Be honest, you’d leave a side salad but we tend to eat it inside a sandwich!

6. Lifestyle – whatever your goals there’s a sandwich for you. Supermarkets alone sell over 150 different varieties – plus seasonal specials and then there’s the independent sandwich shops where you build your own.

7. Price – the average UK sandwich costs just £2.25 – just great value.

8. Cake – yes, why not? When we buy something to accompany our sarnies, 2 in 5 of us choose cake!

9. Bread – It’s the new coffee - everyone now has their favourite. Focaccia, baguette, barm, cob, panini, wrap, pitta or a good old doorstep!

10. It’s a great British invention – yes, last but by no means least we love sarnies because it’s our gift to global cuisine. And it woven into our culinary DNA!

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

 

1. A portable balanced meal – a sandwich is a complete meal and generally contains protein, carbohydrate and is part of your 5 a day

2. UK consumers spend in excess of £7,850,000,000 per annum on pre-made sandwiches. A huge boost to the UK economy. We buy 3,550,000,000 sandwiches per annum – an average price around £2.21

3. The first sandwich – in name at least – was created by the first Earl of Sandwich in 1762. He called for cuts of beef to be placed between toasted slices of bread so that he could continue gambling while he ate. At least it was the first toastie.

4. Chicken is the most popular filling for sandwiches bought in the UK, with 33.7% of sandwiches containing the meat.

5. British Sandwich Week 2016 will be held from Sunday 8th May until Saturday 14th May

Wine and food

The foyer of the Ulster Museum was transformed into a wonderful dining area for 100 hungry people last night. The event was an evening of fine food and perfectly paired wines hosted by Neil McGuigan and John Torode, courtesy of United Wines. There was also a live chef station at the front where John cooked and Neil talked wines.

There was a Frizzante reception outside and we were blessed with great weather!! The Harpist played some soothing music to add to the ambience. The Frizzante was a crisp, fruity, bubbly aperitif and set the evening up well.

To start with we were served up a grilled duck salad with minted peas, bacon, bread, pecorino, water cress, parsley and dressed with a sherry and vinegar. The wine paired with this was the Founders Chardonnay which complimented the salad very well. The duck was medium cooked and worked well with the wine.

The second course was seared squid and rocket with a tangy mayo.  The squid was perfect and the wine pairing was the Pinot Noir Rose. This was fruity and refreshing and worked great with the squid.

Course three was pan and paper roasted fish with champ, capers, parsley and black butter. Yes you read it correctly.....the fish was roasted on a piece of grease proof paper in a hot frying pan. This protects the fish to an extent. Tasted amazing and the wine of Founders Cabernet Sauvignon was amazing with the fish.

Course four was grilled lamb cutlets with gremolata, radish, mint and ricotta. The wine was Shiraz and for me this was my favourite wine. The lamb was delicious and the radish was fantastic.

John prepared each dish and explained how he constructed the dishes. Neil explained his choice of wines and informed us of the regions and grapes used. They are certainly a good wine pair!!! 

To finish the evening there was some lovely cheese. The boys mingled well and took time to come and talk to us all. What a superb night !!

Bus lunch music

What a fab way to spend lunch. We had the pleasure of listening to live tracks from @TheLogues new album "Coming of Age". They play @DalriadaFest .The lunch was by The Fatted Calf Ltd  (Tea Room Glenarm Castle) and included smoked salmon bites, mini beef burgers, goats cheese tartlets, sausage/chorizo rolls and a varied array of sandwiches.Our transport was on the @tourbelfast which circled around Belfast City Centre. 

The Logues were fab, buy their cd and watch them up at Dalriada. This was a fab lunch hour!!!! Big thanx to Michelle from Michelle McTernan Management.

Ku 'Aina

Aloha!! To celebrate my birthday last night, my two daughters, wife and I went to Kua 'Aina in Victoria Square Belfast. Kua 'Aina opened in November last year and is another welcome eatery in Belfast. 

