Breakfast January

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ON BEHALF OF TOURISM NORTHERN IRELAND

 

NORTHERN IRELAND TUCKS IN TOBREAKFAST MONTH!

And don’t forget Ulster FRYday on January 29!

 

Tourism Northern Ireland is kicking off the Year of Food and Drink 2016 how everyone in NI should start their day, with breakfast.

January 2016 is Breakfast Month and according to Tourism NI, Northern Ireland is simply brimming with great places, including hotels, B&Bs, cafes and restaurants, that all serve delicious, locally produced food that will satisfy your taste buds and set you up for a fun day trip or relaxing short breakto one of NI’s great tourist attractions or destinations.

Rachel Quigg, Communications & Destination PR Officer at Tourism Northern Ireland explains why everyone should tuck in to Breakfast Month:

“Northern Ireland’s dedicated farmers, talented food producers and creative artisans have been using our unique fields, rivers and lakes to make world-class food, for centuries.  And breakfast, hailed as the most important mealof the day, features some of NI’s finest produce including Abernethy Butter which is churned by hand in Dromara, Annaghmore Mushrooms, Kennedy bacon, White’s Oats – I could go on!”

Breakfast lovers take note as January 29 is Ulster FRYdayand Tourism NI wants everyone in Northern Ireland to send in photos of themselves enjoying breakfast.

Rachel continued:  “We want to end Breakfast Month on a high with a delicious celebration of Northern Irelandfavourite, the Ulster Fry with Ulster FRYday.  We will be asking absolutely everyone, businesses as well as individuals, to post photos online of their breakfast using hashtag #ulsterFRYday, in order to win a great prize.  So tell your friends, work colleagues, schoolmates and family to take a snap of their breakfast and share it on social media to join in the fun.”

Tourism Northern Ireland has listed some of the key events happening around Northern Ireland for Breakfast Month as well as some local delicious products to try. 

Tasty Events!

Farmhouse Breakfast Week, January 24 – 30 2016. The Farmhouse Breakfast Week campaign raises awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrates the wealth of wonderful breakfast produce available around the country. 

Ulster FRYday, January 29 2016. This day is a celebration of the much-loved Ulster Fry!  Everyone has their own take on the Ulster Fry – some people love beans whilst others must have mushrooms, fried egg versus scrambled egg - so this is a chance for individuals and business owners to upload pictures of how they enjoy their Ulster Fry.  So whether you cooked it yourself or you have been served it at a hotel, B&B, restaurant or café, take a snap and share it online using the hashtag #ulsterFRYday and include @DiscoverNI.

Breakfast at Hastings Hotels – Hastings are offering gourmet all day breakfasts at each of their 6 hotels throughout January.  Guests can already avail of a choice of tasty breakfast options but Hastings Hotels is taking this one step further and for one month only people will be able to enjoy breakfast all day long. Two Gourmet All Day Breakfast Specials have been introduced and are available for only £10 every day from 12pm. Made using only the very best of local produce, enjoy the Armagh Apple Potato Cake with a Gracehill Black Pudding Sausage, Moyallon Dry Cured Streaky Bacon, Clements Poached Egg and Homemade Ketchup or a Mini Northern Irish Soda Bread with Poached Egg, Glenarm Smoked Salmon and Hollandaise Sauce.  

Winterfell B&B, The Cuan, Strangford Village, Co Down. The Cuan is offering an authentic Winterfell breakfast of hot bread, butter and honey, blackberry preserves, bacon, eggs, cheese and a pot of mint tea. Enjoy Dinner, B&B from only £84.95.

The Big Breakfast at the Elk, The Elk, Toome, Co. Antrim, January 30, 8am – 12pm. As part of NI Year of Food and Drink 2016, The Elk are holding a Big Breakfast where people can come along and enjoy a delicious freshly prepared and locally sourced breakfast and in return they will be asked to give a small donation to Chest Heart and Stroke NI. 

 

Where to eat breakfast?

If you are thinking of taking a short break or heading out for breakfast with friends and family somewhere in Northern Ireland during Breakfast Month then take a look as this menu which features some excellent places where you can tuck into a hearty breakfast in beautiful surroundings.

If you are heading to Co. Antrim home of the stunning Causeway Coast, visit Ballygally Castle, Ballygally, Beechmount Farm B&B, Muckamore or pop into The French Rooms in Bushmills who all serve delicious breakfasts.

