Hey Pesto! Northern Ireland Pesto Championship Heat Returns to Northern Ireland

Okay, so this is a bit of a weird one, but we literally just discovered that the World Pesto Championships exist, and we think you all should know:

Do you know your way around a pestle and mortar?  Are you a lover of the classic Genoese sauce, pesto?  If so, why not enter this year’s Northern Ireland heat of the World Pesto Championships on Tuesday 24 October.

This year’s heat will take place in the Drawing Office function room at the recently opened Titanic Hotel Belfast where many of the designs for the world’s most famous ocean liners, including RMS Titanic where dreamt of and designed.

Supporters of this year’s Northern Ireland Heat, the Titanic Hotel Belfast is located in the former headquarters of Harland & Wolff, and provides the perfect destination for anyone travelling to Belfast to discover the city’s maritime heritage.

Guests at the hotel are within walking distance of award-winning attractions Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic or Thompson Dock, where the RMS Titanic was constructed and built over 100 years ago.

Following the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink in 2016, where award-winning producers, restaurateurs and agri-food industries were showcased to the world, there has never been a better time to get involved with this year’s competition and share in the civic pride of Northern Ireland’s food and drink offering.

Organisers are expecting hundreds of spectators at the event creating quite the pesto buzz across Northern Ireland.

The final of the World Championship of Pesto will be held in Genoa in April, 2018, where the winner of the Northern Ireland heat will participate against other finalists to be crowned the World Champion.

The competition is open to everyone from chefs to home cooks. All you have to do is stick to the age-old recipe which uses oil, basil, garlic, pine nuts and salt. Machinery is not allowed – just you, a pestle, mortar and a little bit of va-va-voom. All equipment and ingredients will be provided on the day.

The heat commences at 1.30pm, followed by judging from a specialist panel. Supported by Food NI, the event is open to the public and will feature a select number of food and drink producers showcasing their produce and offering samples on the day. To enter, email Christine on christine@nigoodfood.com by 17th October!