It was the brainchild of Terry Thompson who opened the first restaurant on Hawaii's North Shore in 1975. It's famous for its lava rock char-grilled burgers and sandwiches, accompanied by homemade sauces and divine milk shakes. 

Kua 'Aina means back country and is a favourite of Barack Obama. The Belfast restaurant is the third in the UK. 

On arrival the restaurant looked like a typical Waikiki Beach restaurant along with surf board. It's primarily a diner type restaurant which serves various burgers/sandwiches, sides, sauces, craft beers, shakes, soft drinks, desserts and breakfasts!!!

We were greeted by Derek who seated us and brought the girls colouring in pencils,paper and menus-I must say it is very children friendly. Whilst we waited for our milkshakes (coconut for me served in a classic glass milk bottle and small bowls of banana shakes for the girls) Derek brought us over multi coloured nachos and salsa.

We ordered kids Mahi Mahi fish fingers and fries and Chicken strips with sweet corn and fries. My wife had a halloumi and roasted pepper sandwich and I had a triple decker sandwich of Teriyaki chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato in poppy seeded bread. To accompany this we had sweet potato fries, homemade slaw, onion rings and mayo. As a birthday surprise I was presented with a lovely chocolate brownie and ice cream.

Now the nachos were warm and crisp and salsa was great. The shakes were fab-having mine served in a classic glass milk bottle was very nostalgic! The girls loved their fish fingers, fries, chicken and sweet corn. My wife really enjoyed the Halloumi and pepper sandwich and my sandwich was amazing. The best part was that you could actually taste the authentic flavour of the charring, giving that super taste of original char grilled Bbq. The slaw was crunchy and not too creamy and the onion rings were thick and juicy. The fries and sweet potato fries were nice and soft. Then the brownie was sweet, melt in mouth and warm...mmmm!!!

Suffice to say this was a mountain of food and we did have to pack and take home-guess lunch is sorted!! Presentation,service and overall ambience was second to none. This is a great place for an alternative type of burger/sandwich diner. Thank you so much to the team (Ciaran the manager and Derek).

May Day

MAY HOLIDAY FUN YOU CAN BANK ON

 

THE May Bank Holiday is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the long weekend with friends and family and to help people along, Tourism NI has listed some of the exciting events and things to see and do that are available all over Northern Ireland. 

Rachel Quigg, Communications & Destination PR Officer, explains why everyone should get out and about this May Bank Holiday:

“With so much choice on offer from arts festivals and walks to family fun days and music events, everyone will find something they really want to go and experience.

“For those with an adventurous side there are a wide range of fun outdoor activities and events to choose from and if you prefer something a little bit more laid back there are lots of places to visit where you can kick back and enjoy some rest and relaxation.”

To help make the most of the May Day Bank Holiday, Tourism Northern Ireland has highlighted a number of fun events which are happening across NI. 

 

BELFAST

The sound of laughter will be echoing all over Belfast this Bank Holiday weekend, as the 13^th Festival of Fools comes to town. Over 120 performances will be taking place from April 29 – May 2, all free of charge with daredevil acrobatics, circus acts, comedy, magic and much more from some of the leading street theatre companies from Europe, America, the UK and Ireland. 

On Bank Holiday Monday, line the streets to support over 17,500 participants in the2016 Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon, which will take in the north, south, east and west of the city.

The 17^th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festivalwill provide a packed line-up of music, comedy and spoken word beginning on April 28, through May Day weekend and continuing until Sunday May 8. To celebrate Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016, the festival will also include a one day meat-free mini-festival, Vegstock, taking place in the festival marquee on May 2.

 

CO. ANTRIM

Cushendun is one of the most picturesque villages in the Glens of Antrim and will be hosting four days of music, drama, exhibitions and family fun as part ofCushendun’s Big Arts Weekend from April 29 – May 2. Showcasing the rich culture and spectacular landscape of the area, this fun and varied weekend is sure to have something for everyone.

