Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
TV chef Neven Maguire is proud to showcase cuisine from the north of Ireland in his latest food show.
The Cavan man – who is from the border town of Blacklion – is passionate about dishes from his province and was delighted to learn more, heading up into the six counties.
He will tell viewers all about it on Neven’s Ulster Food Trails, which starts tonight. And here, he shares some of his tastiest recipes from the six-part series, which mixes cuisine with culture.
Neven told the Irish Mirror: “From Fermanagh black bacon, to scallops and black pudding, there’s a unique cuisine in Ulster.
“Lots of seafood – remember we’re an island nation – such as sole on the bone. Barbecued venison, beef, rosti potato dishes and products like rapeseed oil are all part of this area’s cuisine.”
Neven’s Ulster Food Tour sees Neven meeting food producers, chefs and bakers, as he visits cafes, restaurants and castles, enjoying some of the signature dishes of Ulster.
He also meets some of the people who are putting Ulster’s food culture on the map. He cites the Bishop’s Gate hotel in Derry and Noble in Holywood, Co Down as two fine examples of Ulster hospitality and cooking.
He gets adventurous, crossing a rope bridge in Portadown and undertaking a hovercraft obstacle course in Limavady. And on his travels, he visits Northern Ireland football legend George Best’s childhood home in Belfast and the stunning 19th century Castle Leslie in Monaghan.
Neven – who runs the award-winning restaurant MacNean House in Cavan – is delighted to host the show.
He said: “I was so excited to get back on the road for another food adventure and this time I explored closer to home.
“Just around the corner is the border, so I know Ulster a little but I’ve never really explored it. I’m so pleased to dedicate a food series to Ulster for the first time.
“I learned so much and met some amazing people and enjoyed some great activities.
“What excites me is the prospect for food in the future and here we have some of the best produce in the world.
“The people were so friendly and kind and they’re proud of what they do and where they come from. That’s what makes it so special and unique.
“It’s an exciting time for food and travel in Ireland. I think the best is yet to come”.
At the end of each episode, Neven cooks something special back home in Blacklion, inspired by the produce he enjoys on his journey.
These include tasty local dishes like Chicken Lyonnaise with Crushed Baby Potatoes and Crusted Venison with Creamed Cabbage and Blackberry Jus.
In the first episode, Neven heads across the border into Northern Ireland to visit the famous Marble Arch Caves in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, less than 20km from his home in Blacklion.
Lead Guide Jordan Kempton takes Neven on a boat ride through the underground landscape of caverns, rivers and ancient rock formations.
Above ground again, Neven catches up with his former Head Chef Glen Wheeler at Glen’s 28 At The Hollow restaurant in the heart of Enniskillen town.
Glen makes two of his signature dishes for Neven as they chat about Enniskillen’s vibrant food scene and what Northern Ireland has to offer as a ‘foodie destination’.
Neven then takes a trip on Lough Erne to O’Doherty’s on Inish Corkish Island, home to a rare breed of free-roaming pigs, where world-class black bacon is created by family butchers Pat and Fintan O’Doherty.
In County Monaghan, Neven tours family-run Carleton Cakes, where Dylan Carleton shows Neven how they bake thousands of cakes every day without sacrificing handmade quality.
Neven heads to Castle Leslie, where Sammie Leslie welcomes him with a carriage ride through the estate and chef Aaron Duffy plates up refined dishes using ingredients from the Castle Leslie gardens.
Neven’s own recipe in this first episode is Honey Glazed Pork with Eggs Benedict.
Neven’s Ulster Food Tour starts on Wednesday, September 3 on RTÉ One at 8.30pm.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
