Each year, Blas na hÉireann – the Irish food awards, celebrates the best of the best in Irish food and drink from across the island and this year’s awards highlighted another incredible selection of produce.
Now in its 16th year, Blas na hÉireann saw the highest number of entries with almost 3,000 products and many new producers entering the awards for THE first time. Products from every county in Ireland were entered to win bronze, silver or gold awards in over 150 food and drink categories, as well as key awards like Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer.
There are so many amazing winners at the awards every year, however there is always high anticipation for the final bigger accolades given out. The Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer 2023 awards were both given to companies with international heritage, throwing the spotlight on the diversity of modern Irish food and its roots and something we should be incredibly proud of. The 2023 Supreme Champion was awarded to Morelli Ice Cream and Best Artisan Producer to Miena’s Nougat.
Morelli Ice Cream
A previous finalist and gold medal winner for their sensational ice creams, frozen yoghurts and sorbets, Morelli Ice Cream was awarded this year for their Morelli’s Mango Sorbet, a sorbet that uses real mango purée and no dairy or lactose products.
The Morelli name is famous when it comes to ice-cream. Five generations after Peter Morelli left Italy by foot to start a new life ending up in Northern Ireland, setting up cafés and parlours across the county, his great nieces and nephews Marino, Romeo, Tania, Arnaldo and Daniela Morelli, are now at the helm, expanding the business overseas as well as establishing Morelli’s across Ireland.
“We’re delighted to be named Supreme Champion at this year’s Blas na hÉireann,” said Arnaldo Morelli, MD at Morelli Ice Cream. “Our grandparents and parents would be ecstatic and we’re all very proud to carry on their legacy. Our focus is on quality ingredients and great tasting ice-cream and there really is no better award than this among Irish food and drink producers so to be crowned Supreme Champion is the cherry on top of our Mango Sorbet!”
Morelli Ice Cream took home numerous awards in total, which included a Gold for their Mango Sorbet, a Bronze award for their Pistachio Swirl Ice Cream, a Silver award for their Mixed Berry Frozen Yoghurt.
Miena Rust, founder of Miena's Nougat and winner of Best Artisan Producer 2023 in Blas na hÉireann.
Miena’s Nougat
South African native, Willemien ‘Miena’ Rust started making nougat in 2012 at her Wicklow home, 10 years later, she is still making nougat in a small production unit right next to her original base.
“After ten years dedicating my career to something I am so passionate about, it is an honour to be awarded Best Artisan Producer at the 2023 Blas na hÉireann awards.” said Miena. “This really is something I wake up and feel driven by every morning. When we come up with a new recipe that tastes delicious and people enjoy, that’s what gives me a kick and keeps me going. We have just been awarded our Origin Green Gold Membership for 2023 after achieving our five-year sustainability plan so to have this on top just makes it all the more worthwhile. I want to thank Artie and his amazing team, the impact of these awards is huge and has been so beneficial to my company, I can’t thank them enough.”
Miena was familiar with the award stage by the end of this year’s ceremony as Miena’s Salted Caramel and Cashew Nougat was awarded Gold in the confectionary category and Miena’s Nougat was awarded Best in Wicklow and Best in Leinster.
The food Oscars
As the competition ramps up year on year, securing that Blas badge is a huge achievement and means those producers who are shortlisted as finalists and the final winners really are the crème de la crème of Irish food and drink.
The Blas showcase in Dingle is an annual pilgrimage for people, especially those working in the industry, from producers to chefs, and also Irish and international media. Plus those who are headed down to Dingle Food Festival, which takes place the same weekend in the town.
Speaking as the winners were announced, Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford said, “We are thrilled to see such deserving winners and finalists again this year at Blas na hÉireann 2023. Looking back on 16 years of Blas, it’s fantastic to see the standard of food and drink in Ireland go from strength-to-strength year on year. It’s a real privilege for myself and the whole Blas family to bring these products, and the amazing producers who make them, to a wider audience.”
To see all the results check out
Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards - Food Producers Ireland
Read more
Light bites: cocktail honours, Ballymaloe Relish and Two Green Shoots
Meet some of this year’s Blas na hÉireann Award winners
Each year, Blas na hÉireann – the Irish food awards, celebrates the best of the best in Irish food and drink from across the island and this year’s awards highlighted another incredible selection of produce.
