Congratulations to Mrs Hazel Larkham from Larne who won our competition for 2 people to enjoy a Full Day Seafood Masterclass at the Mourne Seafood Cookery School situated overlooking Kilkeel harbour. Thanks to everyone who entered.

As a thank you to everyone who has subscribed to ours newsletter. We are offering you the chance to win 2 Full Day Cookery Class Vouchers – worth £260.00 – either as a  New Year treat for yourself or as a fantastic Christmas Gift!

Visit our site and enter now!!! Closing Date 15th December 2011.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas!

Minister Arlene Foster visited the Mourne Seafood Cookery School and cooked up a storm with our chef Jonathan Hall. She was interested to view all the different types of fish locally caught such as Gurnard, Haddock, Sea Bream, Halibut, John Dory, Langoustines, King Scallops, Oysters and Mussells. She sampled King Scallop, with Pancetta and Beetroot Reduction, and Asian Battered Gurnard and Langoustines. She was very impressed with the facilities. Mr Wesley Newell chairperson presented her with “A Taste of Mourne” Hamper which included the fabulous locally produced Red Dog Sour Cherry  Chilli Jelly, Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Cranberry Chilli Jelly, along with Harnett’s Rapeseed Oil and Pukara Blackcurrant Balsamic Vinegar.

HRH Prince Charles and the HRH Duchess of Cornwall paid a very special visit to the Mourne Seafood Cookery School on 8th September. They sampled some of the excellent local produce including Harnett’s Rapeseed Oil, award winning White Water Brewery Belfast Ale, RD Foods Award winning range of chilli jellies and tangy sauces, Cunningham Butchers Dry Cured Bacon and Mourne Seafoods naturally smoked haddock.

HRH Duchess of Cornwall joined in with a class and our chef Jonathan Hall and made the dish we have now renamed Haddock Royal, made with naturally smoked haddock in a rich creamy dry cured bacon sauce on a bed of pan fried locally sourced potatoes. She thoroughly enjoyed her time and wished that she could have stayed longer as she loves seafood and was very envious of our wonderful fresh fish display.

Why not follow in the steps of Royalty and join in one of our excellent Seafood Masterclasses overlooking Kilkeel harbour.

We knew Chris would do it! Well done Chris and all the very best in the final of the Great British Menu – you’ve done yourself proud!

Friday 3 June BBC2 6pm – the winners of this year’s Great British Menu prepare for the People’s Banquet.

We are delighted to have received this award after our first year of trading. This award reflects our commitment to using the very best local produce to give people a truly memorable experience in our state of the art cookery school overlooking Kilkeel harbour. The cookery school is run by Kilkeel Development Association a voluntary community organization that has been contributing to the “Big Society” for over 20 years. Not only do visitors learn how to cook, handle and prepare local seafood but they are making a valuable contribution to the regeneration of the local fishing community of Kilkeel. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the our success.

We wish Chris Fearon every success as he competes in the Northern Ireland heat of the Great British Menu which is on every night this week on BBC2 at 6.30pm. Chris’s father is a fisherman and comes from the neighbouring town of Warrenpoint. Chris is great fun and a super chef and this shows in his innovative dishes that he is preparing for the competition. Go Chris!!!!!!

Here are some comments from visitors to the Mourne Seafood Cookery School

‘Good fun, would recommend’ – Gordon, Bangor

‘Excellent Value for Money, Great craic and recipes. Fun Day!’ – Joanne – Holywood

‘Great interaction and friendly approach!’ Clare – Belfast

‘Really enjoyed and learned a lot of new techniques’ Lynsey, Glasgow

“Very enjoyable and informative”, John, Birmingham

“Great food and great approachable chefs” Caroline, Bristol

“Really great” Michelle, Southampton

“Excellent Day” John, Belfast

“Super value for money and a good days craic” Conor Warrenpoint

“Atmosphere relaxed, chef excellent” Jim Portadown

We would urge everyone to visit the fishfight.net website and also visit the Big Fish Fight page on Facebook and join Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s campaign. This is to fight against the mad policy of having to throw perfectly edible fish over the side of the boat in order to meet species quotas. Also there are many very tasty and nutritious species which we promote at the cookery school such as gurnard, pollack, coley, witches, hake etc. Monkfish is now a prime example showing how people’s knowledge of a species can turn somehting worthless into a prime species of high value.  Whereas, years ago it was worthless and thrown overboard or used as bait in creels. The ethos of the cookery school as a social enterprise is to support our fishermen and to teach people about sustainable fish species in a fun and entertaining way. Join the Big Fish Fight.

 Why not spend the afternoon catching your supper after completing our seafood half day cookery class with Carlingford Lough Sea Angling. Oliver Finnegan can take up to 12 people deep sea angling from 2 – 5pm any afternoon (subjest to availability and weather – pre-booking essential). You will depart from the pontoons at the Nautilus Centre Car Park at Kilkeel Harbour infront of the cookery school. All equipment will be provided, just bring warm clothing. Cost per person is £30 and a minimum of 6 people is required.

Contact: Oliver Finnegan – Carlingford Lough Sea Angling

Tel: (028) 30264906      ROI replace 028  with 048      Mobile 07703 606498

www.carlingfordlough.co.uk     info@carlingfordlough.co.uk