As you know, I managed to get burgled last week (still sobbing over my camera being gone, SOB). And my ever so lovely aunt and uncle came right over and picked a shellshocked me and my stuff up from the lockless apartment that I was a bit too shaky to stay in. Well I was in the middle of telling her about the amazingness of Inishfood, and Jack McCarthys AMAZING chocolate, pistachio and mint black pudding, and she began telling me about her favourite black puddings. And she mentioned one in Newport, that, lo and behold I had recently got an email about! They won a prize! And I love to see some producers from the west get a shout out so delighted for them. Here’s the press release.

French food group award gold medal to Kelly’s Butchers

Triumph for innovative black pudding shaped like a pint of stout

Kelly’s Butchers, Newport, Co. Mayo have just been awarded a gold medal from The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Goute-Boudin (The Black Pudding Fraternity of Lovers of Good Food). Kelly’s winning entry was a black pudding made in the shape of a pint of Irish stout. The Normandy based food group run a full scale black pudding (or boudin) festival each spring in Mortagne-au-Perche, France. Last September 23 members of the Fraternity came to Ireland and made Sean Kelly, Avril Allshire (Rosscarbery Foods) and Jack McCarthy (Kanturk) members of the Fraternity.

“I am genuinely thrilled with this gold medal for Kelly’s Black Pudding”, said Seán Kelly, the charismatic spokesman for the Kelly family, “I can’t wait to go over to the Boudin Noir Festival in France next week for the presentation and of course the Irish-themed gala dinner”.

During the visit of the Fraternity to Ireland last year Seamus Commons, award-winning Head Chef in Knockranny House Hotel, served them a show stopping Kelly’s Black Pudding themed menu. As a result of this, the French foodies decided on an Irish theme for this year’s festival and gala dinner. Chef Commons and his team are heading to France next week to produce the dinner for 350 using the best of Irish produce including Aberdeen Angus beef and Kelly’s Black Pudding of course. The support of Fáilte Ireland and Bord Bia has been invaluable in putting this together.

Kelly’s Butchers is an artisan butchers shop located in Newport, seven miles from Westport, Co. Mayo. Best known for black and white puddings and the traditional Putóg, the Kelly family have been instrumental in putting Mayo firmly on the foodie map. Kelly’s have earned a string of accolades for their puddings and sausages from Good Food Ireland, the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland, the Great Taste Awards, Blás na hÉireann and Food & Wine Magazine. Kelly’s are proud members of Good Food Ireland and in the Bridgestone Good Food Guide.

Well done guys, I’ll have to call during the summer and pick some up!