Food Heros – Artisan and Local Produce

At Ardkeen Quality Food Store we specalise in artisan and locally produced foods.
Over the last 40 years we have built relationships with people who make, bake, smoke, grow and cook really great food. We call them our Food Heroes and you can find out more about them on the following pages.
Artisan, can be a difficult term to explain, but the Irish writer John McKenna, author of the Bridgestone Guides, provides a good means of definition in measuring artisan food by the test of the 4P's.
The Personality of the producer- his skill, experience, story, character and guiding principles
The Place it comes from- what the French call terrior, the Italians geniuo. Both terms refer to the qualities of taste that distinctly resonate with place, from the milk of the specific field and pasture …etc
The Product provided - The artisan product is produced on a smaller scale, with labour and craft intensity and is available locally
And Passion, without which no food is ever great.

Artisan food is defined by its uncompromised commitment to food making skill, which results in superior flavour or taste.
Artisan food is also defined by the skills, passion and beliefs of the individuals behind these foods. Typically these individuals seek out the best available ingredients and make their food using non-industrial and artisan technique
Artisan technique is conscious of the retention of superior taste and texture and is usually labour intensive. (Source: http://www.wceb.ie/download/1/Artisan_Food_Defined_Bord_Bia.pdf)

We use this criteria in deciding our Food Heroes and we’d love for you to meet them….