Leading Kilkenny artisan producers win big at Irish Food Awards

By COLIN BARTLEY

IT was a good weekend for Kilkenny artisan food producers with two of them picking up awards at what are described as the ‘Oscars’ of Irish Food.

Truffle Fairy and Kilkenny Food Company picked up best producer awards at Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards, which were held in Dingle, county Kerry over the weekend.

Truffle Fairy, Kilkenny’s famous chocolate maker, with shops in both Thomastown and Kilkenny, won the overall best new product and the best food producer in Leinster award.

It also picked up two gold medals for its Individual Chocolates and its Chocolate Collections, and a silver medal for its chocolate biscuit cake.

Kilkenny Food Company picked up another Gold medal in the Soup and Meats section for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Made Sweet Potato & Chicken soup.

Now in their 12th year, the Blas na hÉireann awards are the all-island food awards that recognise the very best Irish food and drink products, and the people behind them.