The finalists for Blas na hÉireann 2021 have been announced and the countdown is on for the awards weekend which will take place virtually again this year in October.
The awards seek to reward the very best, not just in their category, but to highlight the best of local as well, including an award for Best in Mayo which is supported by LEO Mayo.
Now in their 14th year, the team at Blas na hÉireann have worked harder than ever this year to make sure the awards went ahead, moving the blind-tasting judging system from the campus in UCC to Dingle, to work within Government guidelines and the constraints of social distancing.
With the blueprint for this new system developed last year, the team was able to seamlessly ensure the judging was handled with the same care and attention as always - especially important in a year that has seen a record entry level from producers right across the island.
The finalists shortlisted from Mayo across a range of different categories are Cácaí Acla, Cake my Day, CPAC FOODS, Kelly's of Newport (Artisan Butchers ) Ltd, Marlene's Chocolate Haven Ltd, Moylurg Honey, O'Hara’s Bakery, Village Farm.
Head of Enterprise, LEO Mayo, John Magee, said: "LEO Mayo is delighted to support the Blas na hÉireann awards again this year. We support local food producers through training, mentoring, and financial supports to help grow and scale their business.
"These awards showcase the range of high-quality food produce from around the country and we encourage local businesses to take part in this important opportunity to promote their products and reach a wider market."
Chairperson, Artie Clifford, said: "We’re delighted to announce the finalists for 2021 and chuffed to see so many new products being entered into Blas na hÉireann this year. Last year was new territory for us but the team here did tremendous work to make sure the awards went ahead and the sense of community that we experienced over the virtual awards event was just brilliant.
"We saw a large increase in entries this year and these new producers have really raised the bar across all categories and will allow us to introduce new producers to the buyers and Press who we work with, which is really exciting."
The awards will be announced over the course of the day on October 2 on the Blas website www.irishfooodawards.com and across social media channels and while the Blas family will miss welcoming everyone to Dingle, the team and the wider Blas community will gather virtually and make sure #Blas2021 trends all day.
The Blas team are also working on an exciting line-up of online presentations and workshops as part of The Blas Backyard, which is supported by Bank of Ireland and Taste4Success.
