Kings of the Black Puddings – Again

McCarthys were awarded a Gold Medal for their black pudding at the annual
awards organised by La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Goûte Boudin, or the
Brotherhood of the Knights of the Blackpudding. This was the highest award
received by an Irish entrant.

The ancient brotherhood will be visiting Kanturk in September in order to present the prestigious gold medal in person. This is the highest award an irish Pudding has ever received in this annual event. McCarthy’s believe that their use of cream and whiskey leads to a pudding more in a European style, that it is sweeter and more delicious. The 22nd of September heralds a great deal of excitement with the arrival of French pudding connoisseurs and the town looking forward to a pudding parade and a night of entertainment. There is also an official reception for our distinguished visitors in Cork City with the Lord Major.

We hosted a cookery demonstration by Rozanne Stevens, with the Black Pudding as the central theme. Rozanne was wonderfully friendly and spent a good while chatting to the many people who had attended the event. After the demonstration Jack gave Rozanne a complete lesson in the production of the pudding from a visit to a free range farm to the making of the famous pudding. It was Rozanne’s first visit to North Cork and one she will remember for a long time.

The Following week Rozanne did a piece about the trip on the Pat Kenny show. Rozanne made the pudding that was on this show whilst she was in with Jack. She got up to her elbows in pig blood. Pat was delighted to savour the delicious Black Pudding that is available online and in the store. You can hear the feature by clicking here.

News of the Black Pudding Award lead to a feature on McCarthy’s in the Irish Daily Mail. John Daly was very positive and complimentary about the business in this extended article.

“In a business that has straddled three centuries and adapted to the changing tastes of each era, McCarthy’s example of commercial survival and independence presents a miniature image of where the nation as a whole might go.” To read the article in full click here.
Good Food Ireland Village at the Curragh and on Ireland AM

Tim McCarthy was on Ireland AM in June helping Good Food Ireland to promote the Good Food Ireland Village at the Dubai Irish Derby at the Curragh. Tim gave the crew a good feed of breakfast after the live
television shoot. You can see the piece by clicking here.
This was the first time that Good Food Ireland have put on such an event. The Village consisted of of 23 speciality stalls selling everything from tarts to ice cream to sausages. There was a fantastic atmosphere amongst the stallholders.

Tim and Jack had a stall at the Curragh for all three days of the meeting and sold superior hotdogs of artisan rolls from the acclaimed Bretzell Bakery filled with McCarthy’s own award winning sausages.

The TV3 crew were back for more of the sumptous sausages, and over the weekend they met Tracy Piggot, the Teasoich and Martin Shanahan from Fishy Fishy, Kinsale.

Sheridan’s Cheesemongers Food Fair

Sheridans Cheesemongers is run by Kevin Sheridan, Seamus Sheridan and Fiona Corbett. The company was founded in 1995, when Seamus and Kevin started selling Irish farmhouse cheeses at the Galway market. Shortly after they opened a shop in Galway with Irish farmhouse cheeses piled from floor to ceiling. The Irish cheeses were quickly joined by their European cousins as well as a huge range of other artisan foods including olive oils, cured meats, condiments and pasta sourced during travels in Europe. The business has expanded to include a total of four retail outlets, 11 market stalls and a purpose built Warehouse premises in Meath. McCarthy’s are proud to supply free range dry cured hams to Sheridan’s.

The Food Fair welcomed producers of delicious food form all over Ireland with stands and stalls, as well as wine tasting, a barbecue, and craft demonstrations, face-painting and workshops. It was a ambitious idea and it was a resounding success, despite its rural location over 5000 turned up for the day. There were many food writers and journalists at the event also. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase McCarthy’s in another area. McCarthy’s stall sold sausages on sticks in many varieties.

Spit Roasts

McCarthy’s of Kanturk are as you know specialists in Free Range Pork, seeing a gap in the market they have begun offering a spit roast service.

This is catering for a memorable special occasion. A spit roast Free Range pig served up to your guests by a qualified experienced chef. McCarthy’s provide everything down to napkins and plates and a qualified chef will cook carve and serve your free range pig. It will be served with freshly baked buns, homemade apple sauce and delicious pork crackling.

