IRISH FOOD
GIFT GUIDE
When it comes to creativity and passion in the realm of food, it’s unquestionable that Ireland is a place of abundance. Not only do we have access to some of the very best ingredients in the world, we also have talented and knowledgeable people with ideas and skills who can make the most of it.
In a world of fast fashion and cheap manufacturing that threatens not only the planet but the livelihood of spirited smaller-scale entrepreneurs, it’s clear that now is the time for a radical shift in how we spend our money.
With that in mind, here’s a roundup of products and experiences from Ireland that make wonderful gifts for those in your life with an appetite for the unique.
- James Gabriel Martin
Unique products & experiences that sustainably support artisan makers in Ireland
FOOD
West of Dingle Sea Salt
Husband and wife team Marie Holden and Brian Farrell hand harvest the finest unrefined sea salt straight from the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Ireland. It’s then double filtered and gently heated using traditional methods before being left to fully dry.
The result is large, chemical-free, high-quality crystals. As well as the natural sea salt they have flavoured versions, including Lemon & Rosemary, Whiskey Smoked, Black Garlic and a special Smokehouse Rub.
They also have gift sets such as their terracotta salt pot, with the porous material ensuring the salt stays dry.
Clo Artisan Chocolates
This award-winning company was founded by French pastry chef Clotilde Rambaud, who learned her trade at the renowned two Michelin-starred Joel Robuchon restaurant in Paris before coming to Sligo in Ireland.
There are seasonal offerings such as a Milk Chocolate Christmas Tree Bar and advent calendars, while the Boozy Truffle Collection includes delicately crafted confectionaries that celebrate the flavours of iconic Irish alcohols.
The chocolates are available at Clotilde’s Le Fournil Bakery in Sligo, select retailers across Ireland, as well as through the Clo website.
Fat Tomato
Fat Tomato is Anthony O’Toole’s chef-driven horticulture project, where the seasons are celebrated and bottled, with ingredients being transformed into a vibrant changing pantry while dynamic Irish flavours are explored.
Anthony’s garden boasts over 500 varieties of organic heritage seeds and plants, which he utilises to make incredible offerings such as Pickled Gooseberry Ketchup, Damson Honey Cordial, Crab Apple Jelly, Rhubarb Blood Orange Marmalade and Peach BBQ Sauce. Fat Tomato also sells a variety of seeds and cook and grow boxes.
Woodcock Smokery
Sally Barnes is the only person left in Ireland to exclusively smoke wild fish for sale to the general public.
She is also an avid campaigner for the cleanup of Irish waterways and for ocean conservation. Aside from her activism work, she is a skilled artisan who has spent over 40 years honing her craft in West Cork, and smokes fish using traditional methods using only salt and heat.
Her wild smoked salmon is a precious thing and if you’re lucky enough, you can grab some on her website through her online shop.
Irish Black Butter
Inspired by a preserve that supposedly dates all the way back to medieval times, Irish Black Butter is made from EU Protected Geographical Indication Armagh Bramley Apples which are cooked down and mixed with a warming concoction of cider, treacle, brandy and spices.
It can be served simple on bread, but makes a great addition to porridge, cheese and can also be utilised in desserts and baking. The product recently scooped Gold at the Good Food Ireland Awards and is available to purchase online through the brand’s online store.
McNally Family Farm Hamper
Over the past 30 years McNally Family Farm has grown from a small scale organic vegetable operation to one of the country’s most cherished suppliers.
A few years ago saw the opening of a farm shop and café on site, which quickly attracted visitors eager to try their selection of delicious lunch and snack options.
For the festive season the farm has put together a selection of different hamper options that showcase the very best Irish food products, including some of their own homemade preserves.
Highbank Orchards
From the idyllic grounds of their 17th Century farmyard and orchards in the heart of Kilkenny, the Calder-Potts family make an array of incredible offerings all centered around 100% certified organic cider apples.
Offerings range from the widely popular apple cider vinegar “complete with the wild mother” of gut-friendly probiotics, through to their orchard treacle, apple syrup and a host of delicious alcoholic drinks such as brandy, apple wine, gin, and medieval cider.
Salt Rock
Saltrock Dairy is a family-run farm situated on Tara Hill in Wexford. Their mission is to provide high-quality, locally-sourced dairy products that emphasise sustainability and ethical practices.
Their cows graze on grass near the ocean, and they offer fresh, pasteurised non-homogenised milk, meaning it retains a natural, creamy consistency. It is also produced and processed on-site, drastically reducing carbon emissions and ensuring freshness.