For those who would like to do something more active over the Bank Holiday weekend, there is the Causeway Coast Challenge Walk on May 1, commencing at Portballintrae and following the coastal cliff path via Giant's Causeway to reach Portbradden, before returning. Not for the faint of heart, the walk is 30km in length and is organised by local club Bannside Ramblers, attracting walkers from all over Ireland and beyond.

Visitors to Ballycastle can invigorate their senses and tickle their taste buds as theNaturally North Coast & Glens Artisan Market comes to Ballycastle Seafront on Sunday, May 1, featuring food and craft producers from all around the North Coast and Glens area.

 

CO. ARMAGH

The Orchard County celebrates its reputation as the Orchard of Ireland over the holiday weekend with the Apple Blossom Fair, taking place from April 30 – May 2. The festival comprises many different events at Ardress House and Loughgall Country Park, with shuttle buses to transport visitors between the two sites. Celebrate local food traditions with orchard tours, cider tastings, barbecues and entertainment for all the family. 

Armagh is also home to plenty of places for a family walk or cycle on Bank Holiday weekend, such as the beautiful Gosford Forest Park and country estates like the The Argory or Derrymore House.

 

CO. DOWN

Enjoy the annual May Day celebrations inHolywood town centre with traditional May Day dancing by local school children, a selection of market stalls and fantastic family-friendly entertainment from 10am – 4pm on Monday, May 2.

Elsewhere in County Down, Newry will be holding its first annual Craft Beer Festivalon April 30 and May 1, with ten craft breweries exhibiting over 30 craft products to taste including Mourne Mountain Brewery, Armagh Cider Company, Whitewater Brewery and more. Enjoy the best of local craft products with a top notch entertainment line-up. 

The Newry and Mourne Museum is hosting the last weekend of its ‘The World Has Become Smaller – Transport in Newry and Mourne’ exhibition, examining all aspects of transport in the area over the centuries, and open to visit until May 2.

 

CO. FERMANAGH

It is the golden jubilee of Castle Archdale Caravan Park and Camp Site, and the whole family is welcome to join in the celebrations, which on Saturday April 30include balloon modelling with Mr Twister and a kid’s quiz with prizes.

April 30 will also be an exciting day for dogs, dog owners and dog lovers as Castle Coole holds Paws In The Park. Dogs are always welcome at Castle Coole, but especially on this day, when dogs and their owners can join in the dog walk, enter the pet dog show, and pick up some behaviour techniques and grooming tips.

The May Day weekend is also the perfect opportunity for families or groups to visitSHARE Discovery Village. The Share Extravaganza gives visitors an opportunity to try out an array of land and water activities in one-hour, two-hour or taster sessions.

 

CO. LONDONDERRY

Fun for all the family is on offer at The Jungle NI in Moneymore on May 1 as its popular Family Fun Day takes place, where visitors can buy tokens to exchange for a variety of outdoor activities on offer throughout the day.

During the evenings from April 29-May 1, music lovers should head to the village of Macosquin near Coleraine for the Big Marquee Weekend II. This year’s line-up features a thrilling mix of big name dance, indie, country and Britpop stars, in a purpose-built marquee in the grounds of Mary Pat’s Bar.

However if jazz is your musical style of choice, the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival is a must, with Derry~Londonderry reverberating to the sound of jazz from bars, theatres, shopping centres, restaurants and on the streets around the city from April 28 – May 2.

 

CO. TYRONE

Pull on your wellies as rare and minority breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry make the Ulster American Folk Park home for the weekend in the Rare Breeds Show. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about the variety of farm animals on show. The event takes place from April 30 – May 2.

Also this Bank Holiday weekend in Co. Tyrone, the number one country music festival in Ireland returns as Jamboree In The Park comes to Ecclesville Centre, Fintona. Taking place on April 30 and May 1, there will be headline performances from Nathan Carter, Derek Ryan along with many other exciting artists, making this a must for country music fans.

