'Farmer's Daughter' from Kells and Crossakiel pastry firm at Bite

A Meath farmer’s daughter hopes to debunk the stigma surrounding burgers when her top quality beef products are showcased at the first annual Bite Food Festival at the RDS.

Dorene Mallon, from Mullingar Road in Kells, has just launched her new range to challenge the idea that all burgers are made from poor quality, fatty cuts of meat.

The Farmer’s Daughter will be one of the country’s top artisan producers showcased at the major new food festival, which runs between November 19-22 and is expected to attract over 20,000 Irish food and drink lovers.

Bite 2015 will feature top chefs and food experts as well as a huge range of producers, who are there to sell, sample and educate people about their unique products.

A must for food lovers, Bite 2015 will also feature tastings and demonstrations from chefs such as Donal Skehan and Domini Kemp as well as free cooking classes led by Lynda Booth of the Dublin Cookery School for adults and children alike.

Since starting last August, The Farmer’s Daughter has already picked up the Best Value Added Product at Taste of Cavan and customers are standing in line for the burgers.

“It’s been an amazing few months. People who have tasted my beef burgers at the competition keep calling to look for more,” said Dorene.

“I source forequarter cuts of beef from 30-month old cattle on my parents Carol and Frank’s farm in Kells.

“The fat is already combined with the meat on these cuts so there is no added fat needed. It’s all naturally occurring.

“There is such a negative stigma about burgers which doesn’t have to be the case.

“My burgers consist of beef, onion and salt and pepper and that’s it. I also do a burger with caramelised onion and cheddar cheese, which are also sourced locally.”

Also exhibiting is Roll It Pastry, which produces all butter ready to roll pastry in their premises in Crossakiel, Kells. The business is going from strength to strength having picked up a number of national food awards in the last few months including Great Taste Awards, Blas na hEireann and the Irish Quality Food Awards. 

Mairead Finnegan of Roll It Pastry entered a Meath Chronicle competition and was selected as winner having convinced the judges that her pastry business was worthy of the opportunity to showcase Roll It pastry in the run up to the Christmas season to over 20,000 Irish food and  drink lovers who are expected to descend on the festival.    

Presented by the organisers of the National Crafts and Design Fair, in association with Spar and Eurospar, the Festival promises to be Ireland’s first and foremost interactive food expo, with attractions for all the family.

“Bite 2015 is aimed at promoting Ireland’s vastly expanding artisan food and craft drinks sector, letting people with an interest in food experience just how much quality that we have in the field to the plate industry,” said festival organiser Patrick O’Sullivan.

“We will have Ireland’s tallest chocolate sculpture, the country’s smallest distillery, traditional foods with a contemporary twist, rare breed meats, organic products and much more – a range of quality exhibitors that will provide a full day out to even the most knowledgeable foodie.

“Every stand at Bite 2015 will feature quality products with unique stories behind them – encapsulating a rapidly growing industry.”

Bite 2015 takes place at the RDS Main Hall from November 19-22. Full details and booking can be found at www.bitefoodfestival.ie.