Their farmhouse butter is handmade using traditional methods. The cream is separated, gut-friendly live cultures are added, and it’s then churned and washed by hand.
Brown Envelope Seeds
The first catalogue of Brown Envelope Seeds was produced by Madeline McKeever all the way back in 2004.
Grown organically in West Cork, the farm specialises in open-pollinated seed varieties - as opposed to hybrid crops - meaning the plants are true to seed, can be traced back generations, and are likely to continue to be workable into the future.
A wonderful idea for keen gardeners and growers, they sell individual seed varieties as well as gift boxes such as the Irish Heritage Vegetable Seed Gift Box and packs suitable for children to get in to the world of growing.
Sheridan’s Cheese Club
Sheridan’s Cheesemongers are at the forefront of championing Irish and international producers and making artisan cheese accessible to the public on a larger scale.
As well as selling gift boxes and pre-packaged cheeses, they run a monthly subscription service which sees Kevin Sheridan selecting four different cheeses according to a particular theme based on style, season or production area.
For most months this involves bringing in some cheeses which have never been available in Ireland before, often rare or unusual. Subscriptions range from one month up to a year.
Bread Naturally
Raheny-based bakery Bread Naturally offers a range of delicious treats throughout the year, including fresh pastries and artisan loaves.
The business also runs a special seasonal click and collect service around Christmas time, with their online ordering system due to launch on 1 December, with collection then available from the bakery on Christmas Eve.
This year’s offerings include Classic Tiramisu, a Butter Biscuit Tin, Brown Butter, Cardamom & Orange Custard Tart, a Mini Pannetone Trio and a Florentine Gift Set.
Fermoyle Pottery
Husband and wife team Stephen O'Connell and Alexis Bowman make pottery in their home studio on the west coast of Ireland in Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry.
Their glazes are made using local materials including the ashes collected from wood fires and the powdered slate dust collected from the quarries on nearby Valentia Island. They specialise in making ceramic tableware for chefs and their work can be found on the tables of many restaurants in Ireland and abroad.
They also update their online shop periodically, but things sell out quickly.
DRINKS
Eight Degrees Brewing
Ireland now boasts a wide array of high quality craft breweries dabbling in excellent beers.
One such example is Eight Degrees Brewing, an award-winning Irish microbrewery that was established at the foot of the majestic Galtee mountains by New Zealander Scott Baigent and Australian Cam Wallace.
As well as boasting popular offerings such as the Citra Single Hop IPA, they have just announced some new releases, including their Black Ball Metric Stout, which has been barrel-aged for five years to give it a rich complexity and smoothness.
Valentia Island Vermouth
Anna and Orla O’Carroll are the wife and wife team behind Ireland’s first vermouth. Having met in art school in Bristol they moved to their little cottage on Valentia Island off the coast of Kerry in 2018.
Their award winning, handcrafted vermouth uses twenty botanicals, including gorse from the island, a deep dark caramel and a Verdejo grape from the Rueda Valley near Madrid.
Having launched in 2021, Valentia Island Vermouth has won numerous awards due to its unique Taste profile and been named Top Ten vermouth in the world by Falstaff magazine.
Boann Whiskey
Boann Distillery in Drogheda is a family company seeking to put their mark on Irish whiskey.
It was founded by Patrick and Marie Cooney, along with their family Sally-Anne, Celestine, Peter, Patrick Jnr. and James.
As well as their The Whistler range, which includes an Irish Cream and a Honey Whiskey Liqueur, they have a host of other offerings from Gin to Apple Brandy.
Perhaps their most intriguing range is their self titled Single Pot Still selection, which has three different versions finished in Madeira, Marsala and PX Casks respectively.
Coole Swan
Irish Cream Liqueur is now world famous, and there are many brands both big and small doing their own spins on it.
Coole Swan delivers an amazing take on this classic, having recipe-tested over 231 versions of it to get it just right. It includes Irish whiskey, fresh cream and silky Belgian white chocolate, and every batch is blended with care in Co. Cavan by this independently, family-run business.
It’s wonderful chilled, on ice or added to a cocktail.
The Ring of Kerry Gin
The Ring of Kerry is a gin that is inspired by the wild botanicals that grow along the winding roads of the West of Ireland.
It is distilled in Killarney, and is made in small batches, featuring a selection of 17 botanicals, which includes honeysuckle, fuchsia, gorse, and heather.
This gives it a unique flavour profile that includes a blend of citrus, herbal and floral notes.
*This is an ever-changing list that will continue to be updated.
Have we missed something crucial? Get in touch and let us know!
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