Finally, on April 30, beer enthusiasts can enjoy the North West Brew Fest at Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh. The inaugural event will showcase local beer, ale, stout and cider produced across the North West, with the hotel’s pavilion transformed into a beer garden theme with fantastic live music across the weekend.

 

V important food allergies

QUARTER OF PEOPLE WITH FOOD ALLERGIES HAVE EXPERIENCED REACTIONS WHEN EATING OUT

Survey shows improvements for those with allergies since new allergen labelling rules came in - but more needs to be done.

 

Research by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Allergy UK has found that despite improvements, one in four people with a food allergy has experienced a reaction while eating out in a restaurant or cafe since new allergen labelling legislation came in a year ago. The survey also found that nearly one in five (19%) of those allergic reactions resulted in a hospital visit.  

 

The EU Food Information for Consumers (FIC) Legislation came into force in December 2014, and means that food businesses have to make information on 14 allergens available to consumers. This ranges from the most common allergens, such as peanuts and gluten, to less well known triggers for allergic reactions such as mustard and celery. It is estimated that 2% of adults and 8% of children (which equates to around 28,000 adults and 30,000 children) in Northern Ireland may have a food allergy.

 

The survey, which was carried out to mark Allergy Awareness Week 2016, found that overall, 83% of respondents have noticed an increase in measures designed to make life easier for allergic consumers – including menus marking out allergens, and staff actively checking food information with the kitchen.  

 

More than half (58%) of allergic consumers said that their overall experience of eating out has improved; just 6% said it has got worse. As a result, a similar proportion (52%) say they now feel more confident eating out than they did before the legislation was introduced.

 

However, people with allergies still report a number of problems when eating out. More than two-thirds (69%) have experienced staff not understanding the severity of an allergy, and how easily a mistake can cause a reaction. A similar number (68%) have seen staff with a lack of knowledge of what’s on the menu or in the food – including staff confusing eggs with dairy, or assuming that the customer was asking for gluten-free rather than avoiding lupin (a grain commonly used in place of wheat). Over half of allergic consumers (56%) said they have been made to feel like an inconvenience due to their allergy.

 

In total, around a third of those with a food allergy have experienced a reaction in the last year when eating out of the home. The vast majority of these (25%) took place in a restaurant or cafe, with 9% being a result of takeaway food. In most cases (88%) the reaction was self-treated, with 19% of reactions resulting in a hospital visit. 

 

Sharon Gilmore, Head of Dietary Health at the FSA in NI commented:“The number of people who have food allergies and intolerances has increased in the last decade and this is something businesses can’t ignore.  Since the introduction of new legislation in 2014, we’re pleased to see real progress in how businesses provide information on allergens but it’s an area that still needs improvement. 

 

“We continue to support local businesses and have produced MenuCal, a free online tool that helps food businesses manage the allergy information of the food they serve. We are working very closely with district councils and food businesses in Northern Ireland to ensure we’re providing food people can trust.”

 

If anyone encounters a food business not providing information on the 14 allergens, they should report it to their district council who will investigate. The survey showed that those affected are currently more likely to report it to staff in the first instance (69%) or complain on social media after the event (23%).  

 

Food businesses have been given flexibility on how they provide allergy information. This can be communicated verbally through explanations by staff or signposted to where or how more information can be found on menus or in additional leaflets. 

 

For more information on the EU FIC regulations please visit: www.food.gov.uk/science/allergy-intolerance/  or to keep up to date on FSA in NI news visit: facebook.co.uk/fsainni or follow us on Twitter @FSAinNI. 

 

You can sign up for allergy alerts on the FSA in NI website at: www.food.gov.uk/about-us/subscribe. 

 

Food businesses can also register to use our free online tool, MenuCal, which helps identify the allergens in the food they serve. Visit: www.menucalni.co.ukfor more. 

 

Sunflower fest

At the launch of the Sunflower Fest at the Sunglower pub in Belfast. Can't wait til it starts. It's on from 5th-7th August at Tubbys Farm, Hillsborough. Check out www.sunflowerfest.co.uk Colin Hassard the poet is amazing!!!!