The Year of Food and Drink…it’s not over yet!
It’s two weeks until Scotland’s ‘Year of Food & Drink’ ends, but fear not as we provide our 366 day leap year solution on how to continue the celebrations in 2016. 
So yes, okay, it will involve a short flight or ferry ride over to Northern Ireland, but I think you’ll find it’ll be well worth the journey and here’s why.
Just a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of travelling to Northern Ireland and sharing the stage to give an insight on Scotland’s hugely successful ‘Year of Food and Drink 2015’. Sharing that stage was renowned restauranteur and BBC ‘Great British Menu’ judge Oliver Peyton; Dr Morgaine Gaye, a Food Futurologist who specialises in ideation sessions and food trends and Dr Naomi Waite, Director of Marketing for Tourism Northern Ireland who provided an inspired talk on why a visit to Northern Ireland is a must for foodies.
As the final preparations are now underway for Northern Ireland’s first official ‘Year of Food and Drink’ in 2016 what struck me immediately, on that, my first visit to Northern Ireland was the similarities of the people and the food and drink culture. I was certainly impressed with the high standards of hospitality. Genuine smiles and a sense of joviality in their spoken word shone brightly through. They seemed pleased to serve too, always imperative in an industry that isn’t as easy to work in as some people may think. In their own words Northern Ireland is a ‘land of do-morers, go-beyonders and extra-milers’. And as they rightly suggest, perhaps that’s what inspires ambition and spirit, the proof of which is on your plate and in your glass.
As Scotland’s World Food Travel Association Ambassador I am often asked what makes Scotland’s offering different? Aside from the quality of the product, we are of course quite unique in that it isn’t necessarily England, our nearest across the border neighbours that have directly impacted the way our cuisine has evolved. For me it is Ireland that we have most in common with. For a start they distil Whiskey, a grain spirit not too dissimilar to our own world class Whisky. Secondly, the crofters’ diet was a very simple one, where potatoes replaced the Scots’ love of oats and barley. And thirdly, there is a semblance of great husbandry intrinsic to the traditional dishes of each country.
Today in Northern Ireland, as it is in Scotland, the foods being celebrated are those of quality, provenance and artisanship. Forget mass produced, salt induced empty foods that are not worth the packaging they are often unethically wrapped in.
Northern Ireland’s very own special year is shaping up to mirror the Scottish one with a monthly calendar providing specific focus to some of the areas well worth celebrating. It will take me a long time to forget the delicious ‘Ulster fry’ cooked breakfast, I started the day with, and so it seems fitting that they are starting their celebratory year in January with ‘Breakfast month’. There are of course a few quirky differences of their own in the pipeline for the year.
I will certainly be back to experience the authentic taste of Northern Ireland, but how about you? 
If you enjoy the chance to experience heritage, landscape and culture by eating some of the most delicious food in UK then look no further. As Scotland’s food and whisky tour specialists, we are here to help you plan your very own customized gastro short break or culinary vacation combining the very best of Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Compare and contrast Glenarm Shorthorn Beef or Salmon with Grierson’s Aberdeen Angus Beef or some premium Scottish Salmon. Do the same with Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whisky and why not do a taste test of Northern Ireland’s Shortcross Gin to Edinburgh Gin in Scotland’s beautiful capital city. 
There are 366 days available in 2016 for a delicious double celebration. Question is are you ready to lift your fork and rise to the challenge?
To enquire about a combined Ireland and Scotland multi-day package get in touch with us at [email protected]
Tastefully yours
Brenda
Brenda Anderson is the Founding Director of Tasting Scotland, the country’s premium culinary, food and whisky tour operators. When she isn’t doing that she is cooking for business or pleasure, running special tasting events for the corporate market, undertaking her duties as the World Food Travel Association Ambassador for the UK (Scotland) or trying to do something about her ever expanding waistline.
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