info@irishfoodawards.com087 902 9329
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS Feed

Blas na hEireann

The Irish Food Awards

  • Awards
    • About Blas
    • The Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Supporters & Sponsors
      • GS1 proudly support Blas
      • Backyard
  • Finalist Info
    • Blas Village 2022
    • Important To Do List for 2022 Finalists
    • Awards Presentation Timings 2022
  • News
  • Winners
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • The Blas Team
  • FAQs
    • Key Dates
  • Producers Map
  • Listen to PodBLASt

Meet the producer… Cian Hawes from Pure Food Co

December 8, 2015 by Irish Food Awards

Cian and Paul from Pure Food Co brought home to Waterford a Gold award for their Sundried Tomato & Chilli Pesto as well as a Best in Farmers Market Award, sponsored by Waterford LEO. You can find their products in Ardkeen Stores, Pettitts of Wexford, Quishs in Tramore, Eurospar Kilkenny and in Dungarvan Farmers Market.

You can find more details on Pure Food Co and our other winners and finalists in our 2015 directory or you can find more details and updates from Cian & Paul on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/purefoodcompany

We set up the business in March 2014.Pure Food Co - Cian & Paul Both myself and Paul are Qualified Horticulturists and we met while teaching a course on growing veg organically. We decided to give up on the teaching (for now) and set up our own business producing our own range of herbs and leaves. We both love to be outdoors in the garden (Cian won RTEs Supergarden and subsequently went on to receive a Silver medal at Bloom in the Park in 2014) and foraging for our native species of edible plants and fruit.

We soon came to realise that we could not compete with the big boys and decided that we needed to use our produce to create our own products. We produce a range of pickles, relishes and preserves but our main line of products are our pestos. We produce 9 different pestos depending on what is available at a particular time of year. From wild garlic to nettle to coriander and many in between!

We both get on very well and have great banter in the kitchen and when out in the growing area. My personal favourite aspects of the job is developing new recipes, tending to our growing and foraging for wild woods.

Typical day is up at 4am to harvest our herbs, in the kitchen to produce by 5 and in the market by 9! We make everything fresh for the markets and shops. Tough work but well worth it!

Our best day since starting the business was receiving the Gold medal at the Blas na hEireann awards. Our hard work and dedication was recognised and we were chuffed to receive the award.

Our ingredients, well we grow what we can, all to organic principles although we are not certified organic. Sometimes the herbs need to be supplemented and we only use local suppliers. All our ingredient and packaging are locally sourced, we are firm believers of keeping business in Ireland.

Three words to describe us; hmmmm. . . fun, creative and hard working!

We are very busy coming up to Christmas this year, we have our products in numerous hampers, but most of our time will be spent doing in store tastings to meet and greet our customers over the festive period.

Food that represents Christmas to me has to be my Dads potato stuffing, oh and a boozy trifle!!

 

 

Filed Under: Featured

Latest Tweets

  • We can’t wait to see this! https://t.co/fnmJ3rxeeh About 7 hours ago
  • We are bringing our events back to #Dingle Finalists are planning their trips to the awards (29th / 30th Sept) &… https://t.co/f2MY0aJ9ZT August 10, 2022 9:25 am
  • Wish it was the Blas team on tour at Croke Park! #CiarraiAbu https://t.co/iicyICFgv0 July 10, 2022 3:45 pm
  • Our Twitter Page

About Us

Blas na hEireann

Celebrating and rewarding the very best tasting Irish food and drink products, and the passionate, driven producers who make it.

More Info

Contact Us

General Enquries
Email: info@irishfoodawards.com
Tel: 087 902 9329

PR Enquries
Email: pr@irishfoodawards.com
Event Enquries
Email: events@irishfoodawards.com

Latest News

Blas Backyard – Online 2022

August 9, 2022 By Irish Food Awards

Over the past 5 years we have been proud to bring The Backyard at Blas to life. As a venue …

Key Dates & Times

August 4, 2022 By Irish Food Awards

Key dates in advance… Thursday 2nd September – RSVP deadline for events Monday 5th – Mon 12th September – Online …

Latest Tweets

  • We can’t wait to see this! https://t.co/fnmJ3rxeeh About 7 hours ago
  • We are bringing our events back to #Dingle Finalists are planning their trips to the awards (29th / 30th Sept) &… https://t.co/f2MY0aJ9ZT August 10, 2022 9:25 am
  • Wish it was the Blas team on tour at Croke Park! #CiarraiAbu https://t.co/iicyICFgv0 July 10, 2022 3:45 pm
  • Our Twitter Page

Subscribe to Newsletter

Search our site

Share Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS Feed
  • Home
  • Contact

© 2006–2022 Blás na hÉireann Dingle, Co. Chiarraí

Send Irish Food Awards an Enquiry

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your Message

    Search our website…

    Search our Forum

    Scroll