Killough producer lifts prestigious food award

Killough producer lifts prestigious food award

6 November 2019

A KILLOUGH food producer has won a national award for his slow-cooked pork belly 12 months after he developed the product.

Native Frenchman Patrice Bonnargent, who has run an oyster farm for the last 15 years, received a gold award at the the recent Blas na HEireann Irish food awards in Dingle, Co Kerry.

Mr Bonnargent said he was inspired by the food of his younger life living in the Loire Valley when it came to create his new range of seafood and meat pates, duck confit and the pork belly under the Lecale Harvest brand.

“These are the foods that I grew up on as a boy in the Loire Valley so I think I must have instilled them with some French flavour even though all the meats I use are reared and bought locally,” said Mr Bonnargent.

He had two products shortlisted for the finals, and was delighted to have received a top award for his lovely slow cooked pork belly product on his first year of entering.

Patrice sells his products at local artisan markets in Downpatrick Newcastle and  Warrenpoint, plus further afield and at good delicatessens. 

Blas na HEirrean is an all-Ireland food award where there is competition from many large and well established companies from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.