 

When in Co. Armagh, which is known for its historic cathedrals, try the Armagh City Hotel, Orchard House B&B or the Moody Boar for some memorable food to help kick start your day. 

 

Co. Down is renowned for stunning mountainous views and is home to a host of tasty places for breakfast including the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Newcastle, Seaview Guesthouse in Rostrevor and Quails at the Gallery in Banbridge. 

 

If you are heading to Co. Fermanagh for a weekend break then you are sure to experience a delicious breakfast in the Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, Dromard House, Lisbellawor the Crowes Nest Enniskillen. 

 

Before exploring some of the many attractions available inCo. Derry~Londonderry such as the Peace Bridge or the historic City Walls, enjoy a hearty breakfast in the Everglades Hotel, Number 8 Guesthouse, City of Derry Hotel or Lost andFound Brew Bar, Coleraine. 

 

Visitors to Co. Tyrone will find a wide range of tourist attractions to visit such as the Ulster American Folk Park and the Sperrin Mountains. You will also find lots of places to enjoy breakfast such as Corick Country House in Clogher, The Laurels B&B Lodge, Omagh and An Creagan Restaurant, Omagh.

 

Don’t forget to celebrate Ulster FRYday on January 29, for your chance to win an overnight stay at the spectacular 5* Culloden Hotel and Spa for two, including a sumptuous breakfast. To enter simply share a photo of your Ulster Fry and upload it on social media using the hashtag #ulsterFRYday. For more information go to www.discovernorthernireland.com/ulsterfryday.

 

For more information on things to do in Northern Ireland visitwww.discovernorthernireland.com or your local tourist information centre.

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For further information please contact Bronagh Cobain of Duffy Rafferty Communications on          028 9073 0880 or Bronagh@duffyrafferty.com.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Who made my breakfast?

People in Northern Ireland love a good cup of tea so why not indulge in a steaming cup from Suki Tea, an award winning brand which has been made in Belfast since 2007.  The range, which is also exported as far as Japan and Norway, includes blends Belfast Brew, Apple Loves Mint, Earl Grey Blue Flower and a wide range of rare white and green teas. They even have an iconic teapot that doesn’t drip!

Kick start your day with local coffee provider JavamanCoffee. The company was started in 1998 from a cart in Donegal Arcade where people could buy their coffee and almost ten years later, owners Philip and Maribeth opened their first shop on Oxford St in St George’s Market.

If you just love hot toast for breakfast then why not slather on some locally produced Abernethy Butter. This butter is churned by hand in Dromara and graces the tables of well-known restaurants all over Ireland and the UK. Will and Allison Abernethy inherited their butter making skills from family members before deciding to set up their own business in 2005.

No NI breakfast is complete without potato bread and where better to find some than Ann’s Pantry in Larne which is known for its award winning spelt and black pudding potato bread. This family business was established in 1967 and has become increasingly known for its innovative bakes with speciality flours and flavour combinations. 

 

White’s Organic Porridge Oats have been made in Tandragee, Co Armagh since 1841 and have won any Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food over several consecutive years within the luxury breakfast cereal category. Porridge is a great way to kick start the day and White’s offer a range of products including Speedicook Porridge Oats and Jumbo Organic Oats.

Sloan’s Bacon, based in Kilrea, Co Derry~Londonderry was established in 1999. They make their own special curing recipe which ensures their bacon has a special and balanced flavour allowing the natural taste to shine through.

Whether you like them boiled, fried, poached or scrambled, eggs are an integral part of any breakfast. Cavanagh Eggs, based in Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh is run by John and Eileen Hall who built their first hen house in 2001 with42,000 free-range birds.  They know that contented hens lay great quality eggs so they work hard to create the best possible environment and it is clear they are doing something right as they produce almost 13 million eggs every year. 

If you are feeling decadent and would like something a little different for your breakfast why not sample some locally produced smoked salmon.  Belfast based fishmongers Ewing’s Seafoods supply fresh local fish and seafood to some of Northern Ireland’s top restaurants and hotels. This family run business has been supplying a wide range of fresh fish including smoked salmon, cod loins and other fresh seafood throughout Northern Ireland since 1911. 

If you have busy mornings, yoghurts provide a quick and easy way to enjoy breakfast. Clandeboye Estate produces vast amounts of deliciously creamy milk that is used to produce Northern Ireland’s only locally made cow’s milk yoghurt.