Now in its 16th year, Blas na hÉireann saw the highest number of entries with almost 3,000 products and many new producers entering the awards for THE first time. Products from every county in Ireland were entered to win bronze, silver or gold awards in over 150 food and drink categories, as well as key awards like Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer.
There are so many amazing winners at the awards every year, however there is always high anticipation for the final bigger accolades given out. The Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer 2023 awards were both given to companies with international heritage, throwing the spotlight on the diversity of modern Irish food and its roots and something we should be incredibly proud of. The 2023 Supreme Champion was awarded to Morelli Ice Cream and Best Artisan Producer to Miena’s Nougat.
Morelli Ice Cream
A previous finalist and gold medal winner for their sensational ice creams, frozen yoghurts and sorbets, Morelli Ice Cream was awarded this year for their Morelli’s Mango Sorbet, a sorbet that uses real mango purée and no dairy or lactose products.
The Morelli name is famous when it comes to ice-cream. Five generations after Peter Morelli left Italy by foot to start a new life ending up in Northern Ireland, setting up cafés and parlours across the county, his great nieces and nephews Marino, Romeo, Tania, Arnaldo and Daniela Morelli, are now at the helm, expanding the business overseas as well as establishing Morelli’s across Ireland.
“We’re delighted to be named Supreme Champion at this year’s Blas na hÉireann,” said Arnaldo Morelli, MD at Morelli Ice Cream. “Our grandparents and parents would be ecstatic and we’re all very proud to carry on their legacy. Our focus is on quality ingredients and great tasting ice-cream and there really is no better award than this among Irish food and drink producers so to be crowned Supreme Champion is the cherry on top of our Mango Sorbet!”
Morelli Ice Cream took home numerous awards in total, which included a Gold for their Mango Sorbet, a Bronze award for their Pistachio Swirl Ice Cream, a Silver award for their Mixed Berry Frozen Yoghurt.
Miena Rust, founder of Miena's Nougat and winner of Best Artisan Producer 2023 in Blas na hÉireann.
Miena’s Nougat
South African native, Willemien ‘Miena’ Rust started making nougat in 2012 at her Wicklow home, 10 years later, she is still making nougat in a small production unit right next to her original base.
“After ten years dedicating my career to something I am so passionate about, it is an honour to be awarded Best Artisan Producer at the 2023 Blas na hÉireann awards.” said Miena. “This really is something I wake up and feel driven by every morning. When we come up with a new recipe that tastes delicious and people enjoy, that’s what gives me a kick and keeps me going. We have just been awarded our Origin Green Gold Membership for 2023 after achieving our five-year sustainability plan so to have this on top just makes it all the more worthwhile. I want to thank Artie and his amazing team, the impact of these awards is huge and has been so beneficial to my company, I can’t thank them enough.”
Miena was familiar with the award stage by the end of this year’s ceremony as Miena’s Salted Caramel and Cashew Nougat was awarded Gold in the confectionary category and Miena’s Nougat was awarded Best in Wicklow and Best in Leinster.
The food Oscars
As the competition ramps up year on year, securing that Blas badge is a huge achievement and means those producers who are shortlisted as finalists and the final winners really are the crème de la crème of Irish food and drink.
The Blas showcase in Dingle is an annual pilgrimage for people, especially those working in the industry, from producers to chefs, and also Irish and international media. Plus those who are headed down to Dingle Food Festival, which takes place the same weekend in the town.
Speaking as the winners were announced, Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford said, “We are thrilled to see such deserving winners and finalists again this year at Blas na hÉireann 2023. Looking back on 16 years of Blas, it’s fantastic to see the standard of food and drink in Ireland go from strength-to-strength year on year. It’s a real privilege for myself and the whole Blas family to bring these products, and the amazing producers who make them, to a wider audience.”
To see all the results check out
Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards - Food Producers Ireland
Read more
Light bites: cocktail honours, Ballymaloe Relish and Two Green Shoots
Meet some of this year’s Blas na hÉireann Award winners
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