RESTAURANTS

THE BAY TREE

118 High Street Holywood Co Down (028 9042 6414)

Part of a courtyard of interesting boutiques, The Bay Tree is a well-known Holywood institution comprising of a coffee house/restaurant and craft shop. Open from 8am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri (Sat from 9.30am) and 10am-3.00pm, Sun, for legendary cinnamon scones and freshly prepared lunches with an emphasis on salads and fish. The menu is supplemented by a specials' board, often including such gems as haddock with parsley butter, roast chicken breast with wine and mustard. From 7pm, until last orders at 9.30pm on Fridays, there's a more ambitious fixed-price menu.

THE DUKE

7 Duke Street, Warrenpoint (028 4175 2084)

Though the menu offers meat choices, it's the seafood, fresh from Kilkeel, that's king here. Specials like baked hake are accompanied by steamed asparagus and roast butternut squash cream, while turbot comes with sautéed Savoy cabbage with bacon, and a sauce of Armagh cider, cream and chervil.

PRETTY MARY'S

86 Main Street, Nr Craigavon, Moira, Co. Armagh (028 9261 1318)

Built in 1899, but refurbished and renamed after the local fort, this is very much a food-driven public house with a traditional front bar and a comfortable back lounge. The regular menu's supplemented by specials like shepherd's pie with honey roast vegetables, and braised ham shank with champ and parsley sauce.

MEAT

O’DOHERTY'S FINE MEATS
3 Belmore Street, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
(028 6632 2152; www.blackbacon.com)

O'Doherty's has been one of Northern Ireland's best butchers for over 40 years. The award-winning black bacon and fresh dry-cure bacons are cured naturally from high quality pork and matured to perfection. Aberdeen Angus beef comes from cattle reared naturally on the shores of Lough Erne, and much of the game on sale comes from local estates.

SHOPS AND MARKETS

BELFAST CITY FOOD AND GARDEN MARKET
St George's Market Hall, East Bridge Street, Sat 9am - 3pm. (0289032 0202; www.belfastcity.gov.uk)

Local farmers' market meets the wider world. Shop to the sound of live music and choose from freshly landed fish, local pork and beef, wild boar, venision, pheasant, organic fruit and vegetables, cheeses, tapas, crepes and Caribbean fare.

CLOUGHBANE FARM
160 Tanderagee Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone (028 8775 8246)

Lorna and Robert Robinson specialise in beef and lamb from their own farm and locally produced pork and chicken. A family business, established in 2002, the shop is carefully managed by the Robinson family who are involved in every stage of the farming and butchering process. Closed on Sunday.

HELEN'S BAY ORGANICS
13 Seaview Terrace, Holywood, Co. Down
(028 9185 3122; www.helensbayorganicgardens.com)

HBO grow a large range of fruit and vegetables and combine these with produce from other organic farms in Northern Ireland (and certified imports when necessary) to provide a complete range of seasonal vegetables delivered to the door. These weekly deliveries also include eggs and bread.

YELLOW DOOR DELI
74 Woodhouse Street, Craigavon, Co. Armagh (028 3835 3528)

The chef/proprietor Simon Dugan specialises in the best of Northern Ireland produce, along with a vast selection of continental specialities also on sale. Speciality breads, patisserie and delicious dishes are freshly prepared every day. The shop also serves as a window for the Yellow Door outside catering service.

DAIRY

TULLY MEADOWS ICE CREAM
Oghill Killadeas, Irvinestown Co. Fermanagh
(028 6862 8779; www.tullymeadows.co.uk )

Using milk from an award-winning herd of Jersey cows, Tully Meadows produces ice creams and sorbets of distinction. These delicious, indulgent ice creams come in a range of flavours, from royal bourbon vanilla or just Jersey to the more adult orange and cointreau and melon and ginger. Buy direct from the farm.

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