Our locally sourced free range pork and solid fuel spit assures the most succulent hog roast you could imagine. Plus we have complete farm to fork traceability, a fully licensed and insured caterer and an emphasis on quality and service.

Bookings must be made at least 10 days in advance.

Spring is in the air and to celebrate the new season we have launched two new great value hampers to fill your freezer and fill your stomach. There is a €50 hamper which not only includes sausages, bacon, chicken and puddings but also a few of our delicious speciality products, such as Sliabh Luachra beef and North Cork Pancetta. The €100 hamper contains a huge amount of meat including high quality steaks, pork, chicken, sausages and rashers.

McCarthy’s Black Pudding Wins international Award

Last week McCarthys were awarded a Gold Medal for their creamy new black pudding, at the annual awards organised by La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Goûte Boudin, or the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Blackpudding. These are people who really know their puddings. This is the first gold medal won by an Irish establishment.

Sliabh Luachra Beef in the RTE Guide

Don’t miss this week’s RTE guide which contains a fantastic recipe pull-out. Along with many other tasty recipes, it features Kate O’Tooles dish with McCarthy’s Sliabh Luachra Beef.

Beautiful New Irish Cookbook is Launched

Jack McCarthy was at the launch of Country Cooking of Ireland by Colman Andrews. Jack impressed Colman with his award winning spiced beef which is cured with guinness and cider. This new cook book is both big and beautiful with wonderful recipes. Colman Andrews is one of America’s leading food writers. The launch was organised by Good Food Ireland and was attended by many of Ireland’s leading quality food producers. Also at the launch were Darina Allen, John McKenna, Myrtle Allen, Peter Ward, food writers and politicians. McCarthy’s are mentioned in the book in the artisan section. If you have been trying to re-create the meals you loved at your Granny’s house this is the perfect book to own and is available to buy online from Good Food Ireland.

A Real Treat for the Embassies

Another great accolade this month was that McCarthys Dry Cured Gammon, Roast Beef and Spiced Beef were sent to every Irish embassy in the world on Paddy’s Day by Sheridans Cheesemongers in the Government’s Official Hampers.

Boerewors

Venison Available Online Soon. We will soon have venison from Millstreet Country Park available from us exclusively and online soon.

Nitrate Free Bacon Now Available Online.Bacon has been cured for thousands of years this way, without any salt peter, nitrite or any artificial aditives or ingredients. This is bacon cured bio-organically from free range pigs. Bacon doesn’t get any more natural than this.

The Taste Kildare Festival

The Taste Kildare Festival on 23rd August was a great experience. Jack and Tim travelled up and down on the one day with a van load of produce and merchandising material not knowing what to expect so taking everything they thought they could possibly need.

On the day Jack and Tim mainly concentrated on selling breakfast packs (soon to be available online so watch out) that included the award winning black pudding which sold very well.

McCarthys also had their produce featured on the day on the Miele stand where Rozanne Stevens cooked a fabulous black pudding starter and venison with a chocolate chili sauce.

One lucky individual from Kildare won a €50 speciality hamper in the draw in aid of enable ireland, who the whole event was in aid of. Jack and Tim took great joy in supporting a worthy cause and that gave a great feel good factor on the long drive home.

Tim McCarthy is proud to hold the All Ireland

Everyone in McCarthys was thrilled to welcome the Six Nations and Triple Crown Trophies into the shop recently.  It is the first time in 61 years that Ireland has won both championships. The McCarthys are keen rugby followers, Jack is even the Vice President of Kanturk Rugby Club, so you can imagine the buzz caused by this unexpected event.

Ollie, Tim & Jack and, of course, the All-Ireland

Medal of Honour

Jack is a proud man at the best of times, but winning this beautiful medal for his blackpudding has really made his week.  La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Goûte Boudin, or the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Blackpudding awarded a medal and certificate in celebration of his achieving third place in this major international competition.

Another Prestigious Award

Now it will be possible to buy the complete range of speciality products online.  Plus, they will add some delicious extras to give you more value and a larger range.