Brookvale Farm to host special tours and a showcase foodie event complete with artisan cheese, gelato and rich milky treats
One of Northern Ireland’s best-known family-run farming businesses, Brookvale Farm, has joined this year’s Armagh Food & Cider Weekend to host two special events to celebrate its contribution to the quality of the region’s thriving food and drink sector.
Set in the gorgeous rolling countryside off the Redhill Road in Dromore, Brookvale Farm has been at the forefront of innovation in the farming sector for decades and is renowned for its rich and creamy top-quality milk produce which it supplies directly to many well-known local businesses.
Brookvale Farm is also famous for its gorgeous home-made milk shakes – all luxuriously made with the help of its growing herd of happy cows.
As part of this year’s award-winning Armagh Food & Cider Festival, owners Richard and Pamela Lilburn are proud to host a special evening event at 7pm on Thursday 9 September and a Sunday morning breakfast tour on 12 September and have invited a number of well-known local quality food producers to celebrate with everyone.
“We’re deeply proud of our 100-year history and rich heritage at Brookvale Farm where we put food provenance and quality at the heart of everything we do. It’s why we are delighted to be involved in this year’s Armagh Food & Cider Weekend which itself also has growing international reputation for success.
To share our success, we are excited to open our farm for this special evening event on Thursday 9 September and to share some wonderful food stories in the company of some very interesting guests, in addition to a breakfast tour on the following Sunday morning. With plenty to tempt the tastebuds and plenty going on, we can’t wait to welcome everyone here.”
Following a guided tour of the farm hosted by owner Pamela, which is designed to showcase every stage of the milking process and the farm’s world class innovation methods, guests will be joined by artisan cheese expert Nicole Stronge who will showcase the wide variety of cheeses she makes using the farm’s milk and explain the best accompaniment for each type.
Taboo founder Brett McKinney also joins the fantastic foodie line-up to discuss the company’s fresh push into ice-cream and how the fast-growing firm came to choose Brookvale as its number one milk supplier.
Nicole’s cheese sample platters include Madagascan Vanilla Brie, Hilden Brewery ale and mustard cheese, McIvor’s cider garlic and chive cheese, Limburger style cheese and tomato and garlic cream cheese – all accompanied by crackers, salami, Parma-style ham and fresh fruit.
Taboo Donuts will also serve up a tempting range of ice-cream samples in a variety of flavours – and to top that off, every guest attending will also get a creamy flavoured milkshake of their choice, fresh from the farm.
Tickets for this special adult-only evening event are limited and cost £17.50 per person. To book, log in to www.visitarmagh.com/foodandcider or phone Armagh Visitor Information Centre on 028 3752 1800.
Organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, the Armagh Food and Cider Weekend is supported by Tourism Northern Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
