My Top Local Food & Drink Must-Haves this Festive Season   

Christmas is a time for celebrating and enjoying food with family and friends, making it undeniably one of the best things about the festive season! I love sourcing local produce all year round and at Christmas make no exception going the extra mile.

From my festive food research this year I put together some of my favourite locally produced food and drink products:

Ballyhoura Apple Farm, Original Irish Red Mulled Apple Juice

Being a premium blend of mulled apple juice the Ballyhoura brand of red mulled apple juice is a delicious non-alcoholic holiday drink, ideal to enjoy with family and friends at home over Christmas.

Available from Supervalu stores nationwide.

Ballinwillin House Farm, Venison Haunch

Based in Mitchelstown, North Cork, Ballinwillin House Farm produces high quality cuts of meat from their herd of organic grass-fed deer. A few months ago I came across one of their really tasty cuts of meat called venison haunch. This meat joint is ideal for family gatherings and is best roasted and served with local root vegetables and rosemary.

Available from their online farm shop www.ballinwillinhouse.com

Frank Hederman, Hot Smoked Salmon

Frank Hederman has spent over 35 years creating the finest handmade smoked salmon in the world, using sustainably produced Irish fish. The premium hot smoked salmon has been a firm favourite on my Christmas day table for the past few year’s. It’s prepared here in Cork by hand in small batches using a process which involves simultaneously cooking and smoking the fish, in a traditional timber smoke house. 

Available from their stall in the English Market, Cork City, Midleton and Cobh Farmers Markets and from their online shop www.frankhederman.com

Diva Boutique Bakery & Café, Mince Pies

Diva’s award-winning mince pies are a combination of amazing flavours. Sultanas, raisins and currants are first soaked and marinated in a blend of brandy and apple juice. Then orange and lemon zests are added and sauté with fresh apples and Christmas spices. The final mixture matures for a further week before they gets baked in their made-on-site flaky butter pastry.

Available from their bakery located in Ballinspittle village or their online shop www.divaboutiquebakery.com

Hegarty Cheese

Located in Whitechurch village near Cork city the Hegarty family mature their award-winning cheese using a traditional cheddar method. This gives the cheese a fantastic distinctive flavour making it a must have addition for all cheese platters this Christmas!

Available at Mahon Point, Douglas and Midleton Farmers markets, Iago Princess St. Cork, On the Pig’s Back The English Market and Douglas Woollen Mills, Urru Culinary store Bandon and Sheridans Cheese stall Dunnes Stores Bishopstown Court.

Happy Christmas

Eat, Drink and Be Merry this festive season …

#festivefood #shoplocal #supportlocalproducers