6 Irish Food Finds I’m Loving Right Now

Ireland’s food story has never been more exciting.

Across the country, a new generation of artisan makers is working alongside long-established family producers, creating ingredients rooted in tradition while quietly redefining what Irish food looks like today. From cultured dairy and small-batch condiments to innovative pantry staples and thoughtfully crafted cooking fats, the common thread is an unwavering commitment to quality, provenance and craft.

As a chef, broadcaster and food writer, I’m fortunate to spend much of my time discovering the people behind these products. It’s often the conversations with farmers, makers and producers that stay with me long after the tasting is over. Their passion is reflected in every jar, carton and packet that leaves their kitchens.

These are six Irish food finds that have genuinely earned a place in my own kitchen—not because they’re trending, but because they represent the very best of modern Irish food.

1. Glenilen Farm

There are certain producers that have become synonymous with quality, and Glenilen Farm is undoubtedly one of them.

I’m incredibly proud to be a Brand Ambassador (#BA) for this family-run dairy, whose commitment to traditional farming and exceptional ingredients perfectly aligns with my own philosophy around real food.

Located on Ireland’s beautiful south coast, Glenilen Farm produces handcrafted yoghurts, crème fraîche and dairy products using fresh milk and cream from their own family farm. Everything is made with care, using simple ingredients and traditional methods that allow the quality of the dairy to shine.

Their Greek-style yoghurt is a permanent fixture in my fridge. It forms the base of breakfast bowls, adds richness to dressings and dips, and is equally at home in baking or desserts. Their crème fraîche is another kitchen essential—bringing balance and richness to everything from soups to seasonal tarts.

It’s a brilliant example of Irish dairy at its very best.

2. Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Ginger & Garlic Dressing

Every kitchen needs those dependable ingredients that make everyday cooking easier without sacrificing flavour.

This Handmade Ginger & Garlic Dressing from the Simply Better range, produced by The Scullery in County Tipperary, is exactly that.

Awarded Blas na hÉireann Gold 2025, it delivers freshness, warmth and brightness in equal measure. Ginger and garlic are beautifully balanced, creating a dressing that’s as useful as it is delicious.

I use it well beyond salads—brushed over salmon before roasting, spooned onto grain bowls, tossed through crunchy slaws or drizzled over roasted vegetables. It’s one of those products that quietly elevates whatever you’re cooking.

3. Emerald Brown Butter Ice Cream

Some flavours immediately capture your attention.

Emerald’s Brown Butter Ice Cream celebrates one of my favourite ingredients by transforming the deep, nutty, caramelised flavour of browned butter into something wonderfully smooth and indulgent.

Made using rich Irish dairy, it’s sophisticated without feeling overly complicated. The flavour has lovely toasted notes that remind me of beurre noisette folded through classic pâtisserie, balanced by the creaminess Irish milk is so well known for.

It’s equally delicious served simply in a bowl or alongside warm baked fruit, sticky puddings or freshly baked tart.

4. West of Dingle Sea Salt

If there’s one ingredient I believe every good cook should invest in, it’s excellent sea salt.

Hand-harvested from the Atlantic waters surrounding the Dingle Peninsula, West of Dingle Sea Salt captures the purity of Ireland’s west coast in delicate mineral-rich flakes.

It has become my finishing salt of choice, adding texture and clean salinity to everything from tomatoes and grilled vegetables to roasted fish, homemade focaccia and even dark chocolate desserts.

The simplest ingredients often have the biggest impact, and this is one I reach for every single day.

5. Superkeen

Breakfast is one meal where I always look for ingredients that work a little harder, and Superkeen is a brilliant example of modern food innovation meeting simple nutrition.

This award-winning, gut-loving cereal is made using just five carefully selected organic ingredients. It’s non-UPF, grain-free, naturally high in fibre and completely free from gluten, dairy, nuts and seed oils—proof that convenience doesn’t have to come at the expense of ingredient quality.