The winners of the Great Taste Golden Forks 2024 were announced at an awards ceremony that took place in London’s Battersea Arts Centre on Tuesday 10th September. The very best of the food and drink world celebrated at the grand finale of the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste awards scheme.
The Golden Fork from Ireland was hotly contested with Cashel Blue from Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers, Truly Dark from Bon Chocolatiers and Burren Smoked Eel from Burren Smokehouse all making it through to the final round, with the trophy awarded to Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers for their cow’s milk blue cheese.
The judges felt that this cheese was “Just gorgeous, with a wonderful buttercup yellow flavour. It was soft and creamy with just the right level of salt, it melted on the tongue and would be the highlight of any cheeseboard.”
Speaking on what a Golden Fork means to the family, Sarah Furno co-owner of Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers says: "It’s simply amazing to win a Golden Fork, it means our Cashel Blue has a very special seat in the contemporary world of taste. It is unbelievable to come out top for Ireland and in the top 10 overall of 13,672 entries. For our 12-year-old daughter Leila to receive the award together with Sergio and I was very, very special... Mum and Dad must be doing something right and yes, Blue cheese excites!"
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food comments: “It is important to understand that Great Taste is merely the process that identifies 1-, 2- and 3-star winners and, in doing so, encourages makers to improve. Now at its climax, in announcing the Golden Forks we are celebrating the very best producers; those who take care to ensure their products hit the markers of trusted raw ingredients, simple production methods, and food & drink that has personality, but ultimately, that tastes great.
“We’re particularly chuffed to be doing our thing for international trade and relations by welcoming entries from 115 countries this year and, in addition, bestowing two new awards, one to a company that demonstrates inspiring business acumen, and the other to an organisation showing genuine commitment to sustainability. These winners must at the same time, be making outstanding food & drink.”
In addition to celebrating this award, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers is proud to announce that they are one of the first businesses in Ireland to fully transition to using Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for heating purposes. Louis Clifton Brown, Sustainability manager says, "HVO provides a 90% emissions-saving over fossil fuels and is a key step in our sustainability plans. This compliments last year’s PV solar installation that has provided 64% of our daytime electricity requirements this summer.’
"This transition to HVO and the increase in solar energy use represents our commitment to sustainability and reflects our values as a family business. We're not only proud of our cheese but also of the steps we're taking to protect our environment and ensure a sustainable future for the next generation," says Furno.
Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers continues to innovate, not only in taste but in its dedication to sustainable practices, reinforcing its role as a leader in both the food industry and environmental stewardship.
