Three Mayo winners at Euro-Toques Food Awards

THREE outstanding producers from Mayo took top honours at the Euro-Toques EirGrid Food Awards held at Ballymaloe House yesterday (Monday).

Winning awards were Andarl Farm for their free-range pork, Velvet Cloud Irish Sheep’s Milk Yoghurt (excellence and innovation in dairy), and Achill Oysters (excellence in acquaculture).

Dave and Diana Milestone of Adarl Farm said on winning their award: “We both really care about our pigs and it shows in the final product.

“We do our best for our pigs and rear them to standards that result in very happy healthy pigs that lead lives according to their natural instincts. The care taken at every stage is evident in the wonderful flavour and texture of the pork and this is why the customers for Andarl Farm Velvet Pork are growing on a daily basis.”

Aisling and Michael Flanagan are behind Velvet Cloud, based in Claremorris, and explained: “Sheep dairy products are common place in France, Italy and Spain, and we also noticed through working in the food industry and living overseas that sheep dairying was becoming established in both the UK and in New Zealand. So we thought why not Ireland?

“Being selected by the country's best chefs for this prestigious award is a huge honour and confirms our belief that sheep’s milk is such a rich and versatile product, whose time has come in Ireland.”

Commented Hugh O’Malley from Achill Oysters: “The history of the farm is all about achieving a dream. Home to me is Achill Island. This venture is about creating a family business that stands for quality, sustainability and good practice, with Achill Island at the centre of it.”

Hugh is the first seafood producer to win an award from Euro-Toques.