A sunny day & a specialty food fair, what more could you ask for?

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If there is a local event relating to food, chances are I will do my best to attend. I recently went to Festival Lough Erne, a food event in Fermanagh with my Mum and aunt. After hearing about the Speciality Food Fair in Moira, I knew I would attend.

I have a soft spot for Moira. I worked for the Moira Guest House and I have family nearby. I love Moira for all its coffee shops and the wide variety of shops in the village.

It was a beautiful summer’s day in Moira. I arrived at Moira Demesne to see the play area filled with children enjoying the sun. The area was full of activity with people of all ages enjoying themselves. I visited the event with my aunt and we made our way to the tent where local producers were showcasing their goods.

We arrived after 13.00 and the tent was filled with people sampling local foods which were selling out fast.  We walked around the stalls and talked to some of the people selling their produce.

I came back to Abernethy Butter later in the day and purchased fudge. I highly recommend it – it didn’t last too long.

When my aunt and I arrived with Alice, this was all she had left to sell. Another successful day for Brambleberry Jams.

I was very hungry after walking around all the stalls, so we went outside to see what we could have for lunch. There were a variety of food stands selling foods like burgers, crepes and pizza.

After much deliberation, we decided to try something different and have a ‘Billy Burger’ from the Broughgammon Farm stand.

These burgers are made using goat meat, which I have never tried before. It was a fantastic decision, as the burgers were juicy and they were filled with a beetroot slaw, chutney and cheese among others. I then went back into the tent to look at more of the food stands, but not before I grabbed a mocha from Cafe Livanto.

Simon was selling Strawberry Meringue Pies and as I had never tried one before, I purchased one. I had it for dessert after a hearty Sunday lunch and loved it. The meringue was light, the base crumbled beautifully and the strawberry filling made a great change to the lemon that is usually eaten.

I purchased some champagne truffles from Ron. They are delicious, but I eat them one at a time as they are so rich.

Before leaving, we stopped off at the Lisburn & Castlereagh District Council van.

I had a wonderful day in Moira indulging in local foods. I have one minor criticism – I would love to see a separate tent for the cookery demonstrations. I found it difficult to hear what the chefs were saying as there were so many people in the tent. Hopefully, as the event expands there will be a demonstration tent. I am already looking forward to next year’s event.

Which local suppliers are your favourite? Are there any other food events you would like to see me cover?