Chef Stephen Jeffers has created a special menu to highlight the makers, bakers and growers within the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) area

The unique culinary collaboration, launched at this week’s Balmoral Show, draws many of the council’s food companies into Stephen’s tasty LCCC menu.

The collaboration is part of LCCC’s commitment to support businesses based in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area, “enhancing the local labour market, regenerating towns and villages and attracting tourists and visitors to the area”.

Among the producers from the area featured in the innovative menus are Moira’s Moon Gelato, Hannan Meats and Abernethy Butter and Glume Boulangerie, as well as Carnbrooke Meats, Lisburn and Tori’s Bakery from Hillsborough.

Many of the producers featured on the LCCC showcase within the Food NI Food Pavilion this week at Balmoral.

Stephen, who owns the successful Forestside Cookery School in south Belfast, included the products from the area’s companies as ingredients in some of his most popular dishes, including Grilled Beef Crostini, Sugar Pit Pork Rack Chop, and Pain au Chocolate Bread Whiskey Pudding.

Chef Jeffers' menu builds up a diverse picture of how special LCCC is as a destination within Northern Ireland for entrepreneurship and food and drink connections.

“The menu is designed to showcase the superb ingredients which are readily available throughout the council area,” says Stephen. “There’s a wide variety of foods which have won national awards for innovation and outstanding taste. We want to encourage consumers throughout the area to sample and enjoy the products from some excellent companies, mostly artisan and smaller enterprises.

“My menu ideas have been created to be easily produced at home and include full preparation instructions,” he adds.

The highly creative menu represents an innovative approach by LCCC to harnessing and highlighting the potential of the area’s dynamic food and drink industry in terms of business and tourism. They show that there’s a flourishing food and drink 'scene' within